Wake Forest University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Wake Forest 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essay of 150 words

The Optional Submissions: 2 lists, 1 essay of 150 words, 1 essay of 300 words

Supplemental Essay Type: Why, Short Answer, Oddball, Activity 

How to Write Wake Forest Supplemental Essays

The Wake Forest supplement always gives students a run for their money, and this year is no exception. Although only one essay is technically required, we highly encourage applicants to draft and submit a response to each and every prompt available to them. The prompts present a straightforward way for applicants to share more information about their candidacy and go the extra mile to differentiate themselves from other similarly qualified applicants. Ultimately, admissions is seeking to learn more about your interests, both academic and extracurricular, as well as how you interact with the world around you. Successful responses will be thoughtful and demonstrate a synergy with WFU’s Pro Humanitate motto. Keep reading for our prompt-specific advice!

Wake Forest University Prompts Breakdown

The Wake Forest supplement always gives students a run for their money and this year is no exception. 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.

Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (150 words)

This is a short version of the Why Essay, a mini Why, if you will. Wake Forest wants to make sure you are psyched for the full college experience at their school, and the secret to a successful Why Essay is research. Take some time to explore the school website or even visit campus and get to know all that Wake Forest and the town of Winston-Salem have to offer. Jot down everything that excites you! When you have a solid list in hand, consider how each club, professor, or program connects to your own interests and goals. Locate specific opportunities within your department and related programs that really make your heart sing with excitement. Perhaps you started a home baking business and Wake Forest’s business program would offer you exactly the right skills to build your future entrepreneurial career. Just remember that the goal is to offer deeper insight into your interests and vision, not to just rattle off a list of facts about the school! In fact, there shouldn’t be a single sentence that only lists a feature of the school without any connection back to you or what that it means to you. For example, if admissions could read a sentence and say “Yeah, we know,” it’s time to go back and rework it. Talk about your passions, goals, and dreams so admissions can understand what a Wake Forest education will mean to you.

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.)

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? Admissions is giving you the option of checking “required” or “not required” 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.

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 (limit 150 words).

This is a classic short-answer essay: a broad, pithy question that demands a specific, personal response. This prompt isn’t just about your academic interests, so try to come up with a few specific examples of projects or activities that grabbed your attention and refused to let go. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you extremely motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What was the last fact or skill you learned outside of school that truly captured your imagination? Which book or poem altered the way you think about your place in the world? The bottom line here is to discuss an example of what truly fascinates you while also reflecting on what your selection says about your personality traits, interests, or learning style.

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? (limit 300 words)

This prompt choice is glorious in its infinite potential. It’s no secret that Dr. Maya Angelou had a way with words, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to explore her work yet, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Maybe you connect with a line from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings or a passage from one of her essay collections. Perhaps you have a soft spot for her children’s book, Mrs. Flowers: A Moment of Friendship, since you and your mom would read it together when you were young. Dr. Angelou’s body of work explores a wide range of topics, so take your time to choose a quote that resonates with you, then dig into the core of the prompt: how you relate to the quote and/or how Dr. Angelou’s words relate to your vision for contributing to the Wake Forest community. Your response should offer admissions insight into your values, passions, and worldview.

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.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Wake Forest Essays

We have been reading Wake Forest essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Wake Forest Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the Wake Forest supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays and lists, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Wake Forest essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances.