wake forest supplemental essay examples

Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Tips

September 13, 2023

Admission is highly competitive at Wake Forest University, a mid-sized private school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They accept only one-fifth of applicants and standards are high. In fact, almost 70% of enrolled students finished in the top decile of their high school class. At a school that rejects four of every five applicants, every aspect of your application needs to shine. The Wake Forest supplemental essays are one such component.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Wake Forest University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Wake Forest: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Wake Forest’s one required and four optional essay prompts (which we highly recommend answering) are “very important” to the admissions process. Therefore, it is vital that all Demon Deacon applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to these short answer questions. Below are the Wake Forest supplemental essays for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our brainstorming/writing tips.

2023-2024 Wake Forest Supplemental Essays

1) why have you decided to apply to wake forest share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (required, max 150 words)..

This is a pure and simple “Why Us?” essay. For a deeper dive, let’s examine a list of characteristics of a winning “Why Wake Forest?” supplemental essay:

• Firstly, demonstrate how your goals align with the school’s mission statement. “ Pro Humanitate (For Humanity), is a calling to use our knowledge, talents and compassion to better the lives of others.”
• Then, cite specific academic programs ,  professors ,  research opportunities ,  internship/externship programs ,  study abroad programs ,  student-run organizations , etc.
• Also describe how you will be an active, contributing member of the academic community at Wake Forest University?
• How will you take advantage of Wake Forest’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom?
• Lastly, explain why Wake Forest is an ideal-fit institution.

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school. However, it shouldn’t read like you just Googled everything ten minutes before writing the essay. In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar Wake Forest essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

Wake Forest Supplemental Essays (Continued)

2)  list five books you’ve read that intrigued you (title and author). (optional).

In the real world, one way human beings connect is through a shared love of stories, true or fictional. In the application world, this Wake Forest prompt can facilitate some level of connection between you and an admissions reader. The goal is not to appear as well-rounded as possible. If you happen to be a person with wide-ranging interests, that’s cool—feel free to share your eclectic tastes. However, if you tend to favor books about Zen Buddhism, the Civil War, or fantasy, for example, it can be great to communicate this primary passion by unleashing a list of five books on that lone topic.

Note: You’re provided with individual text boxes for each book and author, and you’ll need to select whether or not they were required reading.

3) Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (OPTIONAL, max 150 words)

Out of everything on this Earth, what makes you tick? What keeps you up at night? What subject makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? This prompt essentially invites you to share a topic about which you are a) an expert and b) extremely passionate. This may be the subject that your friends and family (even those who love you dearly) are getting tired of hearing about every day. You shouldn’t have to think too hard about this topic. Instead, go with the topic that you could easily write 50,000 words about and condense those thoughts down to just 150 words.

Alternatively, you could discuss how something you’ve read or an experience you’ve had—academic or extracurricular—helped you understand the world’s complexity. Given the extremely tight word count, you’ll need to be as specific as possible. To help you brainstorm, here are some common areas of complexity that can be addressed:

• Good, evil, and everything in-between
• Religion and spirituality
• Fate vs. Free Will
• Family issues
• Mental health
• Love and friendship
• Issue of race, class, and gender

4) Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (OPTIONAL, 300 words)

Firstly, you’ll need to select one of Dr. Angelou’s quotes, which will involve some research. The quote you choose isn’t as important as how well you’re able to connect it to your own experiences and goals, so don’t worry about whether your quote is popular or more obscure. Whether you choose “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life” or “If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?” or “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn,” be inspired by Dr. Angelou’s wisdom and use that inspiration to communicate something important about your experiences, background, values, or perspective. In addition, researching the context of the quote might give you even more inspiration.

5) Give us your Top 10 list. (The choice of theme is yours.) (OPTIONAL)

This is a fun opportunity to share something genuinely unique about yourself and/or your interests. Perhaps you want to showcase your sense of humor, your love of music, your obsession with Titanic documentaries, your favorite coding languages, your extensive sneaker collection, or your best Scrabble words, among many, many others. The sky is the limit here! We’d also recommend sharing a brief “why” for each item on your list to further highlight your personality.

How important are the Wake Forest supplemental essays?

The essays are “very important” to the Wake Forest admissions committee. There are only four other factors rated this high in the process. Those are: GPA, class rank, standardized test scores, character/personal qualities, and the rigor of your secondary school record.

Want personalized assistance with your Wake Forest supplemental essays?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Wake Forest supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

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Blog > Essay Advice , Private University , Supplementals > How to Write the Wake Forest Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Wake Forest Supplemental Essays

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University Admissions

Key Takeaway

Applying to Wake Forest involves optional short answer questions that focus on books that intrigued you, texts influencing your worldview, your intellectual curiosity, and a unique Top Ten list. The answers should align with your application narrative and reveal genuine insights about you.

Applying to Wake Forest? You have four optional short answer questions to go along with your Wake Forest application.

As you can see in the prompt below, you can answer whichever ones you want or none at all.

We welcome the opportunity to get to know you beyond the numbers. You are invited to answer any, all, or none of the following optional short-response questions.

1. list five books you've read that intrigued you..

For this question, you don’t get room for explanation, so the books will have to stand on their own. You also have to indicate whether the book was required reading or not.

A good rule of thumb is to mix a few serious titles that relate to your worldview with a few fun, insightful, whacky, etc. ones that showcase your personality. You can include a classic or two, maybe ones from different authors, and a fun one for some interest.

In the name of honesty, these really should all be books that you’ve actually read.

2. Explain how a text you've read – fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or literature of any kind – has helped you to understand the world's complexity. (150 words)

Let’s face it. There’s a lot that’s complex in the world. Don’t feel like the work you choose has to touch on every single worldly complexity you’ve ever thought of.

Instead, pick a work that’s influenced your worldview, and analyze how it changed your perspective on a specific part of the world’s complexity.

The kind of text you choose doesn’t matter as much as how you write about it. But because this is a more serious question, it’s probably a good idea to choose a more serious text. If you’re going to choose a less serious one, just be sure that your analysis is good.

It also may be a good idea to choose a part of the world’s complexity that relates to your cohesive application narrative .

A quick note on cliches: it’s probably best to avoid common books like Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go , which will undoubtedly appear in many other applications.

3. Tell us more about the topic that most engages your intellectual curiosity. (150 words)

Like an academic interest essay , this prompt urges you to geek out a little and describe a topic that makes you curious.

The topic can be related to your intended major, but it doesn’t have to be.

Your essay is an opportunity to show the kinds of critical thinking skills and creativity you’d bring to the Wake Forest classroom. It’s a way to demonstrate academic fit and values alignment with Wake Forest.

So think about a topic that suits your application narrative , and get to writing.

4. Give us your Top Ten list.

Wake Forest also gives you space to describe the theme of your list.

The most common Top Ten lists probably include songs, movies, books, TV shows, foods, podcasts, cars—you get it!

If you want to stand out with this question, either your theme or your list should be unique.

Don’t go so over-the-top with uniqueness that your list seems out of place, but try to be creative with how you approach it.

You might list the Top Ten sock brands, for example, or the Top Ten chocolate chip cookie recipes.

Find a theme that aligns with what you have in the rest of your application, then try to be creative but not overly quirky.

Remember: you don’t technically have to answer any of these questions. You can choose to answer one of them, just a couple of them, all of them, or none.

Because they’re optional, you want to make sure that they’re adding great value to your application. Each answer should still reveal something important about you to admissions officers. Think of them each as opportunities to advocate for your admission.

If you need more guidance about writing supplemental essays, check out our giant supplemental essay guide next.

Liked that? Try this next.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Wake Forest University Supplemental Essays

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Wake Forest University is a private university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Wake Forest supplemental essays are a great opportunity for you to showcase who you are in a way that your resume can never do.

Unlike a lot of other college essays, Wake Forest’s prompts are primarily academic focused (although there is some fun to be had!). They want to know about you intellectually, which can feel a bit overwhelming at first. But not to worry– we are going to break down each of the optional prompts to make them easier to understand. Let’s get started!

Related: College supplemental essay database

“List five books you have read that intrigued you. (Spaces have been left for you to include each book’s title and author and mark whether the selection was required or not required.)”

This is a great question as it is simple, easy, and straight to the point. To start, think about all of the books you have read and why you liked each of them. 

From there, you want to try and choose five books that are different from one another. Try to go beyond the books that you’re assigned for your classes, and choose some that you read in your own free time.

This will show depth of thought, along with the fact that you are able to read different genres and authors, and have a wide variety of intellectual information. An example of this might be in the novel The Alchemist , which reminds readers that they are ultimately in charge of their own destiny.

Questions to consider

• What about each of the books have intrigued you?
• Is it the genre that intrigues you, or each book individually that draws you in?
• What made you pick up the book in the first place?

“Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved.” (150 words max)

This question is nice because it is extremely open ended like the rest of Wake Forest’s supplemental essay prompts. To help inspire you with what to write about, you can think about a class that you took in high school that you really enjoyed. 

If there was a topic that stood out to you in one of those classes, do some more research about it to figure out why you are passionate about it. This question applies to more than formal academic subjects, so if there are certain art, music, or philosophical ideas that engage you outside of school, do share. This could be analyzing movies, music, or discussing the meaning of life with your grandfather. 

150 words go by pretty quickly, so try to be concise with your words.

• What’s something profound that you’ve learned from a book or experience? 
• How have your perspectives changed throughout the years? What caused it?
• What do you want to learn about the world? Why?

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

“Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community?” (300 words max)

As Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Therefore, leave your mark on Wake Forest with your supplemental essay by showing vulnerability. 

Tell the university what moves you, and how you plan to use your perspectives on campus. Dr. Angelou was a powerful and influential voice, so how might you showcase your own?

• What is one of your favorite works of Dr. Maya Angelou? Why?
• What does this quote mean to you?
• How can you relate to Dr. Angelou?

Don’t miss: How to write a 250 word essay

“Give us your top ten list. Theme: __________________________”

The fourth and final prompt in the series of Wake Forest supplemental essay prompts is one of the most interesting prompts that we have seen among the college supplemental essay prompts. You have so much creative freedom with this prompt that it almost makes it more difficult to think of what to write. 

To start, don’t overthink it. Picking the theme is the easy part, but actually thinking of a list of things that represents you well is tricky. You want to be unique so that your personality shines to the people who are reading the essay. 

Do you have a Top 10 favorite musicians list? Want to dig deeper? Write about your top 10 most influential people to have ever existed. Things like these will make you stand out and get the reader thinking. 

• Why have these things made it into your top 10?
• What are some of your favorite things? Why are they important?
• How does your list put who you are into context?

Final thoughts for students

The Wake Forest supplemental essays are open-ended, which can seem daunting at first glance. But as long as you stay true to yourself in your writing and write what you know, you cannot say the wrong thing. 

This is a chance for Wake Forest to see your sense of humor, your intellect, and what kind of student you are. In the end, these responses  will show them what makes you unique. Have some fun with it!

Don’t miss: Tips for a successful college application

Additional resources

Once you’ve completed your Wake Forest supplemental essays, give yourself a pat on the back. But remember, the journey is not over! As a student working through your college applications, we understand that you have a lot on your plate.

Luckily, we can alleviate some of that stress by walking you through some of your next steps. Whether you are confused about how to fill out the FAFSA , or possibly the cost of college applications , we have you covered with tons of resources right at your fingertips. Good luck on the rest of your college application journey!

Additional supplemental essay guides

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How to Write the Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

Padya Paramita

October 18, 2021

Consistently ranked among the top 30 schools in US News’ annual rankings, Wake Forest University is a strong option for many talented students. Located in Winston-Salem North Carolina, this university offers over 45 programs, including 60 minors. Whether you have your eyes on their unique Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies program, or you want a small college vibe with access to brilliant research facilities, you need to stand out in your answers to the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022. 

The Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 want to understand your personality. While there are no right answers to these questions, admissions officers will be looking to learn as much about you as possible in order to then determine whether you’re a strong fit for the school. These questions are a little bit unconventional, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you share new information about yourself that can paint a clearer picture of who you are. 

Prompts for the Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

List five books you have read that intrigued you. (Spaces have been left for you to include each book’s title and author and mark whether the selection was required or not required.)

Don’t just mention the classics just for the sake of letting admissions officers know you’ve read them. They are aware of the usual high school reading lists, so they have a good idea of the kinds of books most applicants have read. Think honestly about what you actually enjoyed. High school students often tend to think of “books” as only novels. The term is much broader than that. You could have been intrigued by a history book, a graphic novel, or even a collection of poems. Each entry to the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 should add something new about your interests while remaining cohesive with your application persona, or the theme of the rest of your profile.

Explain how a book you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (150 words)

This is the place where you choose one of the books from the previous question and elaborate on exactly what about it has shaped your perspective. It’s easy to lean towards the classics and say To Kill A Mockingbird gave you a clearer idea of prejudice in America, but you have to be more unique than that because everyone has a high school English reading list like that. Your answer should be unconventional, such as a young adult novel that might have taught you important lessons about sacrifice, or a comic book that helped you see a certain issue in a completely different way. The more out of the box (while remaining uncontroversial) your choice, the more it will help you stand out. 

Tell us more about the topic that most engages your intellectual curiosity. (150 words)

This is a more academic-leaning question than the other prompts among the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 . Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to name a school subject such as “math” or “history,” as long as the topic sparks an intellectual interest within you. There are many video games that require logic and puzzles, and that wouldn’t be a too far-fetched topic. Or, you might be fascinated by the chemistry of baking and have been trying to master the exact proportions needed to make a certain kind of cupcake. Think about how your different hobbies challenge you to think harder and what kind of problems you enjoy solving. And that is your answer!

Give us your top ten list.

Theme: _____________________________

The final question among the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 is a rather fun one. You can literally pick any theme and then choose your top 10 within that theme. While it makes sense to write about your top 10 movies or TV shows, you should go beyond that. Do not be afraid to be quirky because the more niche and pertaining to your interests these are, the better the admissions officers can get to know you. You can write about anything from your top 10 favorite Formula One drivers to what is, according to you, the top 10 greatest banana desserts. Don’t worry too much about this being connected to your academic interest, because this is a great way to show how you would add to the Wake Forest community!

Further Tips for Writing the Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

• Use Anecdotes and Examples: The Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 are all about gauging your intellectual pursuits and engagements outside the classroom. Since the word limits for the prompts aren’t generous, each of your essays should focus on being as specific as possible in depicting your personality and interests. Adding specific examples lets admissions officers understand your perspective better and envision the areas of campus where you’d contribute and how you’d fit in with the Wake Forest community.
• Use the Word Limit Wisely: While 150 isn’t the most restrictive word limit range in the world, it’s not extremely generous either. When writing your Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 , prioritize the content necessary to get your narrative across, and cut any unnecessary statements. Each sentence should provide new information that makes you memorable in the reader’s mind. If you go over the limit—or start repeating your personal statement—it’s time to make cuts and keep what’s new and relevant.
• Have Fun!: This might sound silly, but you need to think about what genuinely brings you joy when writing the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 . Don’t focus too much on books that you’ve read in class or writing about the top 10 historical moments if those don’t genuinely interest you. Think carefully about how you might introduce yourself to a friend and don’t be afraid to let yourself be weird. These are all about standing out, so aim to do exactly that!

After many grueling components that ask about your academic endeavors and extracurricular activities, the Wake Forest supplemental essays 2021-2022 provide an outlet for you to talk about who you are outside school and related activities. Take advantage of these prompts to highlight what makes you unique and hopefully, you’ll give yourself a fighting chance in the admissions process. 

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Art of Writing the Wake Forest University Supplemental Essays '23-'24

With its holistic approach to education and emphasis on character, Wake Forest University seeks students with intellectual curiosity and personal integrity. The Wake Forest supplemental essays are a critical aspect of your application, providing you the opportunity to showcase your personality, passions, and commitment. Let's dive into each of the prompts.

Wake Forest University Supplemental Essay Prompts

• List five books you have read that intrigued you. (No word limit)

This prompt aims to understand your intellectual interests and how you engage with ideas. Choose books from different genres that you have found intriguing, and be ready to discuss why they captivated you if asked in an interview.

• "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
• "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking
• "1984" by George Orwell
• "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
• "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
• Talk about a work of art that significantly influenced you. (300 words)

Consider an artwork that had a profound effect on you. It could be a painting, sculpture, film, song, or novel. Discuss why it affected you and what you learned or experienced from it.

Van Gogh's "Starry Night" has had a profound impact on me. I was struck by its enchanting yet turbulent portrayal of the night sky. The swirling blues and yellows, the haunting cypress tree, and the serene village illuminated under the celestial spectacle made me realize that beauty and turmoil often coexist.

This painting taught me that the perception of reality varies greatly among individuals. Van Gogh captured the night not as he saw it, but as he felt it. This perspective changed the way I interpret the world around me, encouraging me to seek and value subjective experiences over objective facts.

The influence of "Starry Night" extends to my passion for psychology. The painting's intensity reflects Van Gogh's internal strife, underscoring the intimate link between our psychological state and our interpretation of reality. I aspire to delve deeper into this fascinating interplay at Wake Forest through a major in Psychology.

• Who or what has influenced you in the pursuit of knowledge? (300 words)

This prompt wants to know about a significant influence on your intellectual curiosity. Reflect on individuals, experiences, or books that have inspired your love for learning.

My grandfather, a World War II veteran, significantly influenced my pursuit of knowledge. His vivid stories of the war were filled with valor, horror, loss, and resilience. I was enthralled and deeply moved, leading me to explore historical accounts and documentaries to understand the war's complex socio-political context.

His stories ignited in me a passion for history, particularly the intricate ways in which events of the past shape the present. His personal narrative made me realize that history is not just a series of dates and events but a profound study of human nature and societal evolution.

This passion for history continues to drive my intellectual curiosity. At Wake Forest, I look forward to engaging in rigorous historical analysis, understanding how past societies inform contemporary issues and future trajectories.

• What piques your curiosity? (150 words)

Here, you have an opportunity to showcase your inquisitive nature. Talk about an idea, a topic, or a question that stokes your curiosity, and explain why.

The paradoxes in quantum mechanics pique my curiosity. The dual nature of light as both particle and wave, Schrödinger's Cat's simultaneous state of being dead and alive until observed—these fascinating concepts challenge our traditional understanding of reality.

This enigmatic field urges me to question, explore, and continually expand my intellectual boundaries. At Wake Forest, I hope to dive deeper into quantum mechanics, unraveling its paradoxes and contributing to its exciting advancements.

• Describe an experience that transformed the way you view the world and how this perspective prepares you for Wake Forest. (300 words)

Reflect on a significant experience that reshaped your perspective. Discuss how this transformed view aligns with Wake Forest’s values and prepares you for your time at the university.

My volunteer experience at a local homeless shelter profoundly transformed my perspective. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds facing severe adversity made me recognize my privileges and instilled in me a deep sense of social responsibility.

One encounter that left an indelible mark was with a young girl named Lucy. Despite her circumstances, she was full of hope, eagerly talking about her dream to become a teacher. Her resilient spirit in the face of hardship altered my worldview, fostering in me a desire to actively contribute to societal betterment.

This experience aligns with Wake Forest's Pro Humanitate motto, embodying service for humanity. It has prepared me to participate meaningfully in the university's service-oriented initiatives. I hope to leverage Wake Forest's resources to tackle social issues, particularly homelessness, and strive for a more equitable society.

In answering these prompts, be authentic and personal. The admissions committee wants to understand you better — your interests, inspirations, and viewpoints. Show them the individual beyond the grades and test scores.

Remember to stay within the word limit. Write concise and precise responses. Don’t attempt to impress with big words or grand gestures. Instead, communicate your truth in your unique voice.

Reflect on your experiences, and make sure each essay complements the others and your overall application. Through your responses, provide a holistic picture of who you are and how you align with Wake Forest's ethos.

Proofread your essays for grammatical errors and typos. Ensure your ideas are clear and well-articulated.

Lastly, express your enthusiasm for Wake Forest. Research the university thoroughly. Understand its mission, values, academic programs, campus culture, and communities. Show them why you believe Wake Forest is the right place for you.

There you have it, aspiring Demon Deacons! With these strategies, you're well on your way to crafting compelling essays for Wake Forest University.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, can anyone share successful wake forest supplemental essay examples.

Hi! I'm working on my Wake Forest application right now and would love to read some successful supplemental essay examples for inspiration. Has anyone here been accepted to Wake Forest and willing to share their essays? Thanks a lot!

Hello! While I can't provide specific essays that were successful for Wake Forest admissions, I can definitely offer some guidelines and tips to help you craft a strong supplemental essay. It's essential to remember that you must tailor your essay to Wake Forest and focus on the unique qualities and programs the university offers.

First, make sure to do thorough research on Wake Forest; their academic offerings, extracurricular activities, community culture, and even campus traditions. For example, you might emphasize your interest in their Pro Humanitate Institute and how its mission aligns with your volunteer work or your desire to make a difference in local communities.

When it comes to your essay, avoid generic statements and focus on specifics that are unique to Wake Forest. For instance, discuss a course or professor at the university that intrigues you, or mention how you appreciate the university's commitment to small class sizes and personalized education.

Likewise, personalize your essay by sharing anecdotes that illustrate your experiences and interest in Wake Forest. This could be through an interaction with a current student or alumni, a campus visit, or particular experiences that led you to discover the university and the programs it offers.

Lastly, don't forget to showcase your personality, passion, and ambition – it's essential that the admissions officers get a clear sense of who you are and how you would contribute to the Wake Forest community.

For more information click here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-wake-forest-university-essays/

In summary, research Wake Forest thoroughly, focus on specifics that are unique to the university, share personal anecdotes, and let your personality shine through your essay. Good luck with your application!

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How to Write the Wake Forest University Essays 2019-2020

Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest is one of the premier liberal arts universities in the nation. Known for its small classes and faculty engagement, Wake Forest values an education of the entire person, placing a special emphasis on undergraduate teaching.

With an undergraduate enrollment just over 5,000 and a strong sense of school pride, Wake Forest fosters a tight-knit community. The university maintains accomplished programs in the social sciences, business, and a variety of other fields. Wake Forest also holds a unique status as a prestigious liberal arts school with a robust research focus.

For the class of 2023, Wake Forest accepted just 29% of applicants. With median ACT scores of 29-33 and median SAT composite scores of 1210-1470, Wake Forest’s admissions process is competitive. But beyond test scores and grades, Wake Forest also emphasizes essays as a crucial component of any well rounded applicant.

With this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with all the tools necessary to tackle the Wake Forest application essays. Want to know your chances at Wake Forest? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Wake Forest University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering Wake Forest University needs to know.

Required Essay Prompts for Wake Forest

1. How did you become interested in Wake Forest University and why are you applying? (150 words)

2. Help us to get to know you better by responding briefly to these questions. No need for research, just be creative and enjoy the process. List five books you have read that intrigued you (title, author, required reading).

3. As part of my high-school English curriculum, I was required to read [insert title]. I would have replaced it with [insert title here]. The required book I was most surprised I enjoyed was [insert title here].

4. Tell us how a work of fiction you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (300 words)

5. What piques your intellectual curiosity, and why? (75-150 words)

6. As part of our “Voices of Our Time” series – which allows students, faculty, and staff to hear from some of the world’s leading thinkers – Wake Forest has hosted Ta-Nehisi Coates, Michelle Alexander, Eboo Patel, and Thomas Friedman. If you could choose the next series speaker, who would you pick, and why? (150 words)

7. Give us your Top Ten list (theme and then top 10).

8. At Wake Forest, we gather our students in “Calls to Conversation,” congregating small groups around dinner tables in faculty’s and administrators’ homes to discuss topics organized around a theme, for example “arts for social change,” “gender in society,” and “leading a meaningful life.” If you could design a theme for a “Call to Conversation,” what would you choose, and why? (150 words)

9. We live in an age intensely interested in heroes. Professor Joseph Campbell defines “hero” as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Describe a hero in public life and how and why, in your opinion, they meet Professor Campbell’s definition. (150 words)

Prompt 1: How did you become interested in Wake Forest University and why are you applying? (150 words)

Here, we have the first required prompt, which is also one of the more traditional college supplements among Wake Forest’s selection. The question being asked here is twofold yet straightforward. The challenge here comes with execution and providing an adequate response within the word limit. Additionally, you will want to hit the right balance between telling admissions officers how you heard about Wake Forest (an easier and thus shorter task) and why you would like to attend the school. An effective response to this question will accomplish the following: 

• Inform the reader as to how/when Wake Forest entered your college admissions radar
• Explain to the reader what compels your application to Wake Forest, including some more substantive discussion of what offerings you would pursue if admitted 

Addressing the first task should be relatively simple, and as such it shouldn’t occupy too much of the word count. You could think of breaking this down into sections; perhaps around 30-50 words devoted to how you became interested in Wake Forest and 100-120 words devoted to why you are applying is a helpful breakdown. These are rough guidelines, and ultimately you should do whatever is needed to help your own supplement breathe and flow eloquently. 

When explaining your interest in Wake Forest, you should make at least some mention of how you first heard of the school, be it through an email, college fair, word of mouth, etc. This tells admissions officers not only a bit more about your own personal college journey, but also which of their outreach tactics are most effective. 

If you found Wake Forest during a newfound investigation into liberal arts colleges your junior year, or you’ve wanted to leave your home on the West Coast and explore new parts of the country since middle school, you can tie in your developing interests at that period in your life with your discovery of Wake Forest. This offers admissions committees insight into the process by which you decided to apply, and for how long you’ve been interested in Wake Forest’s unique offerings.

The bigger question, then, is why did you decide to apply , a classic college essay prompt. The first thing to do is to identify specific logistical characteristics, course offerings, or other such opportunities available at Wake Forest well suited to your ambitions and course of study. Perhaps you want to conduct research at Wake Forest’s Center for Integrative Medicine as a part of your pre-medical learning experience. Maybe you want to help organize the Wake N’ Shake Dance Marathon as you’ve always loved combining your passion in dance with community service. Whatever your passion, the key to this part of answering the prompt is thorough research. Don’t speak about academic offerings in broad terms or name drop professors for the sake of it. Rather, figure out what is unique to Wake Forest’s programming, and tie it back to your own goals and interests. For example: 

“I want to attend Wake Forest because they have a good anthropology department, and I’m really interested in how culture shapes our behavior.” 

This is not a good response because it says little to nothing about Wake Forest’s actual anthropology department. While it tells admissions readers a bit about you, it doesn’t indicate that you actually cared enough about the school to look deeply into their offerings. Instead, try something like: 

“I would be delighted to participate in my ANT 340 course on Anthropological Theory at Wake Forest, where I will explore how classical anthropological frameworks relate to the growing contemporary field.” 

This is better because it shows not only that you’ve looked into Wake Forest’s offerings, but also that you’ve thought about how that relates to your interests and drawn a clear connection between the two. Additionally, this provides more specificity and substance. You should strive to be as detailed as you can within the word count while also covering the main reasons behind your applying to Wake Forest. In a situation like this, word count is currency, and you’ll have to spend carefully. 

The more you’ve delved into Wake Forest’s offerings, the broader of a base you’ll be able to pull from when answering this question. Admissions officers will be able to tell that you’ve done your research, so you’d better get to work sleuthing around the website! Beyond that, as long as your response answers all the requisite components of the question, and it does so with clarity and detail, you’ll be in good shape with this prompt.

Prompt 2: Help us to get to know you better by responding briefly to these questions. No need for research, just be creative and enjoy the process. List five books you have read that intrigued you (title, author, required reading).

You have 150 characters for the book title, and separate slots to indicate the author and whether it was required reading; so, you should feel free to provide a brief explanation with the title, especially if the book is more obscure. For example, you could write: “ Eat and Run – a memoir and recipe book synthesis of a vegan ultrarunner.”

Since the prompt tells you to list whether or not the book was required reading, try to provide three or more books which weren’t required reading for your classes. The books that you read that weren’t required for class showcase a desire to learn and give a better representation of your interests.

Don’t worry too much about the rigor of the books that you choose. Admissions officers aren’t looking to see whether you can read difficult books, they are really just looking to see what stimulates you intellectually. Don’t try to impress admissions officers by choosing random books that you’ve never read; the best way to go about this question is by providing books that truly intrigued you.

Overall, don’t sweat this one too much. Be genuine with the books that you’ve read, as the admissions officers just want to see that you maintain some literary interests.

Prompt 3: As part of my high-school English curriculum, I was required to read [insert title]. I would have replaced it with [insert title here]. The required book I was most surprised I enjoyed was [insert title here].

Don’t be deceived; this prompt is a simple fill-in-the-blank exercise, nothing more, nothing less. The admissions officers at Wake Forest aren’t looking for anything in particular. There’s no special trick to this or “right answer” you must select. This is here so your admissions reader can get to know you better. 

Nevertheless, in telling them more about yourself, you should strive to be conscientious of how this portrays a different side of you. The first blank should most certainly be a work that didn’t resonate with you. Perhaps you select Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms because you found its scarcity of explanation perplexing. 

The next blank, then could be quite literally anything of intellectual merit. This is where you’ll display a more unique interest of yours. Perhaps you’d rather have read Steven Levitt’s Freakonomics because you love demystifying strange social phenomena. Maybe as an avid dystopian sci-fi geek, your preference would have been Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle . Whatever the case may be, don’t hesitate to be yourself and show a side of you admissions readers wouldn’t otherwise see. 

And for the final blank, your best bet is just to answer honestly. Again, there aren’t really any tricks to this one! Maybe you found yourself captivated by the plot of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening although it isn’t your prefered genre. Perhaps you don’t usually enjoy allegories, but William Golding’s Lord of the Flies resonated with you. Just try to think through this truthfully, and you’ll find that the answers flow freely. 

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Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Prompt 4: Tell us how a work of fiction you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (300 words)

If you love reading fiction on your own, this question will likely be a breeze as you can think of endless books that have helped you to understand the complexities of the world. However, if you don’t spend as much time reading on your own, this question could be a bit more difficult.

If possible, try to avoid choosing a book that was required reading for class. Many other students are likely going to choose literary classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Scarlet Letter . But, if nothing else comes to mind, don’t be discouraged if you have to pick a book that was required reading for class.

Consider that one thing admissions officers look for in this essay is your ability to synthesize abstract information and bring this conceptual understanding to real-world issues. With this in mind, let’s consider the main steps to rocking this essay:

• Consider books that you have read recently. Feel free to make a list of all of them. Which of these books taught you lessons that still stick with you today?
• Choose one that you feel changed your perspective in some way or introduced you to something new and unexpected.
• Discuss the impact that the book has had on how you view the “complexities” of the world.

An example of the above would be writing about Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon . You could describe how the main character’s struggle to find an identity forced you to consider your own role within your culture and the world at large. That is, this work of fiction prompted you to strive to connect with your family in a new way. Another example would be discussing how, through reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, you came to a deeper understanding of the incredible nuances of racial identity.

The key here is not to simply discuss the book in depth, but rather to delve into how the book has influenced your world perception. If you are struggling to find an appropriate book, keep in mind that the prompt only asks for a work of fiction, meaning that less conventional options such as a manga or comic could also make for a strong essay.

Prompt 5: What piques your intellectual curiosity, and why? (75-150 words)

Like many supplemental questions, this prompt is designed to help give the admissions officers a more holistic view of you, and how you think. Because this is probing into your “intellectual curiosity,” your answer should be more cerebral and analytical in nature. Nonetheless, your response to this question can truly be anything that fascinates you, so long as you’re able to explain how it jogs your cognitive abilities.  Consider writing about an interest, activity, hobby, idea, philosophical concept, piece of art, or something entirely different. Admissions officers aren’t looking for a specific answer but rather that you can thoughtfully and excitedly discuss a topic of your choice.

Below are some questions to get you started on thinking of a subject to write about:

• What do you absolutely love to learn about?
• What topic can you talk about for hours?
• What is the last thing you spent time learning how to do outside of school?
• How has this interest influenced you?

Ensure that you don’t spend the entire time explaining simply what piques your intellectual curiosity.  Rather, consider why it piques your interest and how this has impacted you or contributed to your understanding of the world.  So, instead of simply describing your interest in vinyl records, dive into how you love poring through stores to find exciting new pieces of music. You can discuss how this interest has not only brought you new friends and helped you to expand your musical horizons, but also has helped you understand the rhythmic nature of human biology.

You can also take this essay as an opportunity to discuss something that is truly meaningful to you.  For instance, a student who is fascinated by Latin American culture could discuss her interest in the Carnival celebrations of Brazil and how learning about these celebrations have helped her to connect with her Brazilian roots, as well as the world history surrounding those roots.

Alternatively, a student could use this essay as an opportunity to discuss his favorite hobby.  For example, a student who loves to collect coins could discuss how the sheer volume of coins produced fascinates him, how he’s gotten to meet people across the country because of his collection, and that coins have helped him to develop a deeper understanding of the financial underpinnings of America.

Whatever you choose to discuss, make sure to explain why it interests you and how it contributes to your identity, or knowledge of the nuances of the world. If you accomplish that, you’ll be in plenty good shape with this response! 

Prompt 6: As part of our “Voices of Our Time” series – which allows students, faculty, and staff to hear from some of the world’s leading thinkers – Wake Forest has hosted Ta-Nehisi Coates, Michelle Alexander, Eboo Patel, and Thomas Friedman. If you could choose the next series speaker, who would you pick, and why? (150 words)

With this prompt, the admissions office at Wake Forest wants to see that you are cultured, pay attention to current affairs, and have a pulse on how leading voices are impacting society. The purpose of this “Voices of Our Time” series is to convene the Wake Forest community and hear from influential voices on the most pressing national and international issues of our times. With your response, you should strive not only to choose a person of significance, but also to provide a compelling argument as to why they are so influential. In turn, this will demonstrate a proficient understanding of current events and how the world operates socially and politically. 

One thing to avoid is choosing a figure who is too “mainstream” just for the sake of their popularity or nominal title of influence, as this will not indicate to admissions readers that you make a serious effort to stay informed. For instance, you wouldn’t want to write something like: 

“Michelle Obama would be a great contender for the ‘Voices of our Time’ series. She is an influential leader, talented writer, and as a former First Lady (the first African American First lady no less), she likely has some astute insights about how our society works and what we as citizens should be doing to uphold the values of our nation.” 

Although a response like this seems to answer the question in that it names a leader, Michelle Obama, and provides a justification as to why she would be a strong addition, it is insufficient. Michelle Obama is a high profile individual, and as such there will likely be dozens of students who write about her for this prompt. Furthermore, even if you wanted to write about Michelle Obama, you would need to dig a bit deeper about her life experiences and policy stances to adequately explain why she should be a speaker in the series. Consider this more detailed alternative: 

“The next speaker in the ‘Voices of our Time’ series should be presidential candidate Marianne Williamson. With a background as an author and long time spiritual adviser, Marianne has developed a fascinating political philosophy that imbues leadership with spirituality and introspection. Her policy platform is unconventional, but it sheds light on some interesting issues such as reparations and the creation of a Department of Peace, in turn bringing topics into the political canon that otherwise never would have seen the light of day.” 

Not only is this a stronger response because Marianne Williamson is a lesser known figure (thus indicating that you pay close attention to politics), but it also provides more depth as to why Marianne Williamson is an impactful leader. This response delves more into Marianne’s policy positions and ideology, rather than noting the influence of her title or profession. 

Now, you certainly don’t have to write about a political leader, diplomat, or academic for this prompt. You could choose someone a bit more unconventional so long as you provide adequate justification for why your chosen person is influential and worth hearing from. Maybe you want to write about why Lil Nas X should speak for the series, as an LGBTQ+ icon who revolutionized the music industry with his unique marketing strategies, genre blending, and social media presence. As long as you can back up your choice with intelligent reasons, and your choice is intelligent to begin with, you should have no problem writing a wonderful response to this prompt! 

Prompt &: Give us your top ten list. (theme and then top 10)

What a question!  This top ten list can be a bit intimidating at first, but it is also an awesome opportunity to showcase your personality or a unique interest.  Consider if there’s any other dimension of you that you haven’t yet had the chance to highlight. There are so many angles you can take, but I’ve provided examples below:

• Top ten ways that people have misspelled your name
• Top ten moments that you knew you were the middle child
• Top ten phrases you say all the time
• Top ten times you cried while watching a movie

Be bold and really go for something unique with this prompt.  Remember that admissions officers reward creativity and innovation. And keep in mind that you can write about anything that interests you, so don’t feel limited in any way by my examples above!

Prompt 8: At Wake Forest, we gather our students in “Calls to Conversation,” congregating small groups around dinner tables in faculty’s and administrators’ homes to discuss topics organized around a theme, for example “arts for social change,” “gender in society,” and “leading a meaningful life.” If you could design a theme for a “Call to Conversation,” what would you choose, and why? (150 words)

Similar to prompt 6 with the “Voices of our Time” series, this prompt serves as a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your cultural understanding and social conscience. The main difference, then, is that whereas prompt 6 is centered around an influential leader and their insights, this prompt is centered around a specific issue and why it’s worth discussing through this “Calls to Conversation” program. The key to adequately addressing this prompt is to not only choose a pressing issue, but also to show that you understand its importance when you justify it. 

You might be tempted to think large scale and philosophical. Perhaps you want to write about a theme like “addressing the climate crisis” or “free will in the modern world” for your conversation topic. This is certainly suitable, especially if you feel thoroughly prepared to discuss why this is a relevant topic. On the other hand, you might opt to write about something more directed like “the urban/rural divide” or “passion as means of fulfillment.” This is also fine. The key in either case is to provide sufficient explanation as to why this is an important topic, how it impacts people, and what in the real world exemplifies it. 

For instance, if you want to write about “the urban/rural divide,” make sure to be robust with your examples and explanations: 

“The next ‘Calls to Conversation’ theme should be that of ‘the urban/rural divide,’ as this is a pressing issue that serves to fracture America. Each population has its own distinct needs; often times, rural communities find themselves lacking the sufficient infrastructure to thrive as they once did, yet politicians often neglect rural communities, particularly low income rural communities of color, because they do not have as much sway in the political process. Moreover, people who have grown up in primarily urban settings aren’t aware of the difficulties of rural life, and often view their more insular culture as bigoted and fearful, when this isn’t always the case. There is an inherent disconnect, and our political system grows ever more polarized because of it. In order to restore unity to our population, we need to start brainstorming ways to bridge the gap between urban and rural America.” 

This is a strong response because it not only identifies an important issue, but it also explains why this issue is important and how it influences peoples’ lives. The issue you choose can be just about anything, provided it would make for compelling conversation and you’re able to identify why it would do so. 

Prompt 9: We live in an age intensely interested in heroes. Professor Joseph Campbell defines “hero” as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Describe a hero in public life and how and why, in your opinion, they meet Professor Campbell’s definition. (150 words)

The task here seems relatively simple: to identify a “hero” and then provide examples/evidence as to why that person has “given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” You might interpret “public life” as having to mean a governmental/political hero, or at least someone high profile. It’s certainly true that your hero should be someone who exists in the “public” world, but they don’t have to be a mainstream celebrity or peacemaker. 

In fact, similar to prompt 6, I’d advise against writing about someone too high profile unless you have some darn good reasons for doing so. There will be lots of applicants writing about Martin Luther King Jr. or Nelson Mandela. You should strive for originality and try to understand how someone’s contributions, though they might be more subtle, made enormous progress towards a broader goal. 

For instance, maybe you are passionate about humane working conditions and labor unions. A good choice for you, then, might be to write about Jacob Riis, a late 1800s photojournalist who depicted the squalid living conditions of New York City tenements and slums in his How the Other Half Lives . 

Maybe you’re a prospective math major who likes to think more abstractly. You might write about Karen Uhlenbeck, a former math professor at the University of Texas Austin, who won the Abel Prize for her work in partial geometric differential equations, gauge theory, and integrable systems. With a response like this, you would then discuss how mathematics is a broader idea that provides logical frameworks for scientists to contextualize their discoveries within. 

Whatever your choice of hero, the main task here is to substantiate their heroism with examples of legitimate devotion toward a greater cause. As long as you do this, you’re on your way to a strong essay!

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write the wake forest university essays 2020-2021: the all-in-one guide.

Nestled in the South, Wake Forest University’s campus is an integral part of the Winston-Salem community in North Carolina. The private school’s legacy goes back over 180 years, where it was first created as a manual labor institute.

WFU is an institution comprised of an undergraduate college, along with its well-known School of Business, School of Law, School of Divinity, and School of Medicine.

While the multitude of programs available might seem intimidating, the undergraduate college actually maintains a small-school vibe, with an average of only 21 students per class .

Small classes are not the only benefit to attending the college. 61% of Wake Forest’s graduating class in 2015 received academic credit for studying abroad. This is the highest percentage among the greater than 300 colleges ranked by the U.S. & World News Report.

This same class had an incredible 98% of its students go on to higher education or become employed within 6 months of graduation.

Wake Forest University gives prospective students the option to apply via its own application , the Common App , Coalition Application , or through the College Foundation of North Carolina (which directs you back to their own application).

Click above to watch a video on how to write Wake Forest Supplemental Essays.

What are the Wake Forest Supplemental Essay Requirements?

Regardless of the application method you use, you will need to write both the main essay and answer supplementary questions.

In this guide, we will cover the Wake Forest University supplementary questions that appear identically on all of the application platforms.

Do note that you will have to write a different essay if you are applying through the Common App or Coalition for Access and Affordability Application.

• We have written specific guides for the Common App essay here and the Coalition App essay here .

The Wake Forest University Application Essay

This essay is only applicable to students applying through the Wake Forest University application on the WFU website. If you are applying through the Common App or Coalition App, you can skip down to the first writing supplement.

Other than using the essay to “share on a topic of your choice,” there are no other directions for completing the essay.

If you’ve already tackled the Common App essay, you may certainly use it here. If you opt to go another route, here are some tips to keep in mind as you draft your response.

• While there is no specified writing limit, be mindful of the admissions committee’s time. An essay that is too long will likely be skimmed and therefore not convey all of the information you hope to get across. They will be reviewing thousands of applicants and reading their essays too.
• As a general rule, try to keep your essay shorter than two double-spaced pages. This should give you enough space to elaborate any ideas you have on the topic and give you around 1,000 words to utilize.
• It’s also a good idea to submit your essay via PDF. This way, you know that it will be formatted exactly the way you want it to be when it’s opened up on another computer.
• Life Pro Tip: As you grow older, you want to apply for internships and jobs with PDF versions of your cover letter and resume.

Get personalized advice!

Wake forest writing supplement 1a: books that inspire curiosity.

List five books you have read that intrigued you.

In the application, you will have to list the title of the work, the author, and identify whether it was required reading or not.

You will not have the opportunity to explain why you chose to list the books. Therefore, it’s important that each book (or at least a quick Google search of the titles) can speak for itself.

This question does not ask you to rank the five books, so you should feel comfortable listing them in any order of your choosing. While the process is simple, the difficulty in this prompt lies in choosing five titles to list.

• First, brainstorm every book that you have read that has intrigued you. Maybe you wished there was a sequel or follow-up book because you wanted to read more.
• Perhaps your literature teacher started a unit on dystopian fiction and assigned Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World , and you decided to go one step further and compare it with the world Suzanne Collins created in The Hunger Games for an assignment.
• Ask yourself “What do these books say about me as a potential student and human being?” If you feel a book will diminish your chances of getting accepted for some reason, search for another book that is just as meaningful to you to replace it on the list.
• Depending on the activities you pursued in high school and those you hope to pursue during your undergraduate career, you may want to include a book that relates to those topics.

You want to be sure that your choices have a positive reflection of your character. Even if you read How to Cheat Your Way Through High School out of pure curiosity and had no intention of using the strategies, don’t list it.

You will not be able to explain your choice, and, therefore, the title could mislead the admissions committee.

Overall, you do not need to list five literary masterpieces, and you shouldn’t list five comic books you’ve read either. Aim for a variety of book types that really show off your personality and character.

• For example, if you have a passion for self-help books (and they truly pique your curiosity), include them on your list, but perhaps include only 2-3 titles.
• Then, think about your reading patterns overall. Beyond self-help books, what have you read? Biographies? Dystopian science fiction? Religious texts?

Don’t feel the need to shy away from listing a title simply because it was required reading for school. Oftentimes, these will be the titles that the admissions committee is most familiar with.

If you can’t remember those titles, search online for “common titles for high school required reading” or ask your teacher what they assigned.

You should easily be able to find a list to jog your memory or, at the very least, be able to give a summary of the book to get the title from someone else. If you can’t recall what the book was about, it probably did not intrigue you enough to make this list.

If you find yourself well and truly stumped, take a look at the reading list recommended by well-known figures in academia and industry.

For example, there is a list of thirteen books recommended by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and other prominent leaders. These span everything from George Orwell’s 1984 to David Deutsch’s The Beginning of Infinity. You can take a look and see the rationale behind why they would recommend such books to others. In fact, look at your selections as a recommended reading list for the admissions committee, and you will be able to organize what story about yourself you would like to tell them.

Once again, find balance by not listing all five titles as required or as self-selected reading.

Once you’re all done making your list, take a step back and ask yourself what these books say about you on the whole. Be honest. If you like the general message, move on to the next question.

Wake Forest Writing Supplement 1B: The Impact of Fiction on Your Understanding of the World

Explain how a book you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. 

In this prompt, you have the opportunity to explain your relationship with a book, unlike in the previous list. Since the question doesn’t specify whether it should be a work of fiction or nonfiction, you’re free to pick the work that speaks to you the most. 

If you’re not an avid reader, this might seem an overwhelming question in terms of identifying something that was truly impactful on your thinking. 

• Consider why you read. If you read to gather information, consider whether you have ever read something that gave you an “ah-ha!” moment, and why. 
• Reflect on whether anything you’ve read has ever provoked a strong emotional response, and why. 
• Consider the list you made in the previous question, which may be a good place to start. However, try to avoid repeating a book you already used. You have a chance to show additional insight into your interests by choosing an additional work.

Conversely, you might be struggling to choose one book among several that you identify as having influence in teaching you about the “complexity of the world.”

• Reflect on what books have had the most profound intellectual or emotional impact on you. The choice between fiction and nonfiction reflects something about your personality. A more analytical reader who values information might choose nonfiction, whereas a more literary person may choose fiction.
• Identify the message or complexity the work helped you understand and assess why it is personally meaningful to you. A work of fiction might have lent itself to insight into the human experience or the nuance of a certain social theme, whereas a work of nonfiction may have transformed your understanding of the gears that make our world turn.
• If this is true, rank these works, starting from the one you are most passionate about discussing.
• It’s important that your enthusiasm shines through your writing.

Keeping with our previous example of Brave New World , let’s take a look and see how we might construct this essay.

The directive “explain” in the prompt is vague enough to be interpreted in many ways. You might consider:

• Describing the impact that the work had on your understanding of society
• How the work influenced your life
• How the work influenced your perspective on the world
• The experience of reading the work for the first time and reflecting on it
• Describe what it is about the work that effectively conveys complexity about the world
• The influence of the work on your relationships with your peers
• The impact the work had on your vision for the future
• The change in your politics after reading the book

However you decide to discuss the work, don’t forget to spend time explicitly stating what, in particular, the work taught you. It’s easy to get caught up describing the work and forget to be specific about your experience. This is not a book report where you summarize what you read.

In fact, spend less time discussing the premise of the work. Worst case, the admissions officer can Google the book.

• What’s critical is demonstrating the book’s impact on you.
• So, make sure you write about the tangible changes the book had on your thinking or actions.
• This is the time to show how you interpreted the book and its meaning in your life.
• Give brief examples of your newfound understanding.

In the case of Brave New World , it is a very well-known dystopian science fiction novel so you can assume that the admissions committee is familiar with at least the synopsis.

As mentioned above, there are many points you could elaborate on, but it would be best to focus on two to three at most.

• You could start off with a theme in the book, such as “knowledge vs. ignorance” and give textual examples of where that features prominently.
• Then develop that further by detailing the character arcs that occur through the development of the theme.
• Draw any parallels from the book with today’s society to show your understanding of one of the complexities of the world. Brave New World is seen as a somewhat prophetic piece of literature, so finding commonalities between that world and reality shouldn’t be difficult.

If you can discuss how the book has shaped how you perceive the world around you, how you have learned something through example rather than by firsthand experience. By doing so, you will be able to write a convincing essay on how fiction has impacted your understanding of the world.

Wake Forest Writing Supplement 2: Your Curiosity

Tell us more about a topic that engages your intellectual curiosity.

A common theme in Wake Forest’s writing supplements is passion. In this prompt, you should, once again, reflect on what you are passionate about. Consider what truly piques your intellectual interest. What topic can send you down a virtual rabbit hole because you’re interested in learning as much as you can?

This prompt is tricky because you do not know what the mindset of your admissions committee might be and you have the freedom to choose any topic you want. As academics, the committee will approach your stance with an open mind so long as you articulate your argument and do not cross into inappropriate territory.

Choose a topic that holds weight and is truly important to you.

• Pull up your browsing history and see what patterns you find. If you consistently find yourself searching for similar content, articulate that content as a theme or pattern that interests you.
• Think about a project you completed that you really enjoyed what you learned.
• Consider the major you’re applying for and why that piques your interest. Discuss what topic first got you interested in that field.
• Pick up a copy of the Wall Street Journal , Washington Post , or Foreign Policy . These are some of the preeminent issues of our time. They cover topics that are critical to events, people, and ideologies currently shaping our world.

When crafting your answer, don’t get too high-minded or lofty. You can keep it simple rather than listing everything you know on the subject. Remember, the admissions committee wants to hear about you, not your ability to summarize an entire topic. If you spend over 50 words defining the topic, you’re spending too much time on background info.

Here are some examples of topics you can choose for this prompt.

• If you’re interested in environmental conservation, you may write about how all restaurants should get rid of plastic straws due to the strain they put on the environment. You could choose to focus your short response on the damage plastic does to the ocean and to suggest an alternative such as reusable straws.
• Some computer programmers spend their spare time viewing code and learning new languages. Talk about what programming languages you have learned, are currently learning, and how you educate yourself on them.
• There are millions of blogs, and maybe you have started one. How did you choose the niche for your blog? How do you come up with new content to populate it for readers?

Wake Forest Writing Supplement 3: Community

Describe a community that is important to you. How has that community prepared you to engage with, change, or even build the Wake Forest Community?

Every college wants to know that its new freshmen are going to be happy and successful at their university of choice, and Wake Forest is no exception. Community is an important theme at Wake Forest, and the admissions committee wants to know why you personally care about fostering a sense of community in your life. 

To tackle this question, first consider what groups of people have had the most profound impact on your life over a significant period of time. Perhaps it’s a sports team, a club, or a volunteer group you participate in. After you identify your group, delve into the nuance of its influence on your life. 

• If this group revolves around a particular theme or cause, reflect on why this unifying element is so important or valuable to you. 
• Identify positive ways that you have evolved as a person through your participation in this community. 
• Discuss various ways you have contributed to this community or supported others and their personal or collective development. 

Once you’ve identified your community, you’ll want to connect what you’ve reflected on to your future at Wake Forest. 

• Make concrete links between your prior community involvement and how you’ll involve yourself on the Wake Forest campus. If you’ve been a leader in the past, how will you continue to lead on campus? 
• If there are specific causes you’re passionate about, connect those with existing clubs or organizations available at Wake Forest. If there’s not one, consider whether you’d like to build one. 
• If your community helped make a change in broader society that you wish to see expanded, consider how you might replicate your impact at Wake Forest. 

Wake Forest Writing Supplement 4: Self-Selected Top 10

Give us your top ten list.

Yes, you get to create your own top ten list! There are no explicit instructions as far as assigning a theme to your list, but it is a good idea to give your list some structure. What else do I want admissions to know about me?

• If you are really proud of your progress in cross country over the past four years, you might list your race times from 10 to 1.
• Are you a Nicholas Sparks fanatic? Rate his novels from 10 to 1 based on how emotional they made you feel when reading them.
• Drawing back on the computer programmer example, rate your favorite programming languages.
• You might even consider the future. Provide a top 10 list of achievements you hope to accomplish.

Perhaps you are a connoisseur of foreign food or music buff or an amateur film critic, whatever it is that you find interesting and worthy of sharing with the admissions board, be as specific as possible.

By assigning a theme to your list, you will help admissions understand another aspect of what is important to you. Also, you might consider staying away from providing another list of books. You’ve already done this in the first prompt. This is where you can express another side of yourself that the admissions committee has not learned about yet. Don’t waste it by creating a list that is similar to one of your previous essay responses. Alternatively, you can make this list random, a Top Ten list of the world. Use this as a chance to include some of the things that have had the most profound influence on your life. You might include your favorite album, artist, country, season, food, person, etc. Unlike the themed version of this list, you have the chance to paint a diverse picture of your passions when you go this route. 

Conclusion: Writing the Wake Forest Essays

Wake Forest University’s list of writing supplements paired with your personal essay will give the admissions committee a variety of information on who you are as a person and potential student.

Before submitting your essays, be sure to proofread .

Having a parent, friend, or someone else you trust to read them over is a good idea if you’re comfortable sharing them. Authenticity is sought after in these essays so having someone who knows you well can help determine if your essay “sounds like you.”

Above all, spend some time on your topics by brainstorming, outlining, and writing multiple drafts.

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Wake Forest University 2017-18 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Before you dig in…

The Wake Forest supplement always gives our students a run for their money and the 2017-18 Wake Forest application is no exception. (Six short answer questions plus an essay? What gives?!) That’s why we made you a guide that explains the purpose of each of these thought-provoking prompts and how to answer them in a way that presents a varied and comprehensive package to admissions.

The Requirements: Answer each of six short answer questions and one long essay.

Supplemental Essay Type: Short Answer , Oddball , Community

General Approach Tips:   Try to approach each of these questions as an opportunity to reveal something new about yourself to admissions and try your best not to be repetitive. If you discuss your passion for current events in question 3, try to discuss something completely unrelated in the other prompts to paint a picture of your diverse interests and the various components that come together to make you, you.

NOTE: A lot of these short answer questions require more time for idea generation than for writing (they are short answers, after all). Don’t rush to simply submit the first ideas that come to mind. Read through the prompts and let things roll around in your brain for a while. The more space and time you have to brainstorm, the more likely you are to have an ah-ha moment for each of these prompts that combine to create an impressive picture of who you are at your core.

Wake Forest 2017-2018 First-Year Application Essay Question Explanations

Brief responses.

Wake Forest asks students to respond briefly to the following questions. They encourage students to be creative and have fun with it, no research necessary!

1a. List five books you have read that piqued your curiosity. (Spaces have been left for you to include each book’s title and author and mark whether the selection was required or unrequired.)

The name of the game with prompts like this one is variety . Each of these books is an opportunity for you to reveal an interest or passion of yours to admissions, and you don’t want to come off as one-note. Did Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel series Sandman blow your mind? Were you horrified by Jon Ronson’s revelations about social media in So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed ? Also, admissions is giving you the option of checking “required” or “unrequired” for a reason – they want to understand what interests you both in a formal academic setting and on your own. So make sure you’re not just listing To Kill a Mockingbird , Romeo and Juliet and 1984 . They’re all works of art, but everyone’s read them, so what will they really say about you? When you only choose one or two of those oft-assigned classics, admissions gets a chance to see what from the modern English (or other!) curriculum really resonated with you.

1b. Discuss the work of fiction you have read which has helped you most to understand the complexity of the world. 

CEA Explains: This prompt asks you to discuss a work of fiction that has impacted your view of the world. As much as you can, try to choose something unexpected. Yes, 1984 showed many students a bleak picture of what a Big Brother takeover might look like. But almost every student in the country is assigned that book and takes a look at those lessons. What else have you read that stuck with you because of who you are and what you care about? The book has to be fiction, but it doesn’t have to be about politics. Has a book you’ve read made you look at relationships differently? Try to be as creative as possible with your selection here, and think about what books have really struck you at your core, and why.

2. While division in American politics suggests that the art of persuasion has lost value, dialogue and debate helps define the Wake Forest community. On what issue do you wish to persuade others? What is your argument?

This can be a tricky prompt in that, while you are aiming to find an argument worth fighting for, you also don’t want to choose something so controversial that it might alienate an admissions officer. Remember, you never know who will be reading these applications. That said, in this divided political climate, academic institutions seem to be embracing of honest, thoughtful conversation, from a variety of perspectives. Whatever you choose, you should be invested in the topic and construct an argument that you think would be likely to win someone over. You have limited number of words to work with here, so choosing a small slice of a larger argument might help you summarize your argument in a way that is more convincing .

3. 59% of Wake Forest’s Class of 2017 received academic credit for faculty-directed research across academic disciplines. Describe a specific academic assignment that sparked an academic curiosity you hope to explore further in college.

Wake Forest wants to know that you will take advantage of the unique resources their school has to offer. And in order to do that, you need to be someone who isn’t afraid to take charge of your own education, identify your interests and follow the lead of your own intellectual curiosity. Identifying an assignment that has excited you is a fantastic way to showcase your interest in a subject and your ability to look into a subject in a self-directed way. Don’t forget to detail why this was the assignment that floated your intellectual boat.

4. What have you learned about yourself from engaging with someone different from you?

Think about what it means for someone to be different than you. How do things like race class, gender, age, political affiliation, temperament or any other qualifier factor into your interactions with others? When have you had an honest epiphany from a moment that could have otherwise been confrontational? When were you shocked by your former ignorance about an issue? When has someone been able to show you something, simply by holding up a mirror from where they were standing?

5. Give us your top ten list. Theme: _____________________________

10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

This is one of our all-time favorite short-answer questions. It’s also one students dread initially, because they don’t know how to approach it. Like many of the other questions on this list, think about what you do or what you are interested in that might also be of interest to admissions. What else about who you are and what you do have you not yet revealed about yourself? Our founder always jokes that she would list her favorite kinds of pasta in order (because she is an actual pasta addict). Maybe she would make a list of the top ten pasta meals of her life and who she ate them with, to showcase how much pasta is a part of her social life and how she connects with others (it truly is the centerpiece of her world). Think about how you can add dimension to your list and take a collection of favorite movies or music beyond the ordinary. If someone else could submit your list, it’s not specific or creative enough and probably won’t tell admissions anything they really want or need to know.

6. You have a popular podcast. What’s the title? What’s the topic?

Start with the topic here. What of your interests and hobbies might you not yet have elaborated on for admissions? Is there a way for you to put a new twist on a subject that already comes up on your activity list or in your main Common App essay, but that will showcase the depth to which that interest can be explored? How can you best showcase your ability to think creatively about the subjects you engage in? Also spend time playing around with the title to create something catchy – don’t let your presentation of the podcast be an afterthought. This whole application is an exercise in personal branding, so take some time to really think on the hypothetical marketing exercise admissions is asking you to engage in here, and show them what you’ve got!

*This prompt is only available on the Common Application

How did you become interested in Wake Forest University and why are you applying? (150 words or less)

This is a pretty straightforward question, and your answer should be relatively straightforward. Who told you about Wake Forest? Did you find it in your research? From a guidance counselor? Through a friend? And what about the school is really calling to you? You only have 150 words to communicate to admissions why Wake Forest is the school for you, so pick the two or three most important points and keep the message focused. What does Wake Forest offer that interests you, and how can you prove your interest in these areas through your past experiences? Draw the line for admissions to sharply and succinctly make your point.

*These prompts are only available on the Wake Forest University application.

On a separate page, use the following essay to give the Admissions Committee insight into your character and intellect.

During the 2017-2018 academic year, Wake Forest University is launching a year-long Rethinking Community initiative. Use your imagination to rethink your school community and your place in it. (Word limit unclear.)

This is a community essay, with a slight twist. Admissions wants to wrap their head around how you will contribute to their campus. What will you bring to the table? The important thing to pay attention to here is the “Rethinking Community Initiative.” This is, as hinted at in the prompt, an actual Wake Forest initiative, so make sure you research the mission behind it . Then think about how your own experience contributing to your community could help enhance this new program and the Wake Forest community, overall. How would you like to see students interacting on campus?

In the space provided, briefly discuss which of the accomplishments listed above has had the most meaning for you and why. (Word limit unclear.)

You’re going to have to poke around to find this one (we did!) but it exists, so we thought you should be prepared. This is a pretty typical activity essay. Just try and distill your most meaningful extracurricular in a few sentence and give context for why it has meant so much to you. The word count should become clear when you enter it into the app itself (we hope!)

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