lake forest campus visit

Experience Lake Forest College

Virtually explore Lake Forest College in a fully immersive 360-degree experience.

Aria doesn't work without JavaScript.

Need to know how to enable it? Go here.

Breadcrumbs

Lake forest college campus walking tour.

Register now for this historical and architectural walk through Lake Forest's very own Lake Forest College! Programs and Visitor Services Manager, and Lake Forest College alumnus, George Sigaev will guide you through a walk of middle and north campus, sharing overarching histories and personal stories associated with Lake Forest College and its monumental impact on the formation of Lake Forest itself. Whether you're a long-time Lake Forest resident or a first-time visitor to Lake Forest College, this is a tour you certainly won't want to miss.

Please plan on arriving at least 10 minutes prior to the tour's start time. Parking is available everywhere on campus during the summer. The tour will begin in front of the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel facing Sheridan Rd.

Face masks are optional. 

Undergraduate Admissions

• Toggle Navigation
• The Campus Visit Experience
• Explore & Visit

Information Session & Campus Tour

We look forward to sharing Wake Forest with you!

On Mondays and Fridays, join us for an information session and walking tour of the Wake Forest campus, led by one of our current WFU student tour guides. This two-hour visit experience will be offered on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

However, please note that, during the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April, we will offer information sessions and tours every weekday. Please check the calendar for more details.

Information sessions—where you will receive an overview of Wake Forest and the admissions process—will be held prior to the campus tours. The one-hour information sessions start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday and Friday, followed by the one-hour campus tours at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, Monday and Friday.

The same will be true for the information sessions and tours offered every weekday during the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April.

Except for the aforementioned final weeks in March and beginning weeks in April, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., we will offer one-hour student-led campus tours  without  an information session.

Wake Downtown

A visit to Wake Downtown is a perfect complement to the Monday and Friday experiences. If you are interested in Engineering , Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , and the concentration in Medicinal Chemistry, you will appreciate this 45-minute walking tour, from 1-1:45 p.m.

Wake Downtown tours are not offered Tuesday-Thursday.

You can request a Wake Downtown tour at the same time you  schedule your campus visit experience .

Planning your visit

The majority of the tour will take place outside, so it is important that you check the local weather forecast and dress appropriately in case of inclement weather.

It’s best to  register in advance . We accommodate walk-ins only as space allows—first come, first served—which is why it’s best to reserve your space now!

You can also take a take a  self-guided tour  to explore campus on your own or check out our  virtual campus tour  if you’re unable to visit Wake Forest in person.

Wake Downtown also offers a self-guided tour option Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., no registration necessary.

Finally, you can check out our live online information session, Distinctively Wake : a conversation where you can engage with Wake Forest University admissions representatives and a current student. 

We are delighted you will be visiting Wake Forest University and look forward to seeing you!

Things to know before you register

• Please note, due to the possibility of changes in campus operations, the University may suspend tours. If this affects your visit, you will be notified by email. 
• In the case of severe weather, we must suspend tours, and, in lieu of them, we will hold a Q&A session with student tour-guides in the Welcome Center auditorium.
• Make sure you arrive on time. Our tours must stick to a tight schedule, so, unfortunately, if you are tardy, you will then be given a self-guided tour-book .
• On our interactive campus map , you may view and learn more about the stops that will take place on your tour.

Before You Arrive on Campus

If you’re visiting from out-of-town and need a place to stay before or after your visit, here is a list of recommended hotels that are close to campus.

If you have any questions or concerns in advance, you may contact us at 336.758.5201 or  [email protected]  prior to your arrival to campus.

If using Google to get here, please be sure to search for the Porter B. Byrum Welcome Center .

We look forward to welcoming you!

Self-Guided Tours

Visitors may always visit campus to take a self-guided tour. Stop by the  Porter Byrum Welcome Center  to pick up a self-guided tour book or download it below.

If you like what you experience, please be sure to  add yourself to our mailing list . We’ll keep you updated!

Wake Downtown Tours

Come visit Wake Downtown, home to Biochemistry, Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Medicinal Chemistry!

Campus Visit FAQs

What can i expect on the tour.

Student-led walking tours will be led by a current WFU student and will last approximately 60 minutes. They will take you around and teach you about our beautiful campus, welcoming community, and academic rigor.

How many guests can I bring?

You may bring up to four guests on a Wake Forest student-led tour.

Will I be able to talk to any faculty or other Wake Forest staff while I’m there?

You may speak with faculty and staff, but you would need to arrange that discussion in advance by contacting the academic department and/or program individually, to see who is available on the date you are visiting.

What if I need to cancel my reservation?

You may cancel a reservation through your interview-confirmation email, but, if you experience any difficulties doing so, please simply call 336.758.5201 or email [email protected] prior to your arrival on campus.

What other Admissions or visit options are available?

At Wake Forest University, you’ll find maps around our beautiful campus; you can be sure that we are here to guide you!

But while maps are helpful, they can also impose grids on the flows of experience. They can be inadequate when it comes to revealing the truth and beauty of a place –

– which is precisely why we’re happy to offer multiple ways for you to experience Wake Forest:

via student-led, self-guided and  virtual campus tours  and  live online information sessions .

We want you to know us as fully as you can, just as we – as a test-optional university for more than a decade – want to know you as fully as we can, beyond the representation given by only numbers.

We look forward to welcoming you through any of the options offered above.

More than anything, we want you to map out your future – while also staying open to new discoveries.

Reserve Your Spot

Ready to experience the Wake Forest difference? Schedule your visit today!

The Details

Campus tours and information sessions will be offered at the following times:

Monday and Friday ONLY

• 10 a.m. information session 11 a.m. walking tour of campus
• 2 p.m. information session 3 p.m. walking tour of campus

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

• 11 a.m. walking tour of campus
• 3 p.m. walking tour of campus

Monday-Friday ( March 19-April 12 )

Porter Byrum Welcome Center

P.O. Box 7305 Reynolda Station Winston-Salem, NC 27109

• Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time
• Saturday: CLOSED*
• Sunday: CLOSED*

We are closed during all major holidays.

* Self-guided tours are available during this time. On weekends, self-guided tour-books and maps are available in boxes directly outside the Porter Byrum Welcome Center.

Questions? You can reach us at:

• 336.758.5201
• [email protected]

Personal Visit to Campus

Saturday, November 11, 2023 Central Standard Time UTC -06:00

Lake Forest College 555 N Sheridan Rd Lake Forest, IL 60045 United States

Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed.

Room Selection

Room Selection allows returning residents to select their rooms and choose roommates for the following academic year.

The information below provides an overview of the Room Selection processes. If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at [email protected].

• Important Dates

2024-2025 Housing Application Available - February 12, 2024

Housing Application Closes - March 17, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

General Room Selection - April 12-17, 2024

As a current student, you know better than anyone that the needs of a first-year student are very different than the needs of a returning student, so we are thrilled to be launching a program to better meet those needs.

Our new residential hall structure will allow for an integrated first year experience, helping our newest Foresters adjust and thrive on campus by having small cohesive residential communities in their first year.

Harlan and Blackstone have been outfitted for each room to have air conditioning units provided beginning in Fall 2024. Both Blackstone and Lois have had full kitchens added this year. This provides our returning students access to the halls with the latest upgrades as well as access to more double and triple room options.

Yes, we are restructuring our room rate tiers to ensure that an adequate number of base room rate halls exist for returning student.

Yes, both the Arrive and On-Campus apartments will be available for returning students. There will actually be more options available to students as we expand our independent, transitional living experiences.

Returning Student Housing Application

Students who wish to participate in the room selection process for 2024-2025 must complete the online housing application. The housing application is available in the housing portal . After logging in using College computing credentials, the application will be posted under the Contracts and Applications section when it is available.

To participate in the online selection process, applications must be completed by Sunday, March 17, 2024  at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Please carefully review the application before signing. The application is legally binding and covers the entire 2024-2025 academic year.

REMINDER: Students who are participating in an off-campus program in Fall 2024  should not complete this housing application. If you are returning to campus in Spring 2025, you will sign the housing application during the Fall 2024 semester.

Returning students will have the option of selecting double, triple, and quad rooms in the following buildings:

• Cleveland Young (by separate application)
• Nollen (basement rooms)
• Campus Apartments
• Arrive Apartments

We strongly encourage students to review the full list of room types to understand what rooms are available in which buildings. 

Room Selection Times

Selection times for all Room Selection processes are determined by cumulative completed credit hours as determined by the Registrar. Credit hours in progress are not considered; however, credit hours that are transferred in do count toward the total.

Students with the same number of credit hours will be assigned a selection time according to a random, computerized placement.  Students will be emailed when selection times are available in the My Housing portal - typically 1-2 days before selection begins.

In order to select a room, students must be in a matched roommate group that is able to completely fill said room. For example, if a student would like to select a double, they must be in a matched roommate group with one other person. When they login to select a room, they will only see rooms they are qualified to select. In this example, they would see any double rooms that are available.

Residency Requirement

All first, second, and third-year students are required to live on campus unless they meet one or more of the stated exemption requirements:

• Live at home with parent/guardian within 30 road miles of the College;
• Age 23 or older;
• Have dependent children;
• Are married;
• Active members of the armed forces; or
• Have completed 24 Lake Forest College credits or more (not including AP or IB credits).

If you wish to apply for exemption from the residency requirement, you will need to complete a Residency Requirement Exemption Request form and submit it to [email protected]. Please be aware that the residency requirement may only be appealed before a housing application is signed.

Cleveland-young international center.

Students who are interested in the opportunity to participate in the living experience in Cleveland Young International Center should contact the Office of Residence Life for more information. A separate application is needed in addition to the general housing application. The Cleveland-Young International Center application will be available on the My Housing portal and must be submitted by  Friday, March 17, 2024 at 11:59 pm Central Time. 

Roommate Selection & Matching

The roommate matching process begins in early March. Students are able to request specific roommates or create an online profile to search for a compatible roommate based on living preferences.  Roommate requests must be mutual in order to be honored. 

Students are permitted to pull other students into a room with them. The group should plan to use the best selection time in the group (the earliest selection time is the best). Because room selection can be unpredictable in terms of what rooms and halls will fill up first, you are encouraged to make several plans before your selection time. This includes how a roommate group will divide if a particular space is not available. Information about selecting roommate groups online will be emailed.

Gender-inclusive housing is available to students through the room selection process based on mutual requests. Roommate groups may be gender inclusive, which will allow mutually-selected groups to identify their preferred living space on campus. There are no additional steps required to request a gender-inclusive housing situation.

Accommodations Process

Students with certain approved residential accommodations have the opportunity to be pre-assigned space on campus by the Office of Residence Life. Students must meet the following criteria:

• Have a completed housing application on file for the upcoming academic year
• And have an approved residential accommodation on file for a specific room type, bathroom access, air conditioning, or mobility need.

All eligible students will be emailed by Residence Life after the housing application closes. If a student does not wish to participate in this pre-assignment process, they must opt out by submiting an email to Residence Life indicating this choice.

Students seeking an approved accommodation should visit the Office of Accessibility Services web page. 

Lake Forest College uses differential pricing for housing costs. This means that your cost of living will more accurately reflect the room type in which you live.

2024/2025 Academic Year. Room Rates Per Semester:

Residence Life

• Items to Bring and Prohibited Items
• Changing Your Room
• Winter and Summer Housing
• Guest Registration
• Residence Halls and Rooms
• Work Orders
• Laundry and Linens
• Fridge/Microwave Rental
• Residency Requirement and Housing Application
• Resident Assistant Hiring
• Residence Life Staff

News and Events

Third wednesdays lunchtime series for faculty, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm a virtual event.

Join us for the topic: Preparing for Hybrid Learning, Part I: A Tour of the Hybrid Classroom

For more information, visit lakeforest.edu/ofd. For questions or accomodation, please contact Anna Jones: [email protected] or 847-735-6087.

On Campus Accessibility Accommodations:

Contact Kirsten Schramm at 847-735-5167 or [email protected]  at least 72 hours in advance.