I recently visited Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Wake Forest is a mid-sized, private university with around 5,500 undergraduates in the city of Winston-Salem (population 250,000). The school is known for its undergraduate focus and tight-knit, collaborative community. Students are required to live on campus three years, the accessible faculty live on “Faculty Drive” right along campus, and each first-year residence hall has an assigned faculty member assigned who regularly hosts events there.

· Given its national reputation, only 20% of students come from in-state, with students arriving from 48 states and 50 countries. Academics are rigorous.

· Despite being a mid-sized university, Wake hosts a range of successful DI athletic teams and a contagious atmosphere of school spirit.

· The average class size is 20, with 52% of classes 15 or fewer students. The largest classes top out around the high 20s or low 30s.

· While most science classes are hosted on the main campus, premeds can take advantage of the 12-year-old Wake Downtown campus, a STEM research facility home to first-year med students, medical faculty, and Wake’s new engineering and molecular biology programs.

· Research is available to all students, with 60% undertaking student-designed research with a faculty mentor.

· 80-85% of students study abroad, and opportunities are open to all students, including engineers. Wake owns three properties in Europe, including a palazzo on Venice’s Grand Canal. Students can also take part in countless partner study abroad programs.

· Wake also owns a center in Washington, DC where students can live and take classes with Wake faculty one semester while interning as part of the Wake in DC program.

· Wake’s motto is pro humanitate (for humanity), and 98% of students participate in service.

· Greek life is a big presence on campus, but not the only activity available. Interested students rush second semester of freshmen year, and there is no fraternity or sorority row: chapters wings are instead located in residence halls.

· Wake offers rolling Early Decision I, meaning that if students apply early enough and aren’t accepted, they can still apply elsewhere Early Decision I.