Wake Forest University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know
Overview of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private research institution situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to select from. Students are supported by a 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.
Enrollment
- Total Enrollment: 8,401 (5,225 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 47 percent male/53 percent female
- 99 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
- Tuition and Fees: $55,440
- Books: $1,500
- Room and Board: $16,740
- Other Expenses: $2,400
- Total Cost: $76,080
Financial Aid Information
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 46 percent
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 38 percent
- Loans: 23 percent
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $35,473
- Loans: $7,934
Academic Programs Offered
- Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; and Psychology
Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 96 percent
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 85 percent
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 89 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
- Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field
- Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Overview of Wake Forest University Admissions
Wake Forest University accepts fewer than a third of applicants, which makes it selective. The institution is test-optional, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. It has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants must complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.
Admissions Data
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, Wake Forest University had an acceptance rate of 29%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 29 students gained admission, making Wake Forest’s admissions procedure competitive.
SAT Requirements and Scores
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 41% of students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals that of those students who provided SAT scores to Wake Forest, the majority fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. 50% of admitted students scored between 650 and 710 on the evidence-based reading and writing part, while 25% scored under 650 and 25% scored over 710. 50% of students scored between 660 and 760 on the math part, while 25% scored under 660, and 25% scored over 760. While the SAT is not optional, this data reveals that a cumulative SAT score of 1470 or more is considered a competitive score for Wake Forest.
ACT Requirements and Scores
Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 45% of students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that those students who provided ACT scores to Wake Forest, the majority within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of admitted students to Wake Forest received a cumulative ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored over 33, and 25% scored under 29.
GPA
Wake Forest does not provide data about students’ high school GPAs; however, in 2018, 74% of Wake Forest’s freshman class ranked in the upper 10% of their high school class.
Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission
If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Wake Forest University, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Wake Forest University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.
University of Texas at Dallas, Stony Brook University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, Penn State University Park, University of Cincinnati
Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission
If you’re a competitive candidate for Wake Forest University, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Villanova University, Southern Methodist University, University of Maryland, Binghamton University, George Washington University
Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge
These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Wake Forest University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.
Tufts University, Northeastern University, Georgetown University, New York University, University of Southern California, University of Michigan, Emory University
Applying to Wake Forest University
Application Deadline: January 1
Undergraduate Admissions Website:
Undergraduate Application Link(s):
https://admissions.wfu.edu/apply/applynow/
Graduate Admissions Website:
https://graduate.wfu.edu/admissions/
Graduate Application Link(s):
https://graduate.wfu.edu/apply-now-to-the-wake-forest-graduate-school/