First Year (’23)
Weekly messages for parents and families of incoming students in the Class of 2023 will be posted during the fall semester. We hope these will be a helpful resource for you as your student transitions to life at Wake Forest. Bookmark this site and check back each week for a new message.
Reflection during Winter Break
December 2, 2019
First-year families: your Deacs are in the home stretch of their first semester and they will be coming home soon for Winter Break. You will have the chance to hear their stories of college, to see… [Read More]
As Finals Approach
November 25, 2019
Your Deacs are about to head off to Thanksgiving break, but their first set of college final exams is just around the corner.
A to-do list from a student studying for finals in the ZSR Library. Click to… [Read More]
Dos and Don'ts of Thanksgiving Break
November 18, 2019
Thanksgiving Break is likely the first time your Deacs will be home for an extended period of time. Here are a few Dos and Don’ts to consider for your reunited family.
DO
Ask them about their… [Read More]
Having Your Deacs Home Again
November 11, 2019
Thanksgiving break is a couple of weeks away, and many Wake Forest students will be headed home for it. Just a few weeks after, the semester will end and all our students will vacate campus for… [Read More]
Health and Wellbeing
November 4, 2019
If your student has never lived away from home before – and most Wake Forest students have not – being a college student means being fully responsible and autonomous for all aspects of daily life. Absent… [Read More]
Time Management and Overcommitment
October 21, 2019
A difficult challenge most students face their first semester is time management. Many Wake Forest students were used to juggling complicated schedules in high school – academics,… [Read More]
Ups and Downs
October 14, 2019
One of the most challenging things for college parents and families is deciphering their student’s emotions. Instead of being at home across the kitchen table – where you can see your student’s face and body… [Read More]
The Honor Code
October 7, 2019
Honor is something we take very seriously at Wake Forest. We have an Honor Code that all students must abide by, and which guides the behavior of our campus. It is the University’s ethical standard and… [Read More]
Test Anxiety and Midterms
September 30, 2019
Midterms are exams that happen about the middle of the semester. Not every class has a midterm exam, but for those who do, they are definitely on your students’ minds. Midterms can provoke anxiety in… [Read More]
Getting Involved and Finding a Niche
September 23, 2019
Your first-year students are about a month in to school. They are adjusting to the new academic expectations and workload, and hopefully are finding a rhythm to college life. They are also… [Read More]
Grade Expectations
September 16, 2019
At this time each fall, I start to hear from first-year students who have gotten their first grade back on a test or on a paper – and they are panicking. The grade is not what they expected or hoped for, they… [Read More]
Navigating the Classroom and Professors
September 9, 2019
Classes are in full swing, and your students have been sorting through the syllabus for each of their classes, doing their homework and participating in class. They are probably also… [Read More]
Homesickness and Adjusting to Community Living
September 2, 2019
This week’s message for first-year families is about two common issues students face in their first few weeks of school: negotiating residence hall (aka dormitory) life and… [Read More]
Welcome to Wake Forest and Winston-Salem
August 26, 2019
Someone told me this when my own son (a 9th grader) was born: “the days are long but the years are short.” Perhaps that feels true for you, too?
Here you are now, with first year students… [Read More]
Contact
To contact the Office of Family Engagement, please visit our contact page.
If Your Student Has a Problem
One of the best ways parents/families can help their students is to let them solve their own problems. Use the Stop, Drop, and Roll method when your student contacts you with a problem. The flyer also lists contact information for serious concerns where family intervention might be appropriate.
Orientation 2019 slide shows
Select slide shows and handouts from Orientation sessions are available online.
Parents & Families
The Office of Family Engagement provides information and support to Wake Forest parents, guardians, grandparents, and family members. Email is the primary vehicle of communication with families, so please keep your email up to date with Wake Forest. We encourage all families to subscribe to the Daily Deac blog, which gives a glimpse of campus life, plus important tips.