Year-End Updates and Final Application Instructions

The end of another calendar year marks the mid-point in our admissions cycle. In some aspects, it seems like August 1 was just yesterday! And here we are today, with only a few weeks left in 2025. Today’s blog post includes what we hope is valuable information. 

• The Wake Forest University Office of Undergraduate Admissions will close for Winter Break at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 19. We will return to the office on Monday, January 5, 2026. 

• For those seeking admission, applicants have until 11:59 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to submit their Regular Decision or Early Decision II application. If that time comes and goes, and you find that your application was submitted after that time, do not panic. We fully expect the Common and Coalition application platforms to be especially busy that day, and we recognize that technical difficulties may arise. You will still be considered for admission in the round for which you have applied, even if your application submission date comes shortly after January 1. 

• As a reminder, your status portal is the best resource to review the status of your application. Please be aware that your admissions checklist will only reflect the materials required in our admissions process; most supplemental or optional materials (e.g. a résumé or recommendations beyond the two required) will not be reflected in your checklist. Please be aware that there is generally a 24-48-hour delay from the time you submit a document to the time that our admissions and/or financial-aid systems reflect receipt. Some application materials may also require manual processing, which would further impact this timeline. Thank you, in advance, for your patience. 

• Please give us until January 26, 2026, before contacting us with questions about your application status. The end of one year typically brings about unusually high email volume, and it can take a few weeks for our staff to process all those messages. 

As we transition into a new year, we offer our gratitude for all that you have put into our admissions process and into your college search as a whole. Thanks also for your interest in Wake Forest. We eagerly await all the opportunities that will come in 2026! 

Happy holidays, and have a very happy New Year!

Warmest regards,
Wake Forest University Office of Undergraduate Admissions

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