Why is George Mason so often overlooked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's basically like a bigger version of NVCC.

Not many people want to pay a university price for a community college experience.

I've not met anyone who graduated from there who would also allow their kid to attend.

What nonsense. It is way better than NVCC. I have a half dozen friends who graduated from there and are quite gainfully employed in this area, thanks mainly to the connections between GMU and surrounding businesses. Everyone is very happy with the experience, although they are pretty career-focused people and didn't care about the typical college drinking and partying experience.

It's more like a closer version of JMU.

It's probably the best deal around here in terms of ROI.

6 figure salay in no time hanging around there for 4 years for a CS degree.

It couldn’t be less like JMU. Also, everyone just keeps talking about how kids can graduate making six figs with their CS degree, you do know that not everyone wants to do that? Yeah sure we would all like to make that much but many kids are not interested in CS, so what do non CS focused grads do at GMU?

Do you think any degree from JMU is more valuable than ones from GMU??
What do non CS focused grads do at JMU?

Schools like JMU GMU VCU automacailly get on the list for most of the Instate students after UVA VT & W&M.

A lot of people choose to stay instate mainly for financial reasons and also actually want/need to stay close to home.
For the similar reason there are people who choose GMU.  They can save a lot of money for room and board, and want/need to stay close to home.
So it's basically JMU but close to home and save money.

Not everyone is into tech and not everyone can do it.
But if some conditions are met, it's actually the best bank for the buck.  

People are saying 'college experience', but you can actually make more friends and have more fun at GMU being in NOVA.

I went to VA Tech for BS, and got MS from GMU attending part time.  My employer paid the tuition.
My brother went to GMU and helped out parents while attending college.

All three of my kids went out of state.  Two of them wanted out of state experience.
One actually wanted to stay close to home, so Georgetown was top of the list, but got into an OOS school that is irresistible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a hidden gem of a school with a top econ dept.

What do you mean "overlooked?" 35,000 students attend.

[Anonymous]

Yes, GMU is a good school. Yes, many kids get great jobs after graduation. Yes, it is a good bang for the buck if that’s a factor. Some kids are totally happy and thrive there.

Also, NO, it is not remotely a similar experience as JMU, VT, the other VA public schools, even for those living on or near GMU’s main campus. Not every kid wants to major in CS or Cyber Security even though they know the salary and great employment opportunities GMU brings for those fields.

It also feels VERY crowded on the main Fairfax campus. Much like just about every school, some kids love it and some don’t. I don’t know why so many people can’t understand that lots of kids wouldn’t want to go there even if it wasn’t close to home. Also, there are tons of kids who are happy going there as evidenced by the number of students enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Commuter school. Little campus life.

The campus is ugly and is basically a bunch of rectangles surrounded by parking garages.

That would describe a lot of college campuses, including some pretty well known ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's basically like a bigger version of NVCC.

Not many people want to pay a university price for a community college experience.

I've not met anyone who graduated from there who would also allow their kid to attend.

Ha! Both DH and I went there and from a career perspective it had served us well. Reading the money forms DH and I make more than thr majority of people on this site. Only reason I'd steer my kid away is because he's an introvert and he'd be home too much. I want him out in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Commuter school. Little campus life.

The campus is ugly and is basically a bunch of rectangles surrounded by parking garages.

That would describe a lot of college campuses, including some pretty well known ones.

The campus is not ugly.

And it is a great and not overlooked school.

Our kids didn’t want to go there because they didn’t want to go to college in their backyard. Only reason.

[Anonymous]

Immediate PP: I think GMU is pretty. Not ugly was really not the phrase.

And we do local kids who are graduating this year and loved it.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I both have Mason degrees - I have a masters degree (public policy Arlington campus-decided on state tuition rather than Georgetown or GW) and my husband has his BS degree in Electrical Engineering We both attended PT while working FT

Our daughter has it on her list right now. Not because of us -They have a very well rated Dance program, which is a possible major choice (we’ll let her follow her interests since school hasn’t always come easy to her). She also may live at home and/or start at NVCC.

She’s also considering Radford, which is DCUM college board heresy

I get the reasons why people aren’t big on GMU. I grew up down the street from UDel and I had zero desire to even apply (I think I was the only person at my hs that did not use it as a safety) But GMU can definitely work for certain students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's basically like a bigger version of NVCC.

Not many people want to pay a university price for a community college experience.

I've not met anyone who graduated from there who would also allow their kid to attend.

I guess technically I spent four years at UVa and my degree says that, but I took courses and did intern housing there at GMU and would DEFINITELY let my kid attend the Fairfax campus. In fact, I'd feel they would be physically safer than Charlottesville with its 44 rapes and stalkers and assaults the honor committee covers up. What is better about a uni experience than a cc one? For food at GMU's the Globe dining I had gourmet food with weekly luaus which I still often gladly pay the $12 guest fee for when I'm in Fairfax. At UVa, I got diarrhea the first three times at O'Hill and my gastro wrote a stern letter and my parents complained vigorously, but they wouldn't let me off the meal plan $$$K+.
At UVa, my sorority fined people to attend parties and would send your name to collections if you tried to quit or study. At GMU, the same national, different chapter did no such thing that I know of.

While I admit Old Dorms/McCormick was a BLAST and an amazing first year experience, New Dorms was filled with the safety school rejects fresh off rejection from privates and had ANGER TO BURN. Least fun, most immoral/violent people in the state unless bullying is your idea of a good time. At GMU, the international students give you a free trip back to their country for being their best friend/English helper. In the E-school at UVA, the international/abroad programs are unavailable/inhibited when you get handed a schedule.

I will say, I am the type who is confident enough to eat by myself, so it was easy for me to date/meet others at both. I also hosted/got invited to parties at both, so if you are REALLY introverted and self-conscious UVa may be better.