An Update from Admissions

Thank you for your patience, as you have awaited news from the Admissions Committee. Our staff has been hard at work over the last few months, and we write to share an update. But before we do, we would first like to take a moment to thank you for all of the time and energy you put into our application process. We recognize that the uncertainties of the last two years have made for an unusual college search, but we appreciate all you have done – along with the support of parents/guardians, college counselors, faculty, and community members – to get to this point. No matter where your academic pursuits take you, or what college you choose to attend, we wish you every success.

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Interest in attending Wake Forest is at an all-time high: our Admissions Committee received, processed, and reviewed nearly 18,000 applications for admission – which is roughly a 20% increase from the previous year – for a first-year class of only about 1400 students. Our admitted class brings a multiplicity of backgrounds and experiences, and is the most diverse in our University’s history. To those of you who have been admitted, congratulations! We look forward to connecting with you over the coming weeks. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for additional details regarding on-campus and virtual programming. And we hope to hear your admissions decision by May 1!

While we celebrate the students initially admitted to the Wake Forest Class of 2026, we understand the disappointment that some of you feel in being invited to join the waitlist. That news may not have been what you were hoping for, but the opportunity remains for you to join our next first-year class. First, you need to add yourself to our active wait list. Your application will not receive further consideration if you do not take this step. To join the active waitlist, log in to your Admissions status portal. There, you will find the “Decision Reply Form.” Complete it, indicating the last date you’d like to be considered for admission; then, submit it. Secondly, please save the date for our waitlist webinar, which will be held on Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. Additional details, including login information, will be shared with applicants via email. During that conversation, we will discuss our waitlist process and share information about how students are offered admission from the waitlist.

Finally, we’d like to address those of you who were not invited to join the class or our waitlist. Selecting students to fill our class is always a difficult task, and that is especially the case this year. Our admissions decisions are based on many considerations, and each student is evaluated thoroughly and individually. While we cannot offer admission to you at this time, we do hope you find the place that fulfills you – both academically and personally.

Our warmest regards,
Wake Forest University Office of Undergraduate Admissions