Anonymous wrote:DS got into the George Mason honors program and that's where he really wants to attend. He thinks it's a good fit for his desired major (political science), opportunities for internships and the students seem hardworking but not over the top, and not fratty. I agree it seems to be a good fit for him, but I also see people in the area dismissing GMU. Maybe because it has a high, not selective, admissions rate, or maybe because it's close to home. Those things don't bother DS. Is there any actual reason to steer away from this school? We liked what we see, and would have thought more people would feel the same.

Most HS kids have the adolescent desire for frats, football games and all the stuff that comes with a big college town. If your son doesn't care for those, Mason is absolutely a great school to attend. A lot of kids go to Mason because it's the best option for them for academic or financial reasons. Your son attending Mason because that's where he wants to be has a leg up over the others and will thrive.

George Mason is a fantastic academic school - especially for the price and the fact it's not particularly selective, there are great outcomes. Very well-respected by employers/grad schools. I wouldn't hesitate at all on that end.

The only reason not to go, IMO, is if your kid is really looking for that traditional college experience - football, tailgates, frats, etc. The social scene is improving, certainly, but it's still pretty low key. There is stuff if you put in the effort, but it's not like some other schools where it falls in your lap maybe a bit easier.

I went to grad school at Mason and had the same frustration as a PP's kid with regard to getting registered for classes -- they would fill almost immediately (if registration started at noon, I'd be trying to log on at 11:59), and I'd have to go to the professor and ask them to let me in (which they always did).

The atmosphere felt neither good nor bad to me -- the campus felt big and not pretty, but not ugly either. It did feel like a commuter school due to something about the vibe on campus ... lots of folks parking and walking to class and not a lot of people just hanging out -- but I was a grad student and this was 10 years ago, so your kid's milage may vary.

Colleagues from my grad program were teaching English Comp, and that felt a little scary to me (some of them didn't seem remotely competent).

But I'd definitely send my kid to Mason over paying for a comparably ranked private. Get that in-state tuition!

The one kid in our son's social circle who went two years ago transferred due to unhappiness with the social scene. Felt like a commuter school especially when his friends were all enjoying more traditional experiences.

Ha! I had not realized they have a new logo until reading other posts. What the heck? That is awful!

I wish Mason was the right fit for my own kid, honestly. I don't see a reason to steer clear.

That said, I really dislike the new logo.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a freshman at Mason and it has been a good experience so far. He lives in a dorm, so he has independence, but he’s able to pop back home when he wants to do laundry or have a home cooked meal.
Registration for classes has been his biggest challenge. He wasn’t able to get a couple of Mason Core classes that he needs and will have to take them next year, although he wanted to get them out of the way freshman year. If your DS is in Honors College, I believe they have priority registration so that may not be an issue.
I’ve also heard complaints that a lot of classes are virtual rather than in-person, which seems ridiculous to me for the amount of tuition they charge.

OP, you know your kid. For me, this would have meant I did not acclimate to school at all. I'd have been at home constantly. I was so homesick!! But I needed to just suffer through to get to the point where I loved it by second semester of my first year. I have a kid who I would NOT want going to Mason/GW/Gtown/etc., etc. because he is just like me and I already know he is going to hate school when he first goes. My other kid would be fine and we would rarely see her. She'd probably come home with laundry, but I doubt she will be homesick and we/home would not be the crutch it would be for some kids. Make sense?

Anonymous wrote:DS got into the George Mason honors program and that's where he really wants to attend. He thinks it's a good fit for his desired major (political science), opportunities for internships and the students seem hardworking but not over the top, and not fratty. I agree it seems to be a good fit for him, but I also see people in the area dismissing GMU. Maybe because it has a high, not selective, admissions rate, or maybe because it's close to home. Those things don't bother DS. Is there any actual reason to steer away from this school? We liked what we see, and would have thought more people would feel the same.

Why on Earth would you care what other people think? Who thinks that way?

No reason at all. If it is a good fit go for it. Don’t be dissuaded by the snobs on DCUM.

My kid went there, not by choice.

They will graduate debt free, with some really great opportunities. Some of the professors also teach at universities like Georgetown and GW.

I won't sugar coat it, but the social scene is not a typical college experience. They have a newer president. It seems that under his tenure, the "typical" college social experiences are growing. The basketball team is good and brings in fun, but they really need a football team, in my opinion. I think adding that facet of college life would really up the desirability of the school. The town is not a "college town" so the kids miss out on that type of culture that UVA, VT, JMU, etc offer.

If your kid is okay with the social part being more low key, then academically, financially, and outcome wise, GM is a solid choice.

Congrats to your DS! GMU (and especially GMU Honors) is well regarded (and well connected) with reputable programs in CS, Econ, and Policy / Government (Schar). The GMU Center for Regional Analysis is an award winning research team that works closely with the Urban Institute , Brookings, economic development authorities across the region, as well as various federal offices (Commerce, Transportation). A great school with great post-grad career placement.

I don’t think there’s a good reason to dismiss it, but he might want to talk to current students about campus life. I have no idea what that’s like. Do a lot of kids disappear and go home on the weekends? That could make for a different experience. Not good or bad, just different.

My DS is a freshman at Mason and it has been a good experience so far. He lives in a dorm, so he has independence, but he’s able to pop back home when he wants to do laundry or have a home cooked meal.
Registration for classes has been his biggest challenge. He wasn’t able to get a couple of Mason Core classes that he needs and will have to take them next year, although he wanted to get them out of the way freshman year. If your DS is in Honors College, I believe they have priority registration so that may not be an issue.
I’ve also heard complaints that a lot of classes are virtual rather than in-person, which seems ridiculous to me for the amount of tuition they charge.

I don't think that there is any legit reasons not to go to GM (I guess their new logo). The main reasons why people don't want to go is that it is too close to home and doesn't seem prestigious (due to ranking and lack of selectivity). However, GM does produce good results in terms of internships and employment. Also, you get a good education at an affordable price (particularly if you commute).

DS got into the George Mason honors program and that's where he really wants to attend. He thinks it's a good fit for his desired major (political science), opportunities for internships and the students seem hardworking but not over the top, and not fratty. I agree it seems to be a good fit for him, but I also see people in the area dismissing GMU. Maybe because it has a high, not selective, admissions rate, or maybe because it's close to home. Those things don't bother DS. Is there any actual reason to steer away from this school? We liked what we see, and would have thought more people would feel the same.