Candidates for admission must furnish evidence of maturity and educational achievement. The Committee on Admissions carefully considers the applicant’s academic records, scores on any submitted standardized tests, written portion of the application, and evidence of character, motivation, goals, and general fitness for study in the College. The applicant’s secondary school program must establish a commitment to the kind of broad liberal education reflected in the academic requirements of the College.

Admission as a first-year student normally requires graduation from an accredited secondary school with a minimum of 16 units of high school credit. These should include 4 units in English, 3 in mathematics, 2 in history and social studies, 2 in a single foreign language, and 1 in the natural sciences. An applicant who presents at least 12 units of differently distributed college preparatory study can be considered. Homeschooled students submitting all required documentation of the application will be considered.  Additional documentation outlining the homeschool curriculum, including transcripts from courses taken outside the home and Advanced Placement or other standardized test scores are welcomed. A limited number of applicants may be admitted without the high school diploma, with particular attention given to ability, maturity, and motivation.

Application

Instructions for applying to Wake Forest can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions’ webpage.

Applications should be completed and returned to that office no later than January 1 for the fall semester. Most admissions decisions for the fall semester are returned to applicants by April 1.

The admission application requires records and recommendations directly from secondary school officials. Submission of standardized test scores is optional; scores may be self-reported in the admissions application or sent directly to the University by the official testing service. (Note: All international students whose first language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score.) The application fee is $85, but may be waived for those experiencing financial hardship. The University reserves the right to reject any application without explanation.

A $1500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required of all regularly admitted students. Instructions for submitting that enrollment deposit will be provided after admission.  The enrollment deposit is credited toward first semester fees and is nonrefundable. Students seeking admission as a Transfer applicant, whether for the fall or spring academic term, should submit their enrollment deposit within two weeks of receipt of an admissions decision. No deposit is required for summer session enrollment.

Early Decision and Early Action

Wake Forest has two binding early decision plans for students who have decided conclusively that Wake Forest is their first college choice. While early decision applicants may submit regular decision applications to other institutions, Wake Forest must be the applicant’s first choice and only early decision application. Students, parents, and school counselors must sign the Early Decision Agreement stating that the applicant will enroll if admitted and will withdraw all applications to other colleges upon acceptance to Wake Forest.

Early Decision I (ED I) students may apply as early as August 1 but no later than November 15. ED I applicants are notified on a rolling basis, with decisions being released at the end of each month during the Fall.

Early Decision II (ED II) applicants must follow the same exclusivity guidelines as required for ED I. The ED II application deadline is January 1. ED II is not rolling; decisions are released to students with a complete application in mid-February.

A $1500 enrollment deposit is due within two weeks of acceptance notification for both ED I and ED II.

The Early Action application round gives first-generation college students an admissions decision by January 15. Unlike Early Decision admissions, the Early Action decision is non-binding. Admitted first-generation students have until May 1 to decide if they will enroll at Wake Forest.

Admission of Students with Disabilities

Wake Forest College will consider the application of any qualified student, regardless of disability, on the basis of the selection criteria established by the University which include personal and academic merit. Upon matriculation, all students will be required to meet the same standards for graduation.

The University endeavors to provide facilities which are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding access for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, services are available to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. For more information on assistance for undergraduate students, please contact the director of the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success at 336-758-5929, or refer to Disability Services under Campus Life on the Wake Forest website.

Admission of Transfer Students

The number of transfer students who can be admitted each year depends upon the availability of space in the first-year (second semester), sophomore, and junior classes. Transfer students must be eligible for readmission to the last college attended and must supply a Dean’s Statement(s) from all colleges attended. The Dean’s Statement addresses any disciplinary action that may have been taken against the student for academic or non-academic reasons. The student must have an overall average of at least C on all college work attempted.

Courses satisfactorily completed in other accredited colleges are accepted subject to faculty approval. In general, no credit is allowed for courses not found in the Wake Forest curriculum. To earn a baccalaureate degree from Wake Forest University, a minimum of half of the degree requirements must be completed at Wake Forest, the senior year and one other.

Additionally, Wake Forest has a six-semester (typically three-year) residency requirement. Students are required to live in campus housing their first three years. The University is committed to housing students who request to live on-campus after fulfilling the residency requirement. Students who study abroad during the fall or spring semesters are given credit for that time toward their residency requirement; summer sessions do NOT count toward residency requirements. Transfer students are expected to fulfill the six-semester residency requirement. However, transfer students who have lived on campus at another institution are given credit for that time toward their residency requirement. See “Housing” for more information.