Is Notre Dame harder to get into than Wake Forest?

The biggest practical difference is that Notre Dame typically has the tighter overall admissions bar, while Wake Forest is still highly selective but admits a somewhat broader share of its applicant pool.

For an individual applicant, neither school is predictable solely from grades or test scores. Notre Dame’s applicant pool tends to make academic distinction and a compelling fit with the university’s values especially important. At Wake Forest, a thoughtful application that explains why its academic and campus environment suits you can matter meaningfully, alongside a rigorous record and strong recommendations.

Application plan can also affect the comparison. Wake Forest offers binding Early Decision options, which may be appropriate only for a student who has made it their unequivocal first choice and can afford the commitment. Notre Dame’s Restrictive Early Action plan is nonbinding, so it functions differently and should not be treated as an equivalent admissions route.

So, in the broadest sense, Notre Dame is harder to get into than Wake Forest. That does not make Wake Forest a safety for applicants who are competitive at Notre Dame; both should be treated as reach-oriented or highly competitive choices for most students.