Anonymous
03/07/2026 12:58
Subject: Re:Wake
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.
They don't give much merit aid though so that pretty much counts us out, even if we could get in.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 12:36
Subject: Wake
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you are upset it went from 28 to 51? Considering all the schools- is that really that different?
51 is excellent.
I think a lot of people perceive rankings as incremental, like a yardstick. But in fact there might be almost no difference in several schools while on the list they are fifteen places apart.
If 51 is excellent then 28 is elite. Why isn’t Wake elite anymore?
Anonymous
03/07/2026 12:28
Subject: Wake
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.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 12:25
Subject: Wake
Anonymous wrote:So you are upset it went from 28 to 51? Considering all the schools- is that really that different?
51 is excellent.
I think a lot of people perceive rankings as incremental, like a yardstick. But in fact there might be almost no difference in several schools while on the list they are fifteen places apart.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 12:13
Subject: Wake
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.
As others have said a solid, R1 university that provides a great education.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 11:43
Subject: Wake
So you are upset it went from 28 to 51? Considering all the schools- is that really that different?
Anonymous
03/07/2026 11:19
Subject: Wake
So. Many. Threads. On. This. Topic. Already.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1295719.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1275285.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/150/1315432.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/1216239.page
Pro Tip: Use Google to search for old DCUM threads rather than the search bar on this website. Go into Google and include: DCUM + [whatever search terms you're seeking] It's much more efficient than the internal search bar, though that certainly works, too.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1295719.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1275285.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/150/1315432.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/1216239.page
Pro Tip: Use Google to search for old DCUM threads rather than the search bar on this website. Go into Google and include: DCUM + [whatever search terms you're seeking] It's much more efficient than the internal search bar, though that certainly works, too.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 11:15
Subject: Wake
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."
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."
Anonymous
03/07/2026 11:14
Subject: Wake
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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?
Those are people who know very little. Schools don't change over night. And I am saying this as much for schools that rocket up the rankings as those who drop.
Wake is fine. It has its accurate place in the world. Very good school. Well-rounded, well-socialized kids. Never going to be an Ivy and always a bit in Duke's shadow but that's OK. I have worked and socialized with a number of Wake alums of all ages and it has been a positive experience.
Okay. So what’s going on with their rankings?
Why don’t you look up the two dozen other threads where this has been discussed? The Wake troll really needs more material.
Rude. It’s a legitimate question. We visited Wake and loved it, and my DC applied there as well. But I don’t understand the ranking piece either.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 11:03
Subject: Wake
Anonymous wrote: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?
Those are people who know very little. Schools don't change over night. And I am saying this as much for schools that rocket up the rankings as those who drop.
Wake is fine. It has its accurate place in the world. Very good school. Well-rounded, well-socialized kids. Never going to be an Ivy and always a bit in Duke's shadow but that's OK. I have worked and socialized with a number of Wake alums of all ages and it has been a positive experience.
Okay. So what’s going on with their rankings?
Why don’t you look up the two dozen other threads where this has been discussed? The Wake troll really needs more material.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 10:57
Subject: Wake
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?
Those are people who know very little. Schools don't change over night. And I am saying this as much for schools that rocket up the rankings as those who drop.
Wake is fine. It has its accurate place in the world. Very good school. Well-rounded, well-socialized kids. Never going to be an Ivy and always a bit in Duke's shadow but that's OK. I have worked and socialized with a number of Wake alums of all ages and it has been a positive experience.
Okay. So what’s going on with their rankings?
Anonymous
03/07/2026 10:55
Subject: Wake
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?
Those are people who know very little. Schools don't change over night. And I am saying this as much for schools that rocket up the rankings as those who drop.
Wake is fine. It has its accurate place in the world. Very good school. Well-rounded, well-socialized kids. Never going to be an Ivy and always a bit in Duke's shadow but that's OK. I have worked and socialized with a number of Wake alums of all ages and it has been a positive experience.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 08:42
Subject: Wake
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?
Anonymous
03/07/2026 08:32
Subject: Wake
Weed out the idiots who solely judge schools based on rankings. Not necessarily a bad thing...
Anonymous
03/07/2026 08:10
Subject: Wake
Why are the rankings so bad? Outside T50 in USNWR and 98th in Forbes. Some say it’s just USNWR’s methodology, so then why is the Forbes ranking even worse? I can’t help but think over time this will reduce the quality of student that wants to enroll given myriad public colleges are ranked better and cheaper.