Important Information about Our Waitlist

We often hear students talk about (or, in their applications, read them write about) that “gut feeling” when they visit campus. That moment when they are out on the tour and have an epiphany: “This is the place.” The place where they know they should spend four years. The place whose T-shirt they will proudly wear. The place where parents and guardians eagerly share that their child is enrolled… So what do you do when you don’t get the invitation to join that place’s newest class of students? 

My colleagues and I can’t – and we won’t – deny the emotional part of the whole college search process. It’s part of what makes our work of evaluating students difficult but also a significant part of you choosing the school in which you will enroll. 

And while it may not feel like much, being invited to join the waitlist is still an accomplishment. It reflects our admissions committee’s understanding of your academic work, of your community contributions – of you – that is fit for this University.

If you are still interested in being a student at Wake Forest, I’d like to offer a few things for your consideration: 

1. Take a moment to review this blog post from earlier this year. In it, you’ll find some important information about our waitlist process.

2. Keep an eye out for our waitlist webinar. Registration and log-in information will be shared with applicants via email; parents and college counselors/advisors are welcome! During that conversation, members of our admissions committee will discuss the nuts and bolts of our waitlist process and offer a few ideas about what to do in the weeks ahead.

3. The admissions committee will monitor enrollment over the next few weeks and, in late April, will discuss how many additional students will need to be added to the class. The number of students admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year, and it’s too early at this point to say how many students we’ll need this year.

One final piece of advice: please keep the enrollment processes (and deadlines!) in mind at the other institutions to which you’ve applied and been admitted. Don’t risk losing your seat there, waiting to hear from us. 

Again, thank you for your interest in joining the Wake Forest community. I wish you well, wherever your journey may take you. 

Kindly, 

Thomas Ray
Associate Dean of Admissions
Wake Forest University

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