College Signing Day - Why We Chose to Attend Wake Forest University

National Signing Day takes place on the first Wednesday of every February. On this day, we watch football players host press conferences, and select the hat of the school they are attending. Today, May 1st, is College Signing Day, which is part of the Reach Higher education initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama. Regardless of your individual political stance, I think we can all agree how important education is to each and every one of us, as well as the future of our country. Below, several of our staff writers share why they chose to attend Wake Forest University. We hope you share your story about where you went to school in the comments below.

Reach Higher

The Reach Higher initiative is the First Lady's effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.

Reasons for Attending Wake Forest University

My grandfather went to Wake Forest back when it was actually in Wake Forest, North Carolina, my dad was a photographer at Wake Forest sports games when he was 18, and my uncle went to Wake Forest. Needless to say, my family is pretty obsessed with Wake Forest. I mean, we've been sitting in the same seats at the Joel since I've been alive. So going to Wake Forest was basically a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.

-Adam, Class of 2016

Similar to Chris and Adam I grew up a Wake fan with my parents both going there for grad school. I believe my parents have had the same season tickets at the Joel since it opened. Similarly they have been going to football games on a regular basis and tailgating in the same spot for quite some time. College choice was never much of a thought for me - applied early action and never looked back. Still haven't and don't imagine I will.

-Bart & Riley, Class of 2012

I went to Wake without a lot of thought behind it. I grew up in Winston, pops was a professor, we had season tickets from Duncan and Chill til I enrolled. Jay Vidovich soccer camp, the Zinns were family friends, and it was definitely the best school I could have ever dreamed of getting into academically. I really didn't even think about where I would have gone had I not gotten in. Wake was the only choice for me.

-Chris, Class of 2009

I initially planned on playing tennis at a D3 school. After doing more research, I realized that all the perks of these small liberal arts schools (great academics, small classes, nice campus, strong community) were found at Wake Forest. Unlike many other schools I considered, the warm weather made a huge difference. And finally, the more I thought about it, watching high-level ACC sports was more appealing than being a washed up D3 athlete.

-Griffin, Class of 2015

I'm a second generation Deac and my mom went to Salem, so that combined with the weather, the academics, the family-like small atmosphere, and yes, the sports, it was pretty much a no-brainer.  Wake was always on my short list, and once I visited the campus I pretty much fell in love.

-Matt, Class of 2009

Interestingly, I never thought I would go to Wake Forest. I remembered visiting the campus when my sister was looking at colleges, so I must have been in 6th or 7th grade at the time. I visited again and applied, but I had a couple other schools higher on my wishlist. When I got waitlisted by all of them, I started giving Wake some serious consideration. I ended up choosing it over Boston College and Villanova. Being from New Jersey, I decided it would be a good decision to get out of the Northeast for awhile. Looking back, I can't imagine the situation turning out much better for me.

-Nick, Class of 2015

What about you? Why did you pick Wake Forest, or whichever school you attended?