Wake Forest University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Perry

Class: Junior
Major: English
Gender: F

High School: Harpeth Hall
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

Choosing to go to Wake Forest was one of the easiest choices I ever made because of how much it had to offer me. What makes my life at Wake Forest the easiest for me is the size. ItÕs a big enough school that I constantly have new experiences with new people, but itÕs still small enough that if I donÕt know of someone, at least one of my friends probably will. When IÕm not in class, I do a lot on and off campus with my sorority. YouÕve probably heard that Greek life is a big deal at Wake, and it is. Overall, 42% of all students are in a fraternity or a sorority, with 13 fraternities and 9 sororities. Although itÕs a big part of my life here and my friendsÕ as well, many other students who donÕt decide to Ògo GreekÓ find that they can form similar close bonds through athletic teams, religious groups, and clubs. ThatÕs not to say that there isnÕt tension between Greeks and non-Greeks, because at times there is. Independents, or GDIs, are known to Greeks as ÒgeedsÓ or even ÒmugglesÓ, which is Harry Potter-speak for non-magical people. It sucks, but itÕs the social environment here. Other than that, IÕm proud to go to be a sorority member here; it made it easier for me to be comfortable coming from an all-girls school and it helped me find my place here at Wake. As far as school pride goes, our fan base varies. I would categorize most of us as fair-weather fans, and fans of which sport varies from year to year. We used to be known for basketball, but in more recent years itÕs been football. Members of the Greek community are less apt to throw on a black and gold tie-dye shirt and cheer at the game, instead attending the tailgates in button-downs and sundresses. Finally, the food on campus is generally considered pretty mediocre, but we really donÕt have it so bad. We have a Subway on campus, Chikfila in Benson, and pit food. While the pit has been known to cause stomach issues, there is a fair amount of variety and provides a decent social atmosphere. ItÕs tough to complain since itÕs a newer space and as they say, much improved.

Academic Life

Class size ranges, and obviously gets smaller as you delve deeper into your major requirements, but even my Psychology 101 class didnÕt feel too large for me to feel uncomfortable asking questions. Just like everywhere else, your relationship with your professor is pretty much up to you. Most professors make a big effort to get to know names and they all encourage students to come by during office hours. If youÕre struggling in a class or just displeased with a test grade, it is so easy and helpful to stop by the profÕs office to let him or her know youÕre really trying. Class participation is usually a must, even in large lectures. Like I said, Wake is filled with a lot of driven people, and internships and job opportunities are a frequent topic of conversation. But letÕs be honest, seeing as it is a school of mostly elites, these internships are generally gained through familial connections. Nevertheless, the stress level and the pressure to get work done are usually very high.

Student Body

Wake is a largely white, conservative, Christian student population, but that doesnÕt mean it isnÕt a place where others canÕt fit in. Those with especially strong minority opinions might not feel comfortable here because the campus is pretty strongly swayed towards certain groups of people. For example, it only takes a quick glance around a room full of Tory Burch flats to understand that the majority of students are fairly well-off financially. Most African-American students are athletes, and at times campus can seem racially divided, especially in areas like the pit. AthletesÕ presence at fraternity parties are also known to cause tension and even physical altercations. However, there are two historically black sororities and one fraternity. The rest of the Greek organizations have students of color, but never more than a handful per group.