Wake Forest - Test Optional

[Anonymous]

Anyone have experience with being accepted at Wake without submitting test scores (SAT/ACT) since they are a test optional school?

[Anonymous]

I am wondering this too (as well as test-optional schools in general). Is it seen as a negative to not submit your test scores?

[Anonymous]

My DS was admitted, but did send his scores. (He did not end up going there). I believe Wake does require scores to be considered for any scholarships.

[Anonymous]

They do take students who don't submit scores.

Two recent students from my DC's high school applied this way and were admitted. Both had strong GPA, challenging classes and ECs, but just didn't do so well on the SAT/ACT.

[Anonymous]

+1 to all. Our DC did not submit was accepted no questions asked. DC was a very strong student and love the school upon visiting.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any insight in to how this works? Do they simply rate kids based on GPA?

[Anonymous]

Suggest you call admissions and ask. We were told by neighbor that has a dc presently attending that admissions is very proud of their decision to go test optional and happy to discuss their process. The school touts the position and gets great positive press out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do take students who don't submit scores.

Two recent students from my DC's high school applied this way and were admitted. Both had strong GPA, challenging classes and ECs, but just didn't do so well on the SAT/ACT.

This is such BS. Can I submit a revised GPA with all the low grades taken out? It’s obvious schools are doing this to raise average test scores, knowing only the high scoring kids will submit them. Can we expect GPA optional admissions soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do take students who don't submit scores.

Two recent students from my DC's high school applied this way and were admitted. Both had strong GPA, challenging classes and ECs, but just didn't do so well on the SAT/ACT.

This is such BS. Can I submit a revised GPA with all the low grades taken out? It’s obvious schools are doing this to raise average test scores, knowing only the high scoring kids will submit them. Can we expect GPA optional admissions soon?

They do gather the scores of ALL enrolled students - after admissions decisions are made - and that’s what they report.

Here is what they say about their test optional policy, which has been in effect since 2008. http://admissions.wfu.edu/apply/test-optional/

[Anonymous]

Wake's application is more time consuming that other schools. When my DS applied, I believe there were 13 essays.

[Anonymous]

I believe Wake also puts a lot of emphasis on the interview. And, as someone mentioned, the application is very writing intensive. I have a WF grad, and we only have very positive things to say about that school - it is a special place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe Wake also puts a lot of emphasis on the interview. And, as someone mentioned, the application is very writing intensive. I have a WF grad, and we only have very positive things to say about that school - it is a special place.

I’m a Wake grad, and would love to have my kid go. I am married to anothet Wake grad who got his degree from the same department, a year ahead of me. We had three of our professors attend our wedding— including the professor who taught the class of 7 people where we met. (He takes credit for introducing us. 25 years later, we still keep in touch). If you want half of your major level classes to have fewer than 10 kids, to never have a grad student teach your class, to have your professors invite students to their house for dinner, and to have a curriculum that requires you to write, and think critically, it is a great place for you.

And I have been shocked at how impressed people have by the phi beta kappa, summa cum laude from Wake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe Wake also puts a lot of emphasis on the interview. And, as someone mentioned, the application is very writing intensive. I have a WF grad, and we only have very positive things to say about that school - it is a special place.

I’m a Wake grad, and would love to have my kid go. I am married to anothet Wake grad who got his degree from the same department, a year ahead of me. We had three of our professors attend our wedding— including the professor who taught the class of 7 people where we met. (He takes credit for introducing us. 25 years later, we still keep in touch). If you want half of your major level classes to have fewer than 10 kids, to never have a grad student teach your class, to have your professors invite students to their house for dinner, and to have a curriculum that requires you to write, and think critically, it is a great place for you.

And I have been shocked at how impressed people have by the phi beta kappa, summa cum laude from Wake.

+1. It is an amazing school and very well respected in the real world. The employment rates for each year's graduating class are very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do take students who don't submit scores.

Two recent students from my DC's high school applied this way and were admitted. Both had strong GPA, challenging classes and ECs, but just didn't do so well on the SAT/ACT.

This is such BS. Can I submit a revised GPA with all the low grades taken out? It’s obvious schools are doing this to raise average test scores, knowing only the high scoring kids will submit them. Can we expect GPA optional admissions soon?

I would say it is not at all BS. It's well known that kids whose parents can't afford test prep are discriminated against in the testing process. Also, there are kids with LDs who are great students but do not do well on standardized tests. Their process is working because it's great school and has remained so despite being test optional for quite some time.

[Anonymous]

Wake Forest keeps drawing more attention from our DD; she likes the small class sizes and the rigorous curriculum. Potential drawbacks are that there are so few Asians (she is Chinese) and the high percentage involved in Greek life.