Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 13:51     Subject: Re:experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son with strong stats got into UVA and William & Mary (in-state) but was waitlisted at Wake Forest. I was surprised tbh.


Aren't UVA and W&M the easier admits here? Applying in-state I mean. UNC is way way easier in-state than Wake (excepting certain counties/schools).


Maybe W&M, but I definitely thought UVA was the tougher admit over Wake Forest. That's why I was surprised by the acceptance (EA) to UVA and the waitlist (RD) to WF.


This isn’t actually surprising. Wake’s RD admission rate is around or just under 10 percent. Your kid would have been accepted ED1 had they applied.


Looks like UVA's in-state acceptance rate is about 23%. Although I assume the rate varies based on when you apply and under what terms.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 11:23     Subject: Re:experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son with strong stats got into UVA and William & Mary (in-state) but was waitlisted at Wake Forest. I was surprised tbh.


Aren't UVA and W&M the easier admits here? Applying in-state I mean. UNC is way way easier in-state than Wake (excepting certain counties/schools).


Maybe W&M, but I definitely thought UVA was the tougher admit over Wake Forest. That's why I was surprised by the acceptance (EA) to UVA and the waitlist (RD) to WF.


This isn’t actually surprising. Wake’s RD admission rate is around or just under 10 percent. Your kid would have been accepted ED1 had they applied.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 11:21     Subject: Re:experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:Emory is more competitive than Wake for sure. Duke is in an entirely different league.


Not at our private. So few kids apply to Emory that they will take anyone ED as long as in top half class.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 10:47     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Emory mom has found this thread. Can you imagine going though life self identifying with your kid’s school in such a toxic manner?
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 10:46     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wake and Emory are pretty similar, especially SAT scores, etc. Everyone puts Duke above the Wake and Emory tier.

You're lying
Wake
1420-1500/32-34

Emory
1480-1540/33-35

Duke
1520-1570/34-35

Duke is a deviation higher than Emory , which is a deviation higher than Wake

+1 essentially, Emory’s median is Wake's 75th, and Duke's median is Emory’s 75th.


It’s meaningless when all thee schools are test optional.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 10:14     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:My kid looked at both Wake and Emory both of which are common destinations for top students at their private school. Academically, both are peers. The differences come down to social vibe. The kids who choose Emory are usually less interested in college sports and want the diversity that a larger metro area offers.

They arent peers academically. Their business schools are similarly ranked but Emory is still better. Although business is Wake's best program and Emorys 5th best.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:19     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Add in SMU to grouping of Wake, BC, Tulane. Ahead of the Elons but those 4 are comparable to state flagships.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:17     Subject: Re:experience with Wake this year
Emory is more competitive than Wake for sure. Duke is in an entirely different league.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:14     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our counselor told us it is a high reach and the next "Emory, Duke etc." and we thought based on the ranks it was more attainable. Curious about experience applying. A was surprised a few kids who applied from our public school did not get in but maybe the waitlist will move?


No, not even close at our private (outside DMV). It's not Elon, but it's definitely a few tiers below Duke in terms of how hard it is to get in. Students who enrol at Wake at our school do not even apply to Duke, or if they do, they don't even get waitlisted unless legacy. It's a comparable admit to Tulane at our HS, especially if you do ED.

Note: You do need to show clear, demonstrated interest! And there's numerous ways you can do that - EA or ED, visit, do the summer program, virtual events, meet the rep in your school/area, write essays carefully, ask to attend a class, interact with admissions, etc.

This is the exact at our private. It’s for the kids who otherwise are applying to Elon, Tulane, etc. It’s not even in the conversation with Duke
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:12     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:Wake is like Tulane, Miami, Boston College grouping. Solid 40-60 schools.


In terms of gaming rankings with BS early decision manipulations, Tulane>Miami>BC>Wake with the manip-u-lometer from right to left (Tulane greatest, BC and Wake least)l
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:09     Subject: experience with Wake this year
My kid looked at both Wake and Emory both of which are common destinations for top students at their private school. Academically, both are peers. The differences come down to social vibe. The kids who choose Emory are usually less interested in college sports and want the diversity that a larger metro area offers.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:08     Subject: Re:experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son with strong stats got into UVA and William & Mary (in-state) but was waitlisted at Wake Forest. I was surprised tbh.


Aren't UVA and W&M the easier admits here? Applying in-state I mean. UNC is way way easier in-state than Wake (excepting certain counties/schools).


Maybe W&M, but I definitely thought UVA was the tougher admit over Wake Forest. That's why I was surprised by the acceptance (EA) to UVA and the waitlist (RD) to WF.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 09:06     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Wake is like Tulane, Miami, Boston College grouping. Solid 40-60 schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 08:53     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wake and Emory are pretty similar, especially SAT scores, etc. Everyone puts Duke above the Wake and Emory tier.

You're lying
Wake
1420-1500/32-34

Emory
1480-1540/33-35

Duke
1520-1570/34-35

Duke is a deviation higher than Emory , which is a deviation higher than Wake

+1 essentially, Emory’s median is Wake's 75th, and Duke's median is Emory’s 75th.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 06:49     Subject: experience with Wake this year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wake and Emory are pretty similar, especially SAT scores, etc. Everyone puts Duke above the Wake and Emory tier.

You're lying
Wake
1420-1500/32-34

Emory
1480-1540/33-35

Duke
1520-1570/34-35

Duke is a deviation higher than Emory , which is a deviation higher than Wake


Who are you calling a deviant?