Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Wake Forest Supplemental Essays 2023-24

The Wake Forest supplemental essays are an important part of the overall application process. Moreover, with five different Wake Forest essay prompts, you’ll have ample opportunity to display your unique strengths and interests. That way, you can build a narrative that will give the Wake Forest admissions team greater insight into your background and potential.

Your Wake Forest essays provide additional context to your application, allowing you to express your personality. So, make sure to complete the Wake Forest supplemental essays with enough time for editing and feedback. This will ensure you submit the best essays you can.

While the Wake Forest essays may be optional, it’s important to complete them. With such a competitive admissions process, it’s crucial to take every opportunity to connect with the Wake Forest admissions office. With the high overall Wake Forest ranking, the competition can be fierce. This guide will detail each of the Wake Forest University supplemental essays and provide tips on how to tackle them.

Wake Forest Essays: Quick Facts

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does Wake Forest have supplemental essays?

Yes, Wake Forest has 5 different supplemental essay prompts. The Wake Forest University supplemental essays are optional. However, there are many advantages to completing them.

Supplemental essays provide a great opportunity for you to highlight your personality and unique experience. Additionally, consider the competitive Wake Forest acceptance rate. You don’t want to miss the chance to differentiate yourself from other applicants and make your application stand out.

Here are the 2023-2024 Wake Forest essay prompts: 

If you’re feeling intimidated by the Wake Forest essay prompts, don’t panic! This guide to the 2023-2024 Wake Forest Supplemental Essays will go over how to approach each prompt in detail. The Wake Forest essays are designed to enhance your application, and we’ll show you just how to get started writing them. So, keep reading for helpful tips and tricks on the Wake Forest University supplemental essays! 

Wake Forest Essay Requirements

There are no formal Wake Forest essay requirements outside of your personal statement. However, the Wake Forest supplemental essays should be taken seriously and submitted alongside your application. With Wake Forest ranking so highly, it’s important to take every opportunity to stand out in the admissions process.

In addition to your Common App essay, the Wake Forest essays work to build a cohesive narrative. That means giving Admissions a complete picture of who you are and what you hope to accomplish at Wake Forest. With so many different prompts, it’s easy to see the importance Wake Forest places on their supplemental essays. So, you should plan to treat the Wake Forest supplemental essays as a requirement, as they will help your application tremendously.

Wake Forest Essay – Identity Essay

The first two Wake Forest supplemental essays can be categorized as “identity essays.” Essentially, they aim to get a sense of what inspires you and has contributed to your personal growth.

These short answer questions allow you to add specificity and humanity to your application. We’ll break down each of these Wake Forest essay prompts and explain the best way to respond. 

For this prompt, you should consider including any book that has left a lasting impression on you. Out of all the Wake Forest supplemental essays, this one is the shortest. That’s because you aren’t able to provide context or explain how these books intrigued you. Regardless, your book list will create a narrative around the kind of reader you are.

Think through each book and take a look at your list as a whole. What do these books say about you and your interests? Note that you have the option to note whether or not the book was required reading. So, you can include a mix of books you’ve connected with from class and on your own.

This supplemental essay prompt wants to know what makes you a curious learner. Was there a moment where you realized the world was more complex than you thought? Think about a piece of art (book, movie, TV show) that has left a lasting impression on you. Or, was there a class lesson, a podcast, or a conversation that you distinctly remember?

If there’s something in your application you want to highlight further, this is a great prompt for it! You can build upon an important aspect of your resume, classwork, or extracurricular learning to help bolster your application. Overall, your Wake Forest supplemental essays help create a larger narrative around your application. And, this essay is a great way to directly communicate what makes you unique.

Choosing a quote for your essay

The next Wake Forest essay requires you to do some outside research on Dr. Maya Angelou. This is also the longest out of the Wake Forest essay prompts. In this essay, you’re asked to reflect on Dr. Angelou’s work and connect it to the community at Wake Forest: 

This prompt may be the most helpful for admissions officers to understand how you’ll connect to the Wake Forest community. You will first need to select a quote from Dr. Maya Angelou. There are plenty of sources online that have collected quotes, but make sure you fact-check any quote you find online. (A great source for quotes is Goodreads, but it’s good practice to include what original text your quote is from!)

Additionally, think about the larger context of the quote you select. Building this context into your essay can show a deeper understanding of Dr. Angelou’s work. 

You may need to spend some time researching potential quotes – you’ll want one that speaks to your idea of community. It may help to start by thinking of Wake Forest’s community. What clubs or student organizations do you hope to join? How do you hope to connect with your peers? Then, keep an eye out for a quote that you can build off of.

Wake Forest Essay Prompt – The Top Ten List

The next Wake Forest essay prompt directs students to create a top ten list: 

Out of all the Wake Forest supplemental essays, this is the most free-form. Your top ten list can be just about anything, so it may be hard to pick a focus. Give yourself plenty of time to think through what items, topics, or events you’d like to rank.

One idea is to connect your essay to the Wake Forest majors you’re interested in. If you’re planning to study history, consider ranking historical events that tailor to your interests. On the other hand, if you’re studying the sciences, think about ranking some of the most recent top scientific breakthroughs. 

If you want to showcase your personality beyond what you plan to study, the world is your oyster! Maybe your list includes the top ten fashion icons or cities you want to visit one day. The Wake Forest supplemental essays help admissions officers see what matters most to you. A top ten list allows you to bring the admissions officers into your particular interests and expertise, so get creative! 

Try to think beyond what your initial instinct may be. With such a competitive Wake Forest acceptance rate, it’s in your best interest to stand out amongst other applicants. Common top ten lists may be books, movies or T.V shows. While you can still showcase your personality through these topics, you may want to consider something more personal to you.

How to write the Why Wake Forest essay

The final supplemental essay prompt can be summarized as the Why Wake Forest essay. It’s also likely you’ve answered this question for other schools, as the Why This College essay is a popular supplemental essay prompt: 

Doing your research is the most important step of writing the Why Wake Forest essay. The Wake Forest admissions office wants to know the specific reasons why you want to attend Wake Forest.

Here are some tips on how to start the research process for your Why Wake Forest essay.

Research

Spend ample time on Wake Forest’s website exploring different aspects of the university. Do some research on the many Wake Forest majors listed on their academics page. Exploring the Wake Forest majors can help you learn about:

• Different majors and minors
• Research projects
• Individual classes and professors

All of these are great details to highlight in your Why Wake Forest essay. In addition to academics, it can be helpful to read up on Wake Forest news, student organizations, and campus events. The more you know about Wake Forest, the more details you can add to your Wake Forest supplemental essays. 

Brainstorming Questions

The Why This College essay is a crucial part of many college applications. For your Wake Forest essays, it’s important to communicate the specific reasons why you’re interested in Wake Forest. Is it Wake Forest’s location or beautiful campus? Do they offer a specific major that you can’t find anywhere else? Do you have a special connection to their community? Thinking through these questions can help you decide what to focus on. 

Word Count

The challenge with this essay is the condensed word count. Even if there’s a thousand things you’re excited about, it’s important to focus on just one to two elements. The more specific you can get, the better. If you need some inspiration, you can read some essay examples here. 

Does Wake Forest care about essays?

With Wake Forest ranking high among National Universities (#29 according to U.S News), every part of your application matters. It’s hard to say exactly how the Wake Forest essays factor into admissions decisions. Regardless, it’s important that students take them seriously. The Wake Forest University supplemental essays help strengthen your overall application and allow the person behind the application to shine through. 

Without the Wake Forest supplemental essays, admissions officers would have far less material to help them make their decisions. The Wake Forest essay prompts also provide insight into what values Wake Forest looks for within their admissions process. The Wake Forest supplemental essays focus on:

• Your curiosity
• How you’ll form community
• The ways you’ve engaged with art and literature.

If you’re excited about the Wake Forest essay prompts, that’s great. It’s a promising sign that Wake Forest is a good fit for you and your goals.  

In short, it’s clear that the Wake Forest supplemental essays, while not required, are an important part of your application. Be sure to take your time and start the writing process early. As one of the best colleges in North Carolina, Wake Forest has a very selective admissions process. The Wake Forest University supplemental essays can help you stand out in the admissions process. Be sure to take them seriously! 

How can I make my Wake Forest essays stand out?

The pressure to make your Wake Forest supplemental essays stand out can be high, but CollegeAdvisor is here to help! The best way to help your Wake Forest essays stand out is to make sure they reflect your unique personality. In general, supplemental essays help colleges get to know you better beyond your resume and personal statement essay. The Wake Forest supplemental essays help you demonstrate your interests, giving you the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions officers. 

Authenticity

The best supplemental essays feel genuine. Writing about yourself can be challenging, but it’s well worth it. Try to focus on elements of your high school experience that may not come through in your larger application. Your Wake Forest supplemental essays offer you ample opportunity to write in your voice. You can communicate directly with admissions officers on impactful experiences that have helped you grow. (And, how Wake Forest will help foster experiences that will continue that growth.)

Narrative

The Wake Forest University supplemental essays should create a consistent narrative around who you are. Try to think of your Wake Forest essays as one, cohesive assignment, rather than several separate essays. What are your essays communicating about you as a whole? Is there anything you feel they are missing about your application, or experience? What do you think the reader is walking away with after reading your Wake Forest supplemental essays? Thinking through these questions can help your Wake Forest essays stand out. 

Details

It’s equally important that your Wake Forest supplemental essays reflect the high-quality research you’ve done as well. Be sure to read our guide on How to Get into Wake Forest University, and the acceptance rate for Wake Forest. You can also read the Wake Forest supplemental essays from past years to help get some inspiration. And, be sure to always double check the Wake Forest website for the most up-to-date application information. 

Overall, the best way to help your Wake Forest essays stand out is to two-fold. Submit polished, cohesive essays that help tell a story about your passions and goals. Think through how you want to portray your interests and past experiences. Then, map them out amongst the Wake Forest essay prompts. Ask for feedback through the editing process on the essays as a whole. This can help you make sure your overall narrative comes through each essay.

Wake Forest Supplemental Essays – 5 Takeaways

The Wake Forest University supplemental essays can be intimidating. But, they can also provide an amazing opportunity to connect with the admissions officers reviewing your application. When writing your Wake Forest supplemental essays, it’s important to stay grounded and think carefully through your responses. Here are 5 takeaways for writing your Wake Forest supplemental essays: 

1. Be creative 

The Wake Forest essay prompts encourage creative responses, so it’s important to bring a creative energy to your responses. Really push yourself to think outside the box, and use the prompts as a way to display your unique personality. Try reading other Wake Forest essays for inspiration – the more creative, the better. Experiment with different writing prompts that will help build up your creative muscles. Channeling your creativity will help you with many different supplemental essays, not just the Wake Forest essays.

2. Have your essays reflect your personality 

The Wake Forest essays create many opportunities for you to share your personality with the admissions team. The goal is to give admissions officers insight into who you are and why you’re interested in Wake Forest. Think carefully about how your essays reflect your true personality. What will a stranger walk away with after reading your essays? Your essays should paint a cohesive picture of your goals, experiences, and passions. The stronger the profile you build through the Wake Forest supplemental essays, the bigger the impression you’ll make.

3. Take advantage of each essay prompt

It can be easy to rush through the shorter Wake Forest essay prompts. However, each essay prompt is equally important. Try to give as much attention to the shorter essay prompts as the longer ones. Each of the Wake Forest essays are meant to provide more context to your application. All of your essays should work to achieve this goal. Bounce ideas off of your peers and mentors for all the prompts before writing your first drafts. This can help you feel focused and energized as you start the writing process. 

4. Aim for cohesion 

Cohesion is key to making a great impression on the admissions officers that will be reviewing your application. Your Wake Forest supplemental essays should work in concert to create a comprehensive picture of who you are. The admissions team will be trying to connect the dots between different aspects of your application. This is a great perspective to keep in mind when building out your essay topics.

With so many different Wake Forest essay prompts, it can make sense to tackle them separately. However, you should map out what you’ll mention for each essay and try to build connections where you can between prompts. Spending time looking at the Wake Forest supplemental essays as a whole can help ensure you avoid unnecessary repetition.   

5. Make sure to edit and collect feedback

It is crucial that your Wake Forest essays are edited and reviewed before you submit your application. The editing process can feel burdensome or time consuming. But it’s the best way to ensure that you end up with the very best versions of your essays. Have a mentor, teacher, or advisor read through all of your Wake Forest supplemental essays and give feedback. Try to have them read your essays as a whole entity – this will help your narrative building. Make sure to read through your essays multiple times before submitting them as well. This will help you catch any distracting spelling or grammatical errors.

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Jess Klein. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.