Wake Forest and how it's viewed, especially in NC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake is looked as the rich kid school.

Interesting to note that UNCCH is 85% North Carolina residents, but WF is only 20% North Carolina residents. obviously that’s because it’s a private school, but it leads to different dynamic than half of your high school being on campus with you.

No, in NC, UNC Chapel Hill is definitely the old money, "rich kid" school. Hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^NC State hired great basketball coach.

I’m excited to see what he does.

Same, and I'm a Duke fan. ACC basketball needs to up its game with more quality and competition. Hubert Davis is not bringing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only student I know who went to Wake treated college as “finishing school”. Fits all the stereotypes mentioned so far: WASP, Southern, preppy, smart and great student but not intellectual, wealthy but not at all flashy about it, Greek life essential, great social skills

I went to Wake and this is about right. Most of my classmates were smart and hardworking but not intellectual (i.e., would grind but wouldn't stay up late discussing political philosophy). Plenty of opportunities to party and have fun. Lots of well to do families but nouveau riche tendencies are looked down upon.

I'd say you can have fun while not being Greek but Greek life dominates.

[Anonymous]

Originally from NY but have lived in the Raleigh area for almost 20 years, and am raising family here (including one in high school).

Most people think very highly of WF and know that it is very competitive, but not as high as Duke.

Many don't see the value in paying x% more vs. in-state at Chapel Hill. Pretty much if someone can get into WF they can get into CH in-state (even from the most competitive high schools/districts where there are far more qualified kids then spots at CH)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake is looked as the rich kid school.

Interesting to note that UNCCH is 85% North Carolina residents, but WF is only 20% North Carolina residents. obviously that’s because it’s a private school, but it leads to different dynamic than half of your high school being on campus with you.

Yes, in-state kids end up with plenty of classmates and neighbors but typically only the top 5-10% of a graduating class make it to Chapel Hill. Especially so in Triangle and Charlotte areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They spread the wealth and elite schools where all are qualified lose. Many schools are huge in some areas and most that get in go so the numbers sound large.

This is true (or at least it was back when I was looking at UNC). As such, there's a pretty significant variety in the quality of students attending UNC. It's comparatively easier to get into Chapel Hill from say, Richmond or Perquimans County (poor, rural, lower stats) than it is from say, Forsyth or Wake County (wealthier, more urban, higher stats). That's central to the mission of the public college: to educate people from across the state. So that 41% in-state admissions rate doesn't tell the whole story; it's lower in some areas of the state and higher in others.

Compare that to Wake Forest, which doesn't face those restrictions/obligations. A typical Wake class is going to have kids that are almost all very smart but not brilliant, most will come from upper middle class to wealthy homes from all over the country (although mostly from the South and Northeast). Class sizes will be smaller, dorms nicer, campus better maintained.

But full pay COA is $95k at Wake versus $28k at Carolina. It's no wonder many families choose UNC.

This still holds true today, and probably more so (given the explosive growth of educated/wealth) in Triangle and Charlotte areas. For example, only the top 5%-10% of students at the wealthier schools in Wake Co end up at CH. Kids need perfection for it to even be a possibility lots of stress. Once they get in they likely don't bother selecting other places, including T10s because the economics don't work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like UNC , but it seems like a 1/3 of every NC high school's graduating class gets accepted to UNCCH. Reject most OOS kids which gives the impression they are more competitive than they are with admissions. Then the OOS kid asks his new in-state classmate "you got accepted with those stats!?". Still not sure what major or field they really rank high in.

Where are you seeing 1/3 of EVERY NC high-school gets into Chapel Hill? There is no way ANY school in NC is sending 200ish kids to CH. It's more like 25 out of a class of 500-600.

[Anonymous]

Quick note. I posted earlier about how one of the benefits Carolina gets (relative to Wake) is that there are way more UNC alums and therefore way more boosters. That is very evident in this thread (not to say people aren't being respectful). Say Wake is a better school and you'll have a chorus of Carolina alums to disagree; it doesn't work the other way around.

Bottom line is both schools are very good and most anyone should be thankful for the opportunity to attend either. But they offer very different experiences at a different cost.

It all comes down to fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick note. I posted earlier about how one of the benefits Carolina gets (relative to Wake) is that there are way more UNC alums and therefore way more boosters. That is very evident in this thread (not to say people aren't being respectful). Say Wake is a better school and you'll have a chorus of Carolina alums to disagree; it doesn't work the other way around.

Bottom line is both schools are very good and most anyone should be thankful for the opportunity to attend either. But they offer very different experiences at a different cost.

It all comes down to fit.

No connection to either school, but what is something Wake does than UNC doesn't do just as well, or better?

[Anonymous]

^Smaller classes and student body isn’t 85% in-state way too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like UNC , but it seems like a 1/3 of every NC high school's graduating class gets accepted to UNCCH. Reject most OOS kids which gives the impression they are more competitive than they are with admissions. Then the OOS kid asks his new in-state classmate "you got accepted with those stats!?". Still not sure what major or field they really rank high in.

Where are you seeing 1/3 of EVERY NC high-school gets into Chapel Hill? There is no way ANY school in NC is sending 200ish kids to CH. It's more like 25 out of a class of 500-600.

CH in state acceptance is around 40%.

Acceptance rate is different than number of kids that actually attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only student I know who went to Wake treated college as “finishing school”. Fits all the stereotypes mentioned so far: WASP, Southern, preppy, smart and great student but not intellectual, wealthy but not at all flashy about it, Greek life essential, great social skills

I went to Wake and this is about right. Most of my classmates were smart and hardworking but not intellectual (i.e., would grind but wouldn't stay up late discussing political philosophy). Plenty of opportunities to party and have fun. Lots of well to do families but nouveau riche tendencies are looked down upon.

I'd say you can have fun while not being Greek but Greek life dominates.

I was at Wake recently to see my niece and I beg to differ. I was there on family weekend and I have not seen that many pairs of golden goose shoes (even on teenage siblings) or designer bags on any campus. Moms were dressed to impress. Cars were really nice. I was struck at how much effort the parents put in to look good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only student I know who went to Wake treated college as “finishing school”. Fits all the stereotypes mentioned so far: WASP, Southern, preppy, smart and great student but not intellectual, wealthy but not at all flashy about it, Greek life essential, great social skills

I went to Wake and this is about right. Most of my classmates were smart and hardworking but not intellectual (i.e., would grind but wouldn't stay up late discussing political philosophy). Plenty of opportunities to party and have fun. Lots of well to do families but nouveau riche tendencies are looked down upon.

I'd say you can have fun while not being Greek but Greek life dominates.

I was at Wake recently to see my niece and I beg to differ. I was there on family weekend and I have not seen that many pairs of golden goose shoes (even on teenage siblings) or designer bags on any campus. Moms were dressed to impress. Cars were really nice. I was struck at how much effort the parents put in to look good.

I guess everyone has a different view of flashy then. Golden Goose and designer bags don't meet that standard in my book (and certainly aren't nouveau riche per se).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only student I know who went to Wake treated college as “finishing school”. Fits all the stereotypes mentioned so far: WASP, Southern, preppy, smart and great student but not intellectual, wealthy but not at all flashy about it, Greek life essential, great social skills

I went to Wake and this is about right. Most of my classmates were smart and hardworking but not intellectual (i.e., would grind but wouldn't stay up late discussing political philosophy). Plenty of opportunities to party and have fun. Lots of well to do families but nouveau riche tendencies are looked down upon.

I'd say you can have fun while not being Greek but Greek life dominates.

I was at Wake recently to see my niece and I beg to differ. I was there on family weekend and I have not seen that many pairs of golden goose shoes (even on teenage siblings) or designer bags on any campus. Moms were dressed to impress. Cars were really nice. I was struck at how much effort the parents put in to look good.

I guess everyone has a different view of flashy then. Golden Goose and designer bags don't meet that standard in my book (and certainly aren't nouveau riche per se).

Really? What’s your standard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only student I know who went to Wake treated college as “finishing school”. Fits all the stereotypes mentioned so far: WASP, Southern, preppy, smart and great student but not intellectual, wealthy but not at all flashy about it, Greek life essential, great social skills

I went to Wake and this is about right. Most of my classmates were smart and hardworking but not intellectual (i.e., would grind but wouldn't stay up late discussing political philosophy). Plenty of opportunities to party and have fun. Lots of well to do families but nouveau riche tendencies are looked down upon.

I'd say you can have fun while not being Greek but Greek life dominates.

I was at Wake recently to see my niece and I beg to differ. I was there on family weekend and I have not seen that many pairs of golden goose shoes (even on teenage siblings) or designer bags on any campus. Moms were dressed to impress. Cars were really nice. I was struck at how much effort the parents put in to look good.

I guess everyone has a different view of flashy then. Golden Goose and designer bags don't meet that standard in my book (and certainly aren't nouveau riche per se).

LOL! What are your standards then!