George Mason University Admission
George Mason University Undergraduate Program
George Mason University Application

The Facts

George Mason University is a large, public university located in the city of Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The school is home to over 12,000 undergraduate students and approximately 9,100 graduate students from all over the nation. The university is divided up into several smaller undergraduate colleges, including schools of arts and sciences, management, information technology and engineering, nursing and health sciences, computational sciences, and visual and performing arts. Some of the most popular majors include economics, public policy, nursing, and information technology.

Admission to George Mason University is quite competitive, as students have the chance to get a terrific private school education at public school prices. Last year, over 9,000 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 5,500 of those students were accepted; of those, about 2,150 matriculated. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 970 to 1170, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 19 to 23. Additionally, over 56% of those admitted were ranked in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of around 3.2.

The university has a manageable student to faculty ratio of 16:1, and there are no classes taught by T.A.'s, which couldn't make students happier. Most students agree that their teachers truly care about their progress, and make sure that they are available to students as often as possible. Many of the professors are often some of the top professionals in their respective fields, and they bring a unique “real-world” perspective to the table. Students are also able to gain a “real-world” perspective by participating in the school's extensive internship program that allows students to intern all over the Washington, D.C. area.

The Social Scene

Fairfax , Virginia in itself doesn't offer students much in the way of entertainment, however, the bustling excitement of downtown Washington D.C. is only a brief subway ride away. Students spend most of their time exploring the D.C. area, however, for nature lovers, the Blue Ridge Mountains are only about an hour away by car, and offer some terrific skiing, hiking, and other outdoor recreational activities. Most students do own cars, so weekend excursions are frequent and popular.

There are a decent amount of fraternities and sororities that students are involved in; however, they do not have houses on campus. This doesn't seem to be a problem though, as many rowdy parties are thrown off-campus, without the watchful eye of the administration. Sports are also a popular activity, and the school is a member of the NCAA Division I.

The dating scene is pretty darn great; there is a lot of diversity, and no matter what sexuality, color, gender, race or ethnicity you are, you should have no problem finding a date.

What’s Good

“We're in a great location right between nature and the city. Depending on what you're in the mood for, it's all nearby.”

“The campus is great, and it has everything to offer. There is an awesome new student center, and one of the coolest stadiums I've ever seen.”

“The internship programs are incredible. I've heard that a lot of them lead to eventual jobs.”

What’s Bad

“There isn't anything really happening on campus on the weekends. You have to leave and seek out other activities.”

“The housing tends to be lacking; a lot of us are forced to go out and find our own places to live.”

“Parking is impossible here! I always end up being late to class because I can't find a single space to park in.”

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