Frequently Asked Questions
Every incoming first-year or transfer student will be assigned a lower-division advisor (a faculty or staff member), along with a student advisor. Student advisors are continuing students who have been successful throughout their first year(s) of college and wish to share their knowledge with incoming students. Incoming students will receive support and outreach from their lower-division and student advisors within the first semester to ensure that they are adjusting to campus life at Wake Forest.
Once a student declares a major, s/he will be assigned to an academic advisor within that department.
Students must meet with their advisors each semester to discuss the current term, future course selection, and obtain their PIN for registration. We encourage all students to meet with their assigned advisors throughout the year for academic advice or concerns and for everyday guidance in navigating college.
Appointments can be made with the Office of Academic Advising either in person in Reynolda 125, by phone at 336.758.3320, or via the scheduling form.
General questions or concerns can be directed to the Office of Academic Advising via email at undergraduateadvising@wfu.edu, and we hold walk-in hours for quick, 5-10 minute meetings.
View the Undergraduate Bulletin
The Undergraduate Bulletin will provide updated academic policies, course descriptions, prerequisites, and co-requisites, program and department information, as requirements for major and minor tracks.
All Undergraduate Bulletins along with the Graduate School and School of Divinity Bulletins may be found at the academic bulletins.
Information regarding AP and IB credit is found on the University Registrar’s webpage.
The full list of courses that satisfy the aforementioned requirements can be found in our Course Completion Checklist. You will also see notations for courses that satisfy divisional (D), cultural diversity (CD), and quantitative reasoning (QR) requirements at the end of course descriptions in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A brief overview of the most current curriculum requirements can be found on the New Student Website or in Forestry 101. It may also be helpful to consult the Undergraduate Bulletin and Course Completion Checklist.
Check the Add/Drop Policy and the Credit Overload/Exceed 17 Hrs policy.
Your foreign language placement will be determined by your AP/IB scores or your score on the Foreign Language Placement Test(s) that you should complete prior to registration.
More information about Foreign Language Placement can be found here.
Available on-campus resources can be found in our list of Student Support Services.
Information on the disability services and accommodations offered at Wake Forest can be found on the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success website. Accommodations are handled jointly by the Deacon Health and the Learning Assistance Center.
Visit the Deacon Health on the ground floor of the Reynolds Gymnasium, Wellbeing Center. Once there, make an appointment or wait to be seen.
If you are diagnosed with an ailment, especially one that will result in missed classes, you should ask that Deacon Health communicate directly with the Office of Academic Advising, who can then reach out to your professors to notify them of your situation.
You are responsible for communicating with your professors about adhering to what’s outlined in the syllabus (e.g. attendance, missed work, deadlines, exams, etc.).
If you cannot be seen at Deacon Health and choose to visit an off-campus provider, you should request that said provider communicate with Deacon Health about your condition (e.g. have the provider fax over information, etc.).
If this is a current life-threatening emergency, dial *911 or campus police at 336-758-5911 immediately. For mental health crises, you may contact our University Counseling Center at 336-758-5273.
If you are admitted to the hospital or emergency department, please contact the Deacon Health at 336-758-5218 or the Office of the Chaplain at 336-758-5210.
Visit our pages on personal emergencies and hardships and family and medical emergencies for advice on how to proceed.
For mental health crises, ongoing depression, and other continuous needs, such a depression, you should visit our University Counseling Center in 117 Reynolda Hall, or call them at 336-758-5273 to set up an appointment.
You may also contact the Office of the Chaplain at 336-758-5210 or the Campus Ministry Office at 336-758-5248.
Students are always welcome to drop in the Office of Academic Advising in 125 Reynolda Hall for a walk-in appointment and one of our academic counselors would be happy to meet with you and discuss available resources.
The Office of the University Registrar has detailed information regarding the number of hours permitted to be transferred in and for related policies and procedures. More information can be found on the page of Taking Courses Elsewhere.
A list of the available pre-professional programs, their websites, and contact person(s) can be found on the Pre-Professional Advising page.
We understand that your collegiate experience is a holistic one and extends beyond the classroom. Office of Student Engagement can help you explore your options and find your place here at Wake Forest.
Most combinations a student can pursue at Wake Forest University result in 120 credit hours; there are two options which require students to complete 135 credit hours.
The average number of hours a student takes every semester is 15; however, this may vary from student to student pending things such as AP credit, transfer credit, studying abroad, taking a rigorous course load, choosing to overload beyond 17 hours.
Monitor your Academic Progress Report regularly and consistently communicate with your academic advisor. It is also recommended to visit the Office of Academic Advising to schedule an academic planning meeting.