Wake Forest University Top Questions

The stereotype of students at my university includes but is not limited to the following: sorostitutes, frat stars, ostracized geeds, crazy-intellectual Asians, religious hypocrites, and the high-on-cloud-nine debate team

It's true that Greek life is a major part of the social scene at Wake. Since it is so prominent, there is also a pretty obvious divide between Greeks and non-Greeks. Individual chapters, however, are a lot smaller than at bigger state schools, so it is much more common that people have friends outside of their Greek organization. Wake students in general are involved in a multitude of activities around campus and in the Winston-Salem community, so even those that decide not to join Greek life can find their niche.

The most prevalent stereotype on the Wake Forest campus is "the frat star". This is due to the university's large Greek Life population. Nearly 45{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students participate in a Greek organization. This means there are a lot of kids on campus wearing frat attire: Polos, Sperrys, Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Frey boots, etc. They also have big parties off campus that are attended by many students both Greek and non-Greek. Some parents and prospective students may view this as a negative. They may think that Fraternities and Sororities are a distraction and believe they will inhibit a student’s academic achievements. This may be true at other universities but it does not hold true at Wake Forest. As a senior at Wake Forest University and a member of Greek Life, I can tell you that the Greek Students at WFU are also some the most involved and influential people on campus. Their organization might be important to them but it does not define them. Sorority women are involved in club sports as well as varsity soccer, field hockey, and cheer teams. They participate in Wake Radio, Wake TV, and student Government. They are also in many theater and dance performances. The All-Sorority GPA average (3.2) is typically higher than the All-Women GPA average on campus. This is due to the strong support system that sororities create for their members. Sororities also emphasize the importance of academic excellence and often reward their members for their achievements. Fraternity men are just as active. Many are student trustees or student advisers. Some are in student government, others play club soccer, lacrosse, and rugby. They are also involved with habitat for humanity and the rape prevention group called Prepare. The Universities biggest philanthropy fundraisers are: Hit the Bricks, Wake n' Shake, and Rush for the Cure. This year all three had were chaired by members of a Greek organization. All Greek organizations require their members to be involved in at least one of activity outside of Greek life. They also require members to maintain an acceptable grade point average. If a students GPA drops too low they will be released from the organization. It is obvious that Greek students make up a large part of the student body. However there is also a diverse group of students who remain independent. These students are all unique individuals and are just as influential on campus. They run clubs and other organizations just like members in the Greek Community. Actually, most the time Greeks and Non-Greeks are working side by side to put together big campus events. The fact that a student is not involved in Greek Life will not lessen their experience at WFU. They will form just as many lasting friendships. They will also have equal opportunities in all extracurricular events. Wake Forest is much more than colorful polos and Sperrys. Whether you are Greek or not, there is a place for you on Wake’s campus. The small size brings people together and allows students to get involved with a variety of activities. Yes there are stereotypes but they do not truly represent the diverse spirit of Wake Forest.

Wake Forest has a large Greek population, with about 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students in fraternities and sororities. Each fraternity and Sorority has its own stereotype, which becomes apparent after one spends time on campus. However, there are plenty of unaffiliated students, and a large amount of clubs and activities that each attract their own "type". As a school with Division 1 athletics, there'd is a "clique" of athletes, and we have theme housing which allows for a variety of groups to form.

There is a stereotype that many students who attend Wake Forest are rich, pretentious jerks who have graduated from some iconic private school somewhere. I'd be lying if I said this stereotype was entirely untrue, as the university's prestige and somewhat expensive tuition tends to draw those with this kind of personality and background. However, both the multicultural program and student organizations have blossomed in recent years, allowing for a more diverse student body as a whole. Whatever interests you identify with will surely be accommodated here.

I would say the biggest stereotype of Wake Forest students is that we are all wealthy. This is definitely not the case, although some students are obviously wealthy. Wake is home to students from all walks of life. I myself come from an extremely humble background, but I have made some amazing friends here who come from more wealthy backgrounds, as well as from backgrounds that are less wealthy than mine. Without a doubt, I have met many students here who, despite their family's either good or bad financial situations, demonstrate Wake's motto of Pro Humanitate perfectly. Wake students are tremendously dedicated to service within the community, whether it be through fundraising for good causes or simply volunteering their time in the community.

At Wake Forest, there are multiple stereotypes. But the primary one surrounds Greek life and wealth. It seems that in order to be "popular," you must join a sorority or fraternity. It is difficult to make friends if you do not go to the numerous parties that occur nearly every night. Furthermore, it seems there is a Greek "checklist" that one must fulfill in order to join. For example, carrying the cutest designer bags, wearing the most expensive jeans and polos, and using the word "like" countless times in one's vocabulary are only a few of these criteria. If you fit all of these aspects, then Wake Forest is definitely the place for you. But if you don't, not to worry; there are many students here who are what I consider your average college student, with average hair, average style, and average wealth. No matter what stereotype you fall into, you will find a friend that is very similar to yourself.

While this stereotype is accurate for the most part, the university is more diverse than it may seem at first glance. You will definitely see girls in Lily Pulitzer dresses and guys wearing suits and bow ties at tailgates before the football games. The amount of Lily Pulitzer planners and cell phone cases I see in class is extreme, but there are definitely students who stray from this stereotype. If you are not a fan of the preppy style, there are certainly a number of students who come to class dressed in normal casual clothes, but it is rare to see a student come to class in sweatpants. I have found that the students tend to take pride in this stereotype because they believe it is a good way to begin preparing for the real world. Students are conscious of the fact that in a few years they will be expected to show up to work in business attire and they feel that they need to begin dressing professionally now as they make connections with their professors and classmates.

The most rampant stereotype of Wake students boils down to two words: "Preppy" and "Frat". This stereotype is based on the large percentage of the student population belonging to a Greek organization--a percentage that feels much greater than that advertised by the Admissions Office. In truth, the social vibrancy of the campus almost entirely revolves around Frat parties and Sorority functions; and, if you were to take a stroll around campus, you wouldn't be able to deny the prevalence of labels such as J.Crew and Polo. Even so, these characteristics are fruits of Wake's Southern charm. Friendliness and hospitality are as much a part of this stereotype; and, student-to-student, the stereotype of a Demon Deacon extends to exceptionally ambitious and driven. We don't call it Work Forest for nothing.