Wake Forest is a mid-sized university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest is known for its emphasis on a liberal arts education and features strong Psychology, Economics, and Communication programs. Wake Forest is also known for its Greek life--around 45% of its students are in Fraternities or Sororities. Wake Forest accepted 32.1% of its applicants last year.

Wake Forest has a couple of supplemental questions that give you the opportunity to get creative--for the most part, these aren’t your standard questions. The first supplemental question appears under the “Contacts” section of the Common App, while the other questions are available under the “Writing” section.

CONTACTS

How did you become interested in Wake Forest University? Feel free to tell us about any contact that you had with Wake Forest that was important to you. (150 words)

This one is the most standard--this can be treated as a somewhat truncated version of the “Why ___” essay that you’re probably already familiar with. You want to start by thinking about how you first heard of Wake Forest: was it from a guidance counselor? From a friend?

Try to craft a narrative that aligns your interests with Wake Forest’s culture and offerings. You can start by talking about that first point of contact you had--write about how your friend told you about the school, or about how your family friend went there and talked about the great campus culture.

Transition into aligning your interests with Wake Forest’s programs and majors. If you want to be an English Major, write about how you looked up certain courses that you’re excited to take. You know the drill: use upper-level courses (find them here) that are specific to Wake Forest and match your (already demonstrated) interests. If you’re that English major, write about how you’d like to take ENG 150: Sherlock Holmes & Victorian Detective Fiction because you’ve been reading detective stories since you were young. Try to find two of these courses, and use them to make a compelling case for your interest in your major at Wake Forest specifically.

Wrap up this short essay with a conclusion; tie your interests into Wake Forest to make it abundantly clear why you should attend.

WRITING

We welcome the opportunity to get to know you beyond the numbers. You are invited to answer any, all, or none of the following optional short-response questions.

In Brief:

1a. List five books you've read that intrigued you. (Title/Author/Required Reading?)

Even if these are optional you should answer them--take the opportunity to show Wake Forest that you’re interested in attending, and show them that you’re an interesting person. Try to think of a list of five books you’ve read that say a bit about who you are--non-required reading is better because it shows that you’ve chosen to read the books.

If you’re super-dedicated to a specific topic or interest, you can choose books that are related solely to said topic. We had a student who loved learning about the American Civil War: he chose five different books that covered different perspectives on the conflict. If you have more broad interests, show them off--you can choose a cookbook, some fiction, whatever you like. Try to choose books that are a bit more unique/interesting: listing the Harry Potter series or the Hunger Games has been done before.

1b. Explain how a book you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (150 words)

Try to think about this question in tandem with question 1a: which of those selected books stands out the most to you? Which one are you most inspired by, which one taught you the most? If you listed “American Prison” (by Shane Bauer), you could write about how the book inspired you to reconsider your preconceived notions about the American justice system.

If you listed “Cherry” (Nico Walker), talk about how the book made you reconsider veteran’s affairs in the United States, and how it inspired you to have a conversation with your grandfather about his service in Vietnam. If you read “The White Tiger” (Aravind Adiga), write about how it motivated you to think about class systems and how you interact with them.

You can choose any book that you can connect to the world around you or your experiences. Try to find something personal, something that forms a compelling narrative.

2. Tell us more about the topic that most engages your intellectual curiosity. (150 words)

This one is a little confusing--you might think to connect it to your major, but you don’t necessarily have to go that way. If there’s a topic/issue that you’ve seriously engaged with through your extracurriculars, that could be a good choice. If you’re involved in your school’s newspaper and student government, you can write about the intersection of politics and media. If you’re a captain of the debate team, feel free to write about your interest in rhetoric.

This is only 150 words, so try to get in and out--introduce your interest with a brief narrative, and connect it to your topic. This should be a really straightforward essay: it’s almost just a blurb.

3. Give us your Top Ten list. (Theme:___/10/9/8…)

This is a fun one--try to be creative and show a bit of originality. You can choose anything that’s fun to talk about; places you’ve been, movies you like, etc. The list could also be more general; top 10 national parks, Whitney Houston songs, or uses of onions. Feel free to be funny-you could put a joke answer in, or try to frame the list around a humorous topic.

Just remember to keep it original--don’t do a generic list of your favorite colors--and be creative whenever possible. Are you an avid fisher?

List your favorite fish to cook.
If you like fashion, maybe list your top 10 brands, or--even better--your top 10 types of hats.
If you’re outdoorsy, write about your favorite hikes, or the best beaches you’ve seen.
Write about your favorite cheeses if you’re into cooking or your favorite vegetables.

These essays are your best opportunities to show Wake Forest who you are, so take them seriously. We know you’ll be fine though--we outlined everything you need for success!

Contact us here if you need help with the college application process.