If you’re reading this, you’re probably chomping at the bit to know what kind of GPA your child needs to gain admission to Wake Forest University.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer to that question. Wake Forest University has never reported the GPA of its incoming first-year students to The Common Data Set Initiative.

The Common Data Set Initiative is a voluntary effort among colleges to help all of those involved with a student’s transition into higher education. We at Ivy Coach combed through every single one of Wake Forest’s available Common Data Sets, and not once has WFU reported the high school GPA of admitted students. Wake Forest’s motto is Pro Humanitate, which means “for humanity” in Latin. For humanity, we at Ivy Coach call upon Wake Forest University to release the data. 

But, until that clear blue morning arrives, what can we glean about the academic profile of students admitted to Wake Forest University? We’re going to get into all of that down below. 

High School Class Rank of Wake Forest Students

While Wake Forest does not report the high school GPA of its enrolled students, it does report the high school class rank of its incoming first-years. At Ivy Coach, we’re not fans of class rank. It pits students against one another, and doesn’t actually give an accurate picture of a student’s academic performance and potential. A student who ranks number five out of 300 at a non-competitive high school is not necessarily stronger than student who ranks number 30 out of 300 at a rigorous school with competitive students. As you can see, that doesn’t actually mean number five is any more prepared for higher education than number 30. It’s all about the context. But we’ll play ball for a second: class ranking, when available, does still matter to admissions officers. 

Last year, for the Wake Forest University Class of 2029, 64.2% of enrolled first-year students were in the top tenth of their high school graduating class. And 91% were in the top quarter of their high school graduating class. The year before, for the Wake Forest Class of 2028, 67% were in the top tenth and 91% were in the top quarter. And, if we look three years back, at the WFU Class of 2027, we’ll see that 71% of students coming onto campus were in the top tenth of their graduating class and 93% of the students were in the top quarter. While this doesn’t necessarily tell us about GPA (it’s possible to be in the top quarter of your class with a 3.6 at a noncompetitive high school), it does tell us that students at Wake Forest perform strongly within their school environments. This is in keeping with Wake Forest’s selective admissions rate, hovering around 20% from year to year. 

Can Students Get into Wake Forest with a Low GPA?

It’s possible, but it’s unlikely. Wake Forest is a competitive school that enrolls top academic performers. 

That being said, college admissions isn’t just a numbers game. (If it were, our jobs would be so much easier.) Wake Forest University, like most other top institutions in the country, maintains a holistic admissions review process. “God has called your full and authentic self to become an agent of justice, reconciliation, and compassion. We invite you to bring that full and authentic self to our application process,” says Brittani Hunt, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Wake Forest.

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Wake Forest University

If you’re looking to enhance your child’s chances of getting into Wake Forest University, we strongly recommend Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. This session provides insights into your child’s potential for admission to Wake Forest University and devises a comprehensive plan for optimizing their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.