Wake Forest University

Date: Jan 17 2005
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
Wake Forest was the perfect school for me. I grew up in a lower-middle-class family, went to public school, was heavily involved in the arts, and Wake was still the perfect school for me. I don't think I could've had a better experience anywhere else. This is not to say that Wake is a good choice for everyone. It is a small, private, formerly Southern Baptist, predominantly conservative, tobacco-funded school.

Wake's administration tends to operate like a corporation with its own best interests at heart, rather than an institution of higher learning where the students' best interest is at heart. Because it is private and operates largely on endowment funds, the muckety-mucks can seem like heartless, greedy bastards. But when I needed help or needed money, there was always someone to go to bat for me.

The social scene does largely revolve around Greek life. Greek life at Wake is apparently quite different than it is at other universities. Greek organizations have a lounge on campus, where their parties are held. These tend to be on the small side, and are monitored closely by the school. This is not to say that they can't get out of hand or that you aren't going to have fun, but a series of hazing incidents and injuries lead the administration to crack down recently. I did not belong to a Greek organization - I had too much going on with theatre and band and we had our own parties.

Wake's population is largely homogenous. There are plenty of wealthy, white, conservatives. I grew up a poor, white, liberal! In my freshman dorm, out of thirty girls, I probably received the most need-based financial aid. It could be disheartening to hear that some of the girls were going skiing for the weekend, or that daddy had just bought them a new BMW SUV for their birthday, but I've never wanted to learn how to ski (too cold!) and I wouldn't take an SUV if it was offered!

Class size and professor-to-student ratio was important to me when choosing a university. I think Wake excels in this area. Most of my professors were not just gifted in their fields but also interested in their students and willing to offer guidance. Of course there were some brilliant people who simply could not teach; this is the case at any school. I recently asked four professors for references; after five years, all of them remembered me and were happy to give a reference.

The library, contrary to what others have said, is an excellent resource. It can be a little confusing in the beginning - the old Reynolds wing and the new Wilson wing are organized in entirely different ways. You will definitely be able to find everything you need to research any paper the university can throw at you, and if Wake doesn't have the book, inter-library loan can get it for you! Besides, Wake issues laptops to all its students now, and if you can't find what you're looking for online, it probably doesn't exist.

The best experience I had at Wake, and one I suggest you take advantage of if you can, was studying abroad. Wake has houses in London, Vienna and Venice, and programs in many other countries. If Wake doesn't have your program, it IS possible to exchange with another university for credit. Friends of mine went to Ireland and Australia with other universities and transferred credits. I went to the Worrell House in London with fourteen other students, a professor, and her family. The BEST experience of my life. It wasn't the immersion experience you might have if you don't live in a Wake house, but it was right for me.

I found my friends in theatre and band and London, or through friends of friends. I had the same roommate for three years and we still keep in touch, as do several of the people with whom I was in London.

I tend to think that if you aren't having a good time at Wake, you're not trying hard enough. That said, some people were not meant to flourish at a small university. There are edgy, risky, avant-garde things going on at Wake, but you might have to look harder to find them. And under your roommate's spoiled exterior, there might be a frightened, freaked-out little girl with a self-esteem issue who would really appreciate it if you showed her how to do her laundry or shop for groceries. On the other hand, she might really be a clueless idiot, but you're only stuck with her for a semester, and you don't HAVE to spend every waking moment in your room!