Wake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really shows are rankings are measures of what the people doing the rankings want to measure. I think small class sizes and close interaction with professors are a big plus. I want professors focused on teaching first, not research. Colleges that fit my criteria will tend to rank lower.

They don't give much merit aid though so that pretty much counts us out, even if we could get in.

I know Wake is definitely not a SLAC but it has some of the characteristics of one, particularly in terms of size (though it would be a large SLAC), so it is getting penalized for this. Which makes no sense.

If USN&WR never changed its criteria the rankings would almost never move so no one would care. So they have to constantly fiddle with it to please the ignorant masses who put so much stock in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really shows are rankings are measures of what the people doing the rankings want to measure. I think small class sizes and close interaction with professors are a big plus. I want professors focused on teaching first, not research. Colleges that fit my criteria will tend to rank lower.

They don't give much merit aid though so that pretty much counts us out, even if we could get in.

Lots of colleges that fit that criteria are ranked much lower. Do you think Goucher should also be ranked much higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about the quality of Wake Forest has changed. It remains an excellent private R1 University.

What has changed is the methodology used by USNWR and other publications that "rank" these schools.

I consider it a reminder to view these lists with a heavy dose of critical thinking. Yes, there is some valuable information to be had in there. But there is also a lot of valuable information NOT included in the analyses, including class size, which happens to be a Wake strength and is important to some/many students and families.

All that said, you do you, OP. If sending your kid to a T50 school is important to you, you might want to skip Wake, which seems to be hovering around that line in various publications due to changes in methodologies.

More info:

October 3, 2025

"For the third year in a row, Wake Forest has dropped in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best National Universities list. After falling dramatically from a top 30 spot in 2023, Wake Forest is now below the top 50 line.

Wake Forest tied with five other universities for the No. 51 spot — Case Western Reserve University, Florida State University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech.

Most of the metrics were consistent with the 2023 methodology, which introduced a new way of ranking schools, changing 17 of the 19 measures.

In 2023, Wake Forest’s ranking dropped 18 spots from its No. 29 spot. This was the first time the university has been ranked out of the top 30 since 1996 and its lowest ranking since joining the National Universities list. This year, the university dropped from No. 46 to No. 51.

Beginning in 2023, U.S. News no longer considers factors such as small class sizes, instruction by professors with a terminal degree, alumni giving average, graduate debt or students’ high school standings. Wake Forest highlights and prioritizes many of these elements, according to Vice President of Communications & Chief Communications Officer Brett Eaton.

The algorithm change in 2023 also added seven new indicators — four related to faculty research, two related to first-generation graduation rates and one related to graduate income.

U.S. News said it did not alter its formula this year, besides small adjustments."

Why is the Forbes ranking so bad? USNWR is understandable, but now we have a very concerning pattern. It WILL eventually matter whether the Wake boosters are able to admit it or now. This is bad.

I could not care less what Forbes has to say. Or any of the other clickbait rankings that constantly circulate.

But if you want more information about this “so-called” very concerning pattern,” I encourage you to put on your Encyclopedia Brown hat and investigate yourself. Google and ChatGpt can be very helpful for such things.

Better yet, why not just skip thinking about Wake entirely? Encourage your kid to apply elsewhere and celebrate where they ultimately choose to go.

There are schools out there for every family. Move along and find yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about the quality of Wake Forest has changed. It remains an excellent private R1 University.

What has changed is the methodology used by USNWR and other publications that "rank" these schools.

I consider it a reminder to view these lists with a heavy dose of critical thinking. Yes, there is some valuable information to be had in there. But there is also a lot of valuable information NOT included in the analyses, including class size, which happens to be a Wake strength and is important to some/many students and families.

All that said, you do you, OP. If sending your kid to a T50 school is important to you, you might want to skip Wake, which seems to be hovering around that line in various publications due to changes in methodologies.

More info:

October 3, 2025

"For the third year in a row, Wake Forest has dropped in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best National Universities list. After falling dramatically from a top 30 spot in 2023, Wake Forest is now below the top 50 line.

Wake Forest tied with five other universities for the No. 51 spot — Case Western Reserve University, Florida State University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech.

Most of the metrics were consistent with the 2023 methodology, which introduced a new way of ranking schools, changing 17 of the 19 measures.

In 2023, Wake Forest’s ranking dropped 18 spots from its No. 29 spot. This was the first time the university has been ranked out of the top 30 since 1996 and its lowest ranking since joining the National Universities list. This year, the university dropped from No. 46 to No. 51.

Beginning in 2023, U.S. News no longer considers factors such as small class sizes, instruction by professors with a terminal degree, alumni giving average, graduate debt or students’ high school standings. Wake Forest highlights and prioritizes many of these elements, according to Vice President of Communications & Chief Communications Officer Brett Eaton.

The algorithm change in 2023 also added seven new indicators — four related to faculty research, two related to first-generation graduation rates and one related to graduate income.

U.S. News said it did not alter its formula this year, besides small adjustments."

Why is the Forbes ranking so bad? USNWR is understandable, but now we have a very concerning pattern. It WILL eventually matter whether the Wake boosters are able to admit it or now. This is bad.

I could not care less what Forbes has to say. Or any of the other clickbait rankings that constantly circulate.

But if you want more information about this “so-called” very concerning pattern,” I encourage you to put on your Encyclopedia Brown hat and investigate yourself. Google and ChatGpt can be very helpful for such things.

Better yet, why not just skip thinking about Wake entirely? Encourage your kid to apply elsewhere and celebrate where they ultimately choose to go.

There are schools out there for every family. Move along and find yours.

Would you be this defensive if Wake’s rankings weren’t so bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weed out the idiots who solely judge schools based on rankings. Not necessarily a bad thing...

Um, a lot of people use them to place schools into general tiers. Multiple ranking systems have Wake regressing. Why?

Low bullhorn density

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weed out the idiots who solely judge schools based on rankings. Not necessarily a bad thing...

Um, a lot of people use them to place schools into general tiers. Multiple ranking systems have Wake regressing. Why?

Low bullhorn density

Sorry you don’t have a good ranking to brag about. It’s okay, really. Wake is a decent school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about the quality of Wake Forest has changed. It remains an excellent private R1 University.

What has changed is the methodology used by USNWR and other publications that "rank" these schools.

I consider it a reminder to view these lists with a heavy dose of critical thinking. Yes, there is some valuable information to be had in there. But there is also a lot of valuable information NOT included in the analyses, including class size, which happens to be a Wake strength and is important to some/many students and families.

All that said, you do you, OP. If sending your kid to a T50 school is important to you, you might want to skip Wake, which seems to be hovering around that line in various publications due to changes in methodologies.

More info:

October 3, 2025

"For the third year in a row, Wake Forest has dropped in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best National Universities list. After falling dramatically from a top 30 spot in 2023, Wake Forest is now below the top 50 line.

Wake Forest tied with five other universities for the No. 51 spot — Case Western Reserve University, Florida State University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech.

Most of the metrics were consistent with the 2023 methodology, which introduced a new way of ranking schools, changing 17 of the 19 measures.

In 2023, Wake Forest’s ranking dropped 18 spots from its No. 29 spot. This was the first time the university has been ranked out of the top 30 since 1996 and its lowest ranking since joining the National Universities list. This year, the university dropped from No. 46 to No. 51.

Beginning in 2023, U.S. News no longer considers factors such as small class sizes, instruction by professors with a terminal degree, alumni giving average, graduate debt or students’ high school standings. Wake Forest highlights and prioritizes many of these elements, according to Vice President of Communications & Chief Communications Officer Brett Eaton.

The algorithm change in 2023 also added seven new indicators — four related to faculty research, two related to first-generation graduation rates and one related to graduate income.

U.S. News said it did not alter its formula this year, besides small adjustments."

Why is the Forbes ranking so bad? USNWR is understandable, but now we have a very concerning pattern. It WILL eventually matter whether the Wake boosters are able to admit it or now. This is bad.

I could not care less what Forbes has to say. Or any of the other clickbait rankings that constantly circulate.

But if you want more information about this “so-called” very concerning pattern,” I encourage you to put on your Encyclopedia Brown hat and investigate yourself. Google and ChatGpt can be very helpful for such things.

Better yet, why not just skip thinking about Wake entirely? Encourage your kid to apply elsewhere and celebrate where they ultimately choose to go.

There are schools out there for every family. Move along and find yours.

Would you be this defensive if Wake’s rankings weren’t so bad?

I don’t think their rankings are bad at all.

I do find you offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about the quality of Wake Forest has changed. It remains an excellent private R1 University.

What has changed is the methodology used by USNWR and other publications that "rank" these schools.

I consider it a reminder to view these lists with a heavy dose of critical thinking. Yes, there is some valuable information to be had in there. But there is also a lot of valuable information NOT included in the analyses, including class size, which happens to be a Wake strength and is important to some/many students and families.

All that said, you do you, OP. If sending your kid to a T50 school is important to you, you might want to skip Wake, which seems to be hovering around that line in various publications due to changes in methodologies.

More info:

October 3, 2025

"For the third year in a row, Wake Forest has dropped in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best National Universities list. After falling dramatically from a top 30 spot in 2023, Wake Forest is now below the top 50 line.

Wake Forest tied with five other universities for the No. 51 spot — Case Western Reserve University, Florida State University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech.

Most of the metrics were consistent with the 2023 methodology, which introduced a new way of ranking schools, changing 17 of the 19 measures.

In 2023, Wake Forest’s ranking dropped 18 spots from its No. 29 spot. This was the first time the university has been ranked out of the top 30 since 1996 and its lowest ranking since joining the National Universities list. This year, the university dropped from No. 46 to No. 51.

Beginning in 2023, U.S. News no longer considers factors such as small class sizes, instruction by professors with a terminal degree, alumni giving average, graduate debt or students’ high school standings. Wake Forest highlights and prioritizes many of these elements, according to Vice President of Communications & Chief Communications Officer Brett Eaton.

The algorithm change in 2023 also added seven new indicators — four related to faculty research, two related to first-generation graduation rates and one related to graduate income.

U.S. News said it did not alter its formula this year, besides small adjustments."

Why is the Forbes ranking so bad? USNWR is understandable, but now we have a very concerning pattern. It WILL eventually matter whether the Wake boosters are able to admit it or now. This is bad.

I could not care less what Forbes has to say. Or any of the other clickbait rankings that constantly circulate.

But if you want more information about this “so-called” very concerning pattern,” I encourage you to put on your Encyclopedia Brown hat and investigate yourself. Google and ChatGpt can be very helpful for such things.

Better yet, why not just skip thinking about Wake entirely? Encourage your kid to apply elsewhere and celebrate where they ultimately choose to go.

There are schools out there for every family. Move along and find yours.

Would you be this defensive if Wake’s rankings weren’t so bad?

I don’t think their rankings are bad at all.

I do find you offensive.

98th is Top 100!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

But you liked the rankings when you agreed with them, right? You don’t really get to pick and choose. What’s the methodology from Forbes resulting in ranking #98?

[Anonymous]

There is a Wake troll that starts a similar thread literally every week. It really is best to just ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

But you liked the rankings when you agreed with them, right? You don’t really get to pick and choose. What’s the methodology from Forbes resulting in ranking #98?

If you see value in the methodology, a ranking can be a good input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

But you liked the rankings when you agreed with them, right? You don’t really get to pick and choose. What’s the methodology from Forbes resulting in ranking #98?

If you see value in the methodology, a ranking can be a good input.

The point is most people never look at the methodology of they like where their college is ranked. Then when the ranking drops, like Wake, suddenly we have concerns about the methodology. How convenient!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

But you liked the rankings when you agreed with them, right? You don’t really get to pick and choose. What’s the methodology from Forbes resulting in ranking #98?

If you see value in the methodology, a ranking can be a good input.

The point is most people never look at the methodology of they like where their college is ranked. Then when the ranking drops, like Wake, suddenly we have concerns about the methodology. How convenient!!

Huh!? You get told every week that US News replaced factors such as average class size, percentage of classes taught by professors, and strength of alumni giving with percent of class Pell eligible and graduation rate for Pell eligible. The 2024 rankings also used percentage first gen. Really weird how you literally being this up weekly, sorry Wake rejected either you or your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wake didn’t go woke, as the pendulum swings back the rankings will go back up. If a school is a good fit and has a solid reputation for getting a job or getting into grad school then that is really all that matters.

As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.

Sigh. Not relevant.

OP, many Wake-like schools have gone down in US News and other rankings. W&M is another one. If you value what US News used to value (for example, small class sizes), then look at older rankings. I personally think that small class sizes are extremely valuable to my kid's educational experience and therefore like W&M much more than VT. The fact that one has moved down and the other up in the recent rankings in no way affects my opinion of them.

But you liked the rankings when you agreed with them, right? You don’t really get to pick and choose. What’s the methodology from Forbes resulting in ranking #98?

If you see value in the methodology, a ranking can be a good input.

The point is most people never look at the methodology of they like where their college is ranked. Then when the ranking drops, like Wake, suddenly we have concerns about the methodology. How convenient!!

Huh!? You get told every week that US News replaced factors such as average class size, percentage of classes taught by professors, and strength of alumni giving with percent of class Pell eligible and graduation rate for Pell eligible. The 2024 rankings also used percentage first gen. Really weird how you literally being this up weekly, sorry Wake rejected either you or your kid.

This is my first time posting but you sound paranoid and defensive lol sorry you lost the ranking contest. It’s a bad look for Wake and W&M both.