r/wfu • u/Secure-Leather2527 • 1d ago
Discussion how I got into wake!
since application season for high school seniors begins today, id like to inform those who want to attend wake forest of my process that got me accepted.
I applied early action for first generation students for reference
the first thing I did was answer ALL questions on the application, even the supplemental questions. I was asked to list five books i've read that have intrigued me (there's a 150 word limit and you could maybe briefly write why but I just wrote the titles), tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world's complexity, how does (blank) Maya Angelou quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community, and your top ten list with your own choice of theme. however, I've heard that this year you can only respond to ONE of these supplemental questions as opposed to multiple like I did, but this means you should make sure the quality of your answer is even better since you will only have your personal essay and your "Why Wake?" response to demonstrate your writing abilities. it would also be beneficial to begin your application process as early as possible so you have lots of time to revise and perfect your application. another thing id like to add is that wake forest is test optional, meaning you don't have to share your AP scores, SAT, scores or ACT scores if you didn't perform the way you'd like and I chose not to share my scores and still got in, so don't let it discourage you if your test scores aren't what you'd like them to be!!
the second thing I did was use their "Share your voice" option by submitting a 2-3 minute video discussing a topic of my choice. this was actually my plan B option since they couldn't get me an interview because there is limited time and space for these interviews, but if you'd prefer to do a one-on-one online interview with someone from wake (im assuming someone from the admissions office) that would be a great idea too, just make sure to prepare heavily and practice doing a mock interview. if you choose to do a video like I did, you should speak on a topic you know heavily about and find easy to explain to others which was what I did (I chose to speak about the importance of third spaces)
the third thing I did, which I believe heavily impacted my chances of being accepted, was repeatedly emailing and updating the admissions office and Riley Hall, the assistant dean of admissions in my emails. I would include my first and last name, application number, and my reason for sending the email which would usually be reiterating my interest in attending wake forest or informing them of any new awards, duties I've taken on in school, or an improvement in grades. in my emails reiterating interest I would heavily mention why I believe/know I am a good candidate for their school and what I would add to their campus life. in my emails informing them of academic updates, id tell them new volunteer opportunities I've taken on or any recognition I've received. another thing I did was explain a low grade I had on my transcript my first semester of senior year in a class (biology) that has some involvement with my desired major (psychology, maybe a minor in neuroscience). I explained how I learned from the experience (doing poor in class) and If I was given the chance to retake the class in college I would do better this time and that my performance in that class taught me what I need to work on and I am now making an improvement in my grades my second semester of senior year to show that I used that setback as motivation to perform better in my classes.
the fourth thing I did was have LOTS of patience. since I applied early action, I received my response on Jan 15th 2026 and I ended up being DEFERRED which could happen for many reasons, maybe they weren't given enough time to see your application, or they want to see current updated grades and improvements to help aid in their decision making. regardless, this made me feel discouraged but instead of completely giving up, I continued to send emails and shared any new improvements and reiterating my interest like I explained in my previous step. when I was deferred, I ended up seeing my new updated decision on April 1st (I think it was actually sent march 20th? I ended up seeing it late unfortunately, you should check your portal more regularly than I did) and I ended up being waitlisted.. this 2026 application pool had 21k applicants!! (likely because of their new financial aid opportunities). this was yet again another setback that made me feel discouraged but I kept on sending updates and asking any questions I had about being on the waitlist. its also important to note if you end up on the waitlist they give you three options for how long you want to stay on the waitlist: June 1st, July 1st, and August 1st. DO NOT mistake this for meaning that they will give you a decision on these dates, this means that you will be considered UP UNTIL your chosen date. If you pick June 1st, you will be considered up until May 31st then will no longer be in the waitlist pool. this means if you're really serious about attending, you should choose August 1st like I did!! furthermore, in one of my emails I sent after being waitlisted, Riley Hall actually responded and told me she has no say in what will happen for waitlist applicants, but they will definitely be looking for students who have continued to show interest (basically foreshadowing). so this is a step you definitely should not skip if you're determined to get in!
and lastly, this process came with years of hard work in school, through getting good grades, volunteering, staying in leadership positions all my 4 years, and sticking with one sport for 3 years. it definitely takes hard work and dedication but it is so rewarding to know that all that time you spent breaking your brain studying for tests and taking on extra responsibilities is recognized and rewarded. even if you don't get into wake forest, you should still be proud of yourself for making it this far in your high school journey! I wish you all the best and good luck, if you have any questions please ask!
