Wake Forest

wake_forest.md

Metric	Value	Source
Location	Winston-Salem, NC	—
Type	Private, elite	—
Acceptance rate (overall)	21.7%	WFU Facts & Figures (Class of 2029)
Acceptance rate (ED)	~34%	Historical (Class of 2024); WFU stopped publishing ED rates
Early round type	ED (I and II)	WFU Admissions
Total applicants	18,735	WFU Facts & Figures
Class size (enrolled)	1,468	WFU Facts & Figures
Yield rate	36%	Calculated (1,468/4,066)
SAT middle 50%	1410-1500	CollegeData, Class of 2028
ACT middle 50%	32-34	CollegeData, Class of 2028
Avg GPA (unweighted)	~3.90	Estimated; WFU does not officially publish
Top 10% of class	67%	NextGenAdmit, Class of 2029
Testing policy	Test-optional (since 2008)	WFU Admissions

Demographics (Undergraduate)

White: 68.8%, Hispanic: 8.1%, International: 9.2%, Black: 6.1%, Multiracial: 4.1%, Asian: 3.6%
Women: 54%
Source: College Factual (2024-25)

Income	Net Price
$0-30,000	$5,250
$30,001-48,000	$5,981
$48,001-75,000	$12,004
$75,001-110,000	$23,550
Over $110,000	$50,359
Source: College Factual / IPEDS

Wake Forest has been test-optional longer than almost any peer institution (since 2008).
The school no longer publishes ED acceptance rates. The 34% figure is from Class of 2024.
Strong financial aid for low-income students (net cost under $6K for families below $48K).

ED is strongly recommended — Wake fills a proportionally large part of each incoming class through ED (EDI and EDII available). The smaller ED pool means students who would "slip through the cracks" in RD may fare better early.
Test-optional pioneer (since 2008) — Wake Forest was one of the first elite schools to drop test requirements. About half of admitted students submit scores; average submitters have 1470 SAT / 33 ACT. Not submitting is genuinely fine here, unlike at some nominally test-optional schools.
Demonstrated interest is very important. Campus visits, information sessions, and engagement with admissions officers are tracked and matter in decisions.

"Work Forest" is the universally cited nickname — students describe a challenging but collaborative academic environment where professors know your name and push you to grow.
Southern hospitality meets pre-professional drive. Networking events during the week, ACC gameday culture on weekends. Rolling the Quad after big wins is a beloved tradition.
Greek life is visible but not all-encompassing. Club sports, service organizations, campus ministries, and cultural groups provide alternative community pathways.
Big traditions anchor the culture: Project Pumpkin (Halloween community service), Hit the Bricks (fundraising relay), and the strong "show up for each other" ethos.
Winston-Salem, NC is a mid-size city — more urban than Middlebury or Bucknell but not a major metro. Students have mixed feelings about the location.

Very generous for low-income students — net cost under $6K for families below $48K. Among the best aid packages for lower-income families in this tier.
Need-based aid is strong; meets demonstrated need. Merit scholarships available including full-ride Reynolds and Carswell scholarships.
The school no longer publishes ED acceptance rates, which limits transparency on how ED affects admissions.

ED multiplier is estimated at ~1.6x (34% ED vs 21.7% overall), but the school no longer publishes ED rates, so this is approximate.
Test-optional since 2008 means the simulation should not penalize non-submitters at Wake Forest — model test submission as truly optional.
Demonstrated interest should be a factor in admission scoring for Wake Forest, unlike at Williams or Amherst.