2025-2026 Wake Forest

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2025-2026 Wake Forest Secondary Essay Prompts (Question #1 has changed from last year's)

1. The mission of our academic health system is to improve health for all. Consider your abilities, insights, and previous experiences and then tell us about your potential to help improve health for all. (200 words)

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words)

4. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words)

5. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words)

6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words)

7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)

Good luck to all applying!

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FYI for anybody applying for this upcoming cycle (Wake Forest alum who got accepted to Wake last admissions cycle and knows several Wake medical students). Wake Forest releases decisions in waves, and receives a HIGH volume of applicants. They release their secondary IMMEDIATELY (around June 27th-June 28th) after receiving your primary application. Wake has a STRONG regional preference for applicants with ties to Wake Forest or the Winston-Salem/CLT/NC area, so if you are an OOS applicant, this will be a low-yield school for you (something to keep in mind).

Their interview process is unique in that they have an asynchronous Kira Talent portion completed prior to a group interview day (Zoom with about 30 other interviewees). The dean asks questions to the group and there is also a group interview portion. Decisions are released within 3-weeks, generally on Tuesdays! The schools is not particularly focused on stats, and values diversity and life experiences heavily, so having a gap year or two as an EMT, medical assistant, CRC will help you considerably for this school, and if you are an OOS high-stat (LM 78+) applicant with no ties to Wake/Winston-Salem/CLT, I honestly wouldn't even bother applying as you will be yield protected. There are a total of about 190 seats (roughly 140 in Winston-Salem and 45-50 in CLT), and interviews will generally conclude by February as to allow for time for campus preferences (CLT fills up quicker than Winston-Salem). CLT is more in-person PBL-focused, whereas Winston-Salem has more didactics, optional lectures and is far more laid-back with fewer time commitments. If you NEED to be in a big city, pick CLT, otherwise go to Winston-Salem.

ALSO, regarding aid. Wake has VERY LIMITED financial resources, as do most non-T-20 medical schools, and given the larger class size with CLT included, they do not give much merit aid. All aid is released April 15th, barring the dean's medical excellence scholarship, and they do NOT negotiate aid packages. It is an expensive school, and most students take considerable amounts of loans or get significant need-based aid. Their need-based aid resources are great for people whose families make under 100k, but realistically anybody with parental income over 150k will receive ZERO need-based aid at this school.

IMPORTANT: You will hear about the Dean's Medical Excellence Scholarship if you are accepted, and yes, it is a full-ride scholarship, with $40,000 in additional aid provided beyond full tuition coverage each year. They are awarded sporadically to about 4-5 people from December to March, and some can be awarded to applicants in May. THIS FULL-RIDE IS NOT-BASED ON STATS OR RESEARCH. IT IS NOT FOR HIGH STAT RESEARCH GUNNERS. This full-ride is DEI-based and almost exclusively given to URMs with unique life stories/ECs/backgrounds. It is to build diversity at Wake, and is NOT for increasing the stat medians at this school. I had an LM of 82, was a Wake undergrad and Winston-Salem local on a full-ride who extensively served the community and was heavily involved on campus, and I did not get a dime from this school in aid, as I am not URM/disadvantaged. High stats will not get you merit aid at this school, so please keep that in mind as you apply and may be looking for schools to offer generous financial aid packages.

That was a lot! But I want you all to be more informed about this process than I was! DM me if you have more questions or want me to read over secondaries given I was successfully accepted applicant. The student body is amazing, and I truly love this place even though circumstances did not allow me to stay. Best of luck 🙂
 
I agree that very high stat applicants may be yield protected, but as an alum of this med school (who had 0 NC connections), I would definitely disagree that this school has a “STRONG” regional preference. This is a private school, so they have no commitment to in-state residents like any public school would. Most students are not from NC and have no connection to NC. I had many classmates from CA, NY, MA, FL, etc. I don’t have access to the numbers on MSAR anymore, but when I was a student, only 45/145 students were NC residents. It is not surprising that there’s a little NC predominance simply because people want to stay near home so the students themselves self-select for a slight NC population preference.

The other major difference between the campuses is that Winston-Salem is the traditional academic medical center and has all of the subspecialty home residency programs, so if you want ophtho, ENT, derm, etc, then you want to be in WS to rub shoulders with the program and PDs. CLT has some home programs, but they are the basic ones (IM, EM, FM, surgery, OB) plus a few extras (ortho, NSGY).

I would also agree that scholarships tend to be given to students from diverse or underprivileged backgrounds. I did not get a dime haha.
 
I feel that applicants should indeed be very aware, going in, that there are no merit scholarships given at this medical school. Wake Forest Med seems deeply entrenched in DEI. They don't hide that and why not believe what they communicate. DEI would logically/quite possibly apply in the admissions decisions and there is also a very high ratio of female to male students in its accepted classes. It's a decent medical school and gets tons of applications, maybe in part because it looks more mid and lower stat in the stat breakdowns on MSAR and so on, but that doesn't paint the whole picture. If you don't have the means to toss away money or desire to be making a donation and spend your time with the application stuff here too, think hard. Also, if you're not who/what they're apparently looking for here &/or are going in thinking you might score some scholarship money, think hard about keeping it on your application list.
 
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Hurricanado said:
I feel that applicants should indeed be very aware, going in, that there are no merit scholarships given at this medical school. Woke Forest Med seems deeply entrenched in DEI. They don't hide that and why not believe what they communicate. DEI would logically/quite possibly apply in the admissions decisions and there is also a very high ratio of female to male students in its accepted classes. It's a decent medical school and gets tons of applications, maybe in part because it looks more mid and lower stat in the stat breakdowns on MSAR and so on, but that doesn't paint the whole picture. If you don't have the means to toss away money or desire to be making a donation and spend your time with the application stuff here too, think hard. Also, if you're not who/what they're apparently looking for here &/or are going in thinking you might score some scholarship money, think hard about keeping it on your application list.
Click to expand...
Lol as a grad from this school, this is a bad take for the following reasons:
1. My class had a total of 3 black students (out of 145). The vast majority of my class was white or Asian.
2. Because of the above point, they could probably emphasize diversity more in their admissions process, not less, in order to reflect the diversity of their own community. The classes following mine were a bit better with 10-15 black students per year (still certainly not enough to call it "Woke" Forest lol)
3. My class was 1:1 male to female
4. The 2 people in my class I knew who got the Dean's scholarship were both white
5. There's not a medical school in the country that doesn't emphasize diversity, and historically all of academia tends to be very progressive/liberal, so Wake Forest is not even close to unique in this regard

If you disagree with point #2, that's fine, but that's just your opinion, not something that prospective students need to be warned about. ORM applicants still have a great chance of getting in, and Wake is a fantastic med school that anyone should consider attending.
 
m1redsox said:
Lol as a grad from this school, this is a bad take for the following reasons:
1. My class had a total of 3 black students (out of 145). The vast majority of my class was white or Asian.
2. Because of the above point, they could probably emphasize diversity more in their admissions process, not less, in order to reflect the diversity of their own community. The classes following mine were a bit better with 10-15 black students per year (still certainly not enough to call it "Woke" Forest lol)
3. My class was 1:1 male to female
4. The 2 people in my class I knew who got the Dean's scholarship were both white
5. There's not a medical school in the country that doesn't emphasize diversity, and historically all of academia tends to be very progressive/liberal, so Wake Forest is not even close to unique in this regard

If you disagree with point #2, that's fine, but that's just your opinion, not something that prospective students need to be warned about. ORM applicants still have a great chance of getting in, and Wake is a fantastic med school that anyone should consider attending
Click to expand...

I never mentioned race once...I mentioned DEI .... interesting... Please note typo fixed above. Congrats on being an alum, MD. I am not attending this school. I went through the paces last cycle and not 4+ years ago like you would have. I know what my own experience was and my own opinion. I know what I learned doing due diligence of what was public record info, stats and info reported by the school itself, its website/marketing, statements by its leadership and administrators (who are not all the same people that were there back when you applied 4+ years ago of course), what I read as conveyed by others on here (and elsewhere), about its lack of merit scholarships, about the existence of the Deans Excellence initiative, and of course at least one well-publicized, unfortunate series of events there a few years back. Like I said, not a bad medical school. Has its focuses and priorities. Definitely not one to chase if seeking academic merit money.
 
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Should I apply here if I have no NC ties, but an immediate family member in graduate school at this SOM
 
It doesn't hurt to apply. It's just low yield if you don't have ties. A lot of their limited interviews go out to students from Winston-Salem and affiliated with Wake Forest. Don't expect anything, but if you have the time, why not throw it in amongst your applications. It's a numbers game at the end of the day.
 
BigDawg101 said:
It doesn't hurt to apply. It's just low yield if you don't have ties. A lot of their limited interviews go out to students from Winston-Salem and affiliated with Wake Forest. Don't expect anything, but if you have the time, why not throw it in amongst your applications. It's a numbers game at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
Do I count as affiliated with Wake Forest or no haha. I also did some research there during high school, but it didn't go on my application.
 
BigDawg101 said:
It doesn't hurt to apply. It's just low yield if you don't have ties. A lot of their limited interviews go out to students from Winston-Salem and affiliated with Wake Forest. Don't expect anything, but if you have the time, why not throw it in amongst your applications. It's a numbers game at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
ITA, unless you do not have the money/time to risk going long with/ lack a waiver and are someone with a more typical background seeking academic merit money from them. Getting an A here, but having to pay full freight for it, is not an A at all for some folks. Max all your options based on your own financial situation and needs here and everywhere else. It can work out great that way wherever you land. GL
 
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BigDawg101 said:
FYI for anybody applying for this upcoming cycle (Wake Forest alum who got accepted to Wake last admissions cycle and knows several Wake medical students). Wake Forest releases decisions in waves, and receives a HIGH volume of applicants. They release their secondary IMMEDIATELY (around June 27th-June 28th) after receiving your primary application. Wake has a STRONG regional preference for applicants with ties to Wake Forest or the Winston-Salem/CLT/NC area, so if you are an OOS applicant, this will be a low-yield school for you (something to keep in mind).

Their interview process is unique in that they have an asynchronous Kira Talent portion completed prior to a group interview day (Zoom with about 30 other interviewees). The dean asks questions to the group and there is also a group interview portion. Decisions are released within 3-weeks, generally on Tuesdays! The schools is not particularly focused on stats, and values diversity and life experiences heavily, so having a gap year or two as an EMT, medical assistant, CRC will help you considerably for this school, and if you are an OOS high-stat (LM 78+) applicant with no ties to Wake/Winston-Salem/CLT, I honestly wouldn't even bother applying as you will be yield protected. There are a total of about 190 seats (roughly 140 in Winston-Salem and 45-50 in CLT), and interviews will generally conclude by February as to allow for time for campus preferences (CLT fills up quicker than Winston-Salem). CLT is more in-person PBL-focused, whereas Winston-Salem has more didactics, optional lectures and is far more laid-back with fewer time commitments. If you NEED to be in a big city, pick CLT, otherwise go to Winston-Salem.

ALSO, regarding aid. Wake has VERY LIMITED financial resources, as do most non-T-20 medical schools, and given the larger class size with CLT included, they do not give much merit aid. All aid is released April 15th, barring the dean's medical excellence scholarship, and they do NOT negotiate aid packages. It is an expensive school, and most students take considerable amounts of loans or get significant need-based aid. Their need-based aid resources are great for people whose families make under 100k, but realistically anybody with parental income over 150k will receive ZERO need-based aid at this school.

IMPORTANT: You will hear about the Dean's Medical Excellence Scholarship if you are accepted, and yes, it is a full-ride scholarship, with $40,000 in additional aid provided beyond full tuition coverage each year. They are awarded sporadically to about 4-5 people from December to March, and some can be awarded to applicants in May. THIS FULL-RIDE IS NOT-BASED ON STATS OR RESEARCH. IT IS NOT FOR HIGH STAT RESEARCH GUNNERS. This full-ride is DEI-based and almost exclusively given to URMs with unique life stories/ECs/backgrounds. It is to build diversity at Wake, and is NOT for increasing the stat medians at this school. I had an LM of 82, was a Wake undergrad and Winston-Salem local on a full-ride who extensively served the community and was heavily involved on campus, and I did not get a dime from this school in aid, as I am not URM/disadvantaged. High stats will not get you merit aid at this school, so please keep that in mind as you apply and may be looking for schools to offer generous financial aid packages.

That was a lot! But I want you all to be more informed about this process than I was! DM me if you have more questions or want me to read over secondaries given I was successfully accepted applicant. The student body is amazing, and I truly love this place even though circumstances did not allow me to stay. Best of luck 🙂
Click to expand...
This is super helpful, thank you. I'm a reapplicant who grew up in WS and have strong ties to the school. I did Early Decision last year, got the interview, and was rejected. If I could give anyone advice for this cycle with Wake - do NOT do ED. It botched my cycle and it humbled me pretty hard after receiving the rejection (which I needed ultimately lol). Putting your eggs in one basket like that is a significant risk in having to apply so late to other schools if this is the outcome, especially with the growing number of people applying ED. I could only recommend this option if you have niche, specific life circumstances, are a SIGNIFICANTLY competitive applicant, and meet with the dean to receive his blessing before doing so.

However, the dean was awesome and met with me to give direct feedback, and recommended a focus on the secondary writing next year. He said that they heavily weigh them and use that and the interview to gauge if you are a good fit personality-wise. He said to also really focus on recent experiences to use as anecdotes in the secondaries and really tie them in to "why medicine?" and "why Wake Forest?"
 
Hello all! Quick question about one of the Wake Forest secondary prompts from last year. There was a particular question that asked to describe a non-academic challenge. Does anyone know what is considered "non-academic?" The two options I was between were an ethical decision I had to face as a teaching assistant or a challenge I faced during research. Wasn't sure if both, none, or either of those would count as a non-academic challenge. thanks in advance!
 
md-born said:
Hello all! Quick question about one of the Wake Forest secondary prompts from last year. There was a particular question that asked to describe a non-academic challenge. Does anyone know what is considered "non-academic?" The two options I was between were an ethical decision I had to face as a teaching assistant or a challenge I faced during research. Wasn't sure if both, none, or either of those would count as a non-academic challenge. thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Let’s wait & see what the questions are this year
 
@wysdoc They're here.

The mission of our academic health system is to improve health for all. Consider your abilities, insights, and previous experiences and then tell us about your potential to help improve health for all. (200 words)

Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)

From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words)

Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words)

Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words)

Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words)

Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)
 
md-born said:
Hello all! Quick question about one of the Wake Forest secondary prompts from last year. There was a particular question that asked to describe a non-academic challenge. Does anyone know what is considered "non-academic?" The two options I was between were an ethical decision I had to face as a teaching assistant or a challenge I faced during research. Wasn't sure if both, none, or either of those would count as a non-academic challenge. thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
@md-born Now that I see this question is still among the secondary questions, try to think of something that has nothing to do with school. Your two examples both seem academic to me.
 
+1 OOS

I prewrote my essays, #1 is pretty much the same prompt just worded differently, no?? Considering just keeping what I wrote already about equity but not sure if itd be obvious that I just wrote from last years prompt.
 
mynamejef said:
+1 OOS

I prewrote my essays, #1 is pretty much the same prompt just worded differently, no?? Considering just keeping what I wrote already about equity but not sure if itd be obvious that I just wrote from last years prompt.
Click to expand...
It may be generally the same theme but keeping in the buzzwords from last year's prompt such as systemic bias and promoting equity could peg you as someone who didn't read this year's question
 
I submitted the secondary and LORs on 06/28 but my application status is still waiting on materials. Is anyone else the same?
 
bluwale said:
I submitted the secondary and LORs on 06/28 but my application status is still waiting on materials. Is anyone else the same?
Click to expand...
Yes, same for me. Glad I'm not the only one! I have everything submitted including Casper scores, too.
 
My Casper score only came out in late June so I'm guessing maybe Wake just takes longer to process it?
 
I got notified my application was complete 3 days after the initial “Waiting on Materials” email!
 
BigDawg101 said:
FYI for anybody applying for this upcoming cycle (Wake Forest alum who got accepted to Wake last admissions cycle and knows several Wake medical students). Wake Forest releases decisions in waves, and receives a HIGH volume of applicants. They release their secondary IMMEDIATELY (around June 27th-June 28th) after receiving your primary application. Wake has a STRONG regional preference for applicants with ties to Wake Forest or the Winston-Salem/CLT/NC area, so if you are an OOS applicant, this will be a low-yield school for you (something to keep in mind).

Their interview process is unique in that they have an asynchronous Kira Talent portion completed prior to a group interview day (Zoom with about 30 other interviewees). The dean asks questions to the group and there is also a group interview portion. Decisions are released within 3-weeks, generally on Tuesdays! The schools is not particularly focused on stats, and values diversity and life experiences heavily, so having a gap year or two as an EMT, medical assistant, CRC will help you considerably for this school, and if you are an OOS high-stat (LM 78+) applicant with no ties to Wake/Winston-Salem/CLT, I honestly wouldn't even bother applying as you will be yield protected. There are a total of about 190 seats (roughly 140 in Winston-Salem and 45-50 in CLT), and interviews will generally conclude by February as to allow for time for campus preferences (CLT fills up quicker than Winston-Salem). CLT is more in-person PBL-focused, whereas Winston-Salem has more didactics, optional lectures and is far more laid-back with fewer time commitments. If you NEED to be in a big city, pick CLT, otherwise go to Winston-Salem.

ALSO, regarding aid. Wake has VERY LIMITED financial resources, as do most non-T-20 medical schools, and given the larger class size with CLT included, they do not give much merit aid. All aid is released April 15th, barring the dean's medical excellence scholarship, and they do NOT negotiate aid packages. It is an expensive school, and most students take considerable amounts of loans or get significant need-based aid. Their need-based aid resources are great for people whose families make under 100k, but realistically anybody with parental income over 150k will receive ZERO need-based aid at this school.

IMPORTANT: You will hear about the Dean's Medical Excellence Scholarship if you are accepted, and yes, it is a full-ride scholarship, with $40,000 in additional aid provided beyond full tuition coverage each year. They are awarded sporadically to about 4-5 people from December to March, and some can be awarded to applicants in May. THIS FULL-RIDE IS NOT-BASED ON STATS OR RESEARCH. IT IS NOT FOR HIGH STAT RESEARCH GUNNERS. This full-ride is DEI-based and almost exclusively given to URMs with unique life stories/ECs/backgrounds. It is to build diversity at Wake, and is NOT for increasing the stat medians at this school. I had an LM of 82, was a Wake undergrad and Winston-Salem local on a full-ride who extensively served the community and was heavily involved on campus, and I did not get a dime from this school in aid, as I am not URM/disadvantaged. High stats will not get you merit aid at this school, so please keep that in mind as you apply and may be looking for schools to offer generous financial aid packages.

That was a lot! But I want you all to be more informed about this process than I was! DM me if you have more questions or want me to read over secondaries given I was successfully accepted applicant. The student body is amazing, and I truly love this place even though circumstances did not allow me to stay. Best of luck 🙂
Click to expand...
Some of this is good advice, but please do NOT take all of this as matter of fact. I have matriculated here, and received the Dean's Medical Excellence Scholarship but I am not URM/disadvantaged. So, I don't doubt that OP had great contributions to the community and WF, but being ORM is not the sole reason they did not get the scholarship!
 
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