Wake Forest University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Politics and International Affairs
Minor: Psychology
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Heterosexual Female
Summary
Sorority and WFU Style
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Private school in Delaware with a graduating class of about 58 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First Generation College Student: No
Major: Politics and International Affairs
Minor: Psychology
Extracurricular Activities: Sorority and WFU Style
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
The weekly coursework for Politics and International Affairs is heavily reading-oriented. We mostly have essays and then two exams per semester.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or especially poorly?
One thing they do poorly is they schedule a lot of the classes during the same time period, so it limits your options of taking a diverse group of Politics and International Affairs classes. I think they do a good job of sending a lot of emails with work opportunities for our majors.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s competitive or collaborative?
In the Politics and International Affairs major I think it’s particularly competitive because a lot of people in the department want to go to law school. People
Do you feel people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Yeah, I do think people are open to multiple schools of thought. I think professors do a good job of representing both sides of an argument.
What has been your favorite class in your major?
Intro to American Politics. The professor was really engaging and he made me enjoy American politics more. He’s now my advisor.
How accessible have your professors been?
They’re very accessible. They always post office hours and respond to emails.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I’ve always been interested in politics. Ever since high school I was between a major in politics or psychology but I ended up picking Politics and International Affairs because I want to go to law school and I thought it would be a good department to go into.
Reasons to Attend
1) The size. If you don’t want to go to a huge school, it’s a good size.
2) To get a good education and to be in close contact with professors if you are more of a hands-on learner.
3) You can make a lot of friends here.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) If you don’t want to join Greek life at all and couldn’t be persuaded to do so.
2) There is a lot of schoolwork, so don’t come if you find school overwhelming and don’t like to do a lot of schoolwork.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: South Hall with one roommate.
Sophomore: Magnolia Residence Hall in an eight-person suite.
Junior: Off-Campus in an apartment with one roommate.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I think the campus is very safe. There’s never been a time that I felt unsafe. I feel safe walking home alone at night.
How was transitioning from your hometown in Delaware to Winston-Salem, NC?
It was fairly easy because I came from a small town, so Winston-Salem felt similar.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I go to parties hosted by fraternities and go to bars in downtown Winston-Salem.
What is an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
I would go see a movie.
How happy are you with the nightlife? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m happy with it, but I just wish it would be less Greek life oriented.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I met one of my best friends in class during the first semester of college. The rest of my friends I met through my sorority.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Wake Forest?
It’s very Greek life oriented. People mostly go to frat parties, and if you don’t go to a frat party there isn’t much else to do.
To what extent do you think people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Not much, most people at the Greek life parties are White and straight. [In the Class of 2021, 71% of students are White.]
How do you like the size of Wake Forest in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it influenced your social experience? [Wake Forest has about 5,100 undergraduates.]
I like the size of Wake because it’s medium-sized so it doesn’t feel too big and overwhelming, but at the same time, you don’t know everyone. It’s influenced my social experience because when I go out I know a lot of people, but there are also a lot of places that I don’t go to and don’t know people.
Careers
Have you used the career office much?
I’ve gone in a couple of times for help with my resume, and they were only a little helpful.