Media Advisory: First-year students move into WFU residence halls tomorrow, August 24
Tomorrow Wake Forest will welcome 1,242 first-year students to the Reynolda Campus. Here are a few back-to-school story ideas related to move-in day and orientation activities. Please contact the news office to make arrangements for interviews or gather b-roll of move-in day.
The first day of classes begins Wednesday, August 29.
Friday, August 24: move-in day for first-year students
Fun facts about this year’s freshman class:
– 79% were in the top 10% of their high school class
– 35 were high school valedictorians
– 63 were high school student government presidents
– 27% were high school sports captains
First-year students hail from:
– 45 states (19% are from North Carolina)
– 22 countries outside the U.S. (Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom)
Athletes help with move-in day: 100 student athletes wearing their team jerseys will get their strength training by helping new Wake Forest students move into first-year residence halls. This year, Wake Forest football, volleyball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and golf teams will help students adjust to life as Demon Deacons as they move into Johnson, Bostwick, Luter, Babcock, Collins and South residence halls.
Transition to college – for parents: How do you cope with an empty nest? Should you ever call your child’s professor? This presentation offers tips and advice about child/parent relationship strategies, common issues parents might face during the college years, and information about support systems on campus. The session will be held August 24 at 7 p.m. in Benson University Center, room 401.
Tuesday, August 28: Engaging in personal & career development before classes begin
College to Career community: Some first-year students might be surprised to find a session with the Office of Personal & Career Development on their orientation schedule. After all, they’re just freshmen, right? At Wake Forest, career development means more than just helping students find jobs, even in this economy. That’s why WFU has made personal and career development a mission-critical component of the college experience. The Office of Personal & Career Development guides and inspires students to take charge of their personal and career development from their initial days on campus. In fact, WFU is one of the only schools in the country to incorporate personal and career development into orientation for first-year students to get them engaged with the career office early (Tuesday, August 28, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Wait Chapel). Staff and students will be available for interviews.
For any day: Related back to school stories
Does having a smart roommate help you do better in college? New research by Amanda Griffith, an assistant professor of economics, suggests the answer may be “yes.” Her study shows it might be possible to increase overall achievement by sorting certain students into their housing assignments by ability level. So, instead of requesting someone who’s a non-smoker or a night owl, students – especially guys – might want to request a roommate who’s a high-performer. (More info.)
Changing role of the RA: When senior Ethan Groce came to Wake Forest, he wanted to be a leader. So, in addition to becoming a President’s Aide and taking an active role in Student Government, he decided to follow in the footsteps of someone he admired and respected: his resident adviser. While RAs of the past may have served as little more than live-in tour guides or policy enforcers, today there’s no question that they play a pivotal role in helping students with the adjustment to college life. Armed with intensive training from the university police department, counseling center, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Residence Life and Housing, they’re on the front lines of everything from roommate drama to emergency communications. How do they do it while balancing a full course load and wearing a smile?
About Wake Forest University:
Wake Forest University combines the best traditions of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a large research university. Founded in 1834, the school is located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The University’s graduate school of arts and sciences, divinity school, and nationally ranked schools of law, medicine and business enrich our intellectual environment. Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu.
