Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A current student told me a few weeks ago that they really enjoy it but that it lacks the residential campus vibe. He said although they are making efforts, there lacks culture & not too many students remain on campus on weekends.

My husband on the other hand used to work about 20 min away from GMU and said a lot of his peers attended GMU for graduate school- tech sector. He recommends it for graduate school.

I've read that they are making strides towards encouraging a more campusy vibe.

I have a kid there.

The reaction of peers and their parents to Mason was mostly the wrinkled nose, "oh Mason" type response.

The reaction from adult professionals in the area, government, military and tech was along the lines of "Mason, that's a great school."

It isn't "a great school." It's fine. There's nothing wrong with it. But anyone who calls it "great" doesn't know what great means. In Virginia UVA is a great school. In the DMV Georgetown is great. Johns Hopkins is great. GMU? No. Definitely not "great."

I don't have a dog in the fight but I know plenty of smart, successful Mason grads. Great school for many majors including Econ and Computer Science. And really good post-graduate options work and degree-wise.

Again -- a failure to understand the word "great."

Anonymous wrote:It seems fine. The drawbacks I heard about, but this was about 5 years ago, was the 1. there was some agreement with the Koch Foundation related to donors having input into hiring decisions 2. Anthony Scalia estate created a trust to teach law and Econ from a conservative perspective but I think this trust was for the law school.

Oh shyt! For real?? I had not heard about the sordid ties! Anything else??

It seems fine. The drawbacks I heard about, but this was about 5 years ago, was the 1. there was some agreement with the Koch Foundation related to donors having input into hiring decisions 2. Anthony Scalia estate created a trust to teach law and Econ from a conservative perspective but I think this trust was for the law school.

Anonymous wrote:My friend graduated from George Mason with a B.S. and is now a managing partner of a big four in Silicon Valley.

Which one?

Anonymous wrote:GMU is a solid option. I work with two impressive GMU grads - Econ and public policy, with one having completed the accelerated masters. They more than hold their own with colleagues who attended “higher ranked” colleges. Amazon is putting a lot of money into GMU - so that may improve campus even more.

How so?

My friend graduated from George Mason with a B.S. and is now a managing partner of a big four in Silicon Valley.

GMU is a solid option. I work with two impressive GMU grads - Econ and public policy, with one having completed the accelerated masters. They more than hold their own with colleagues who attended “higher ranked” colleges. Amazon is putting a lot of money into GMU - so that may improve campus even more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine. It's sort of a manufactured university setting. No traditions. Student Life is not a priority.

I suspect PP meant this as a negative but the vast majority of universities in other countries don't give two hoots about traditions, student life, frats, football and all the nonsense whose primary reason is to build a brand and eventually charge more. Most focus on educating students so they can go out and get jobs. GMU (or is is GM now?) does a fantastic job at that!

DP here. WTH kind of student does not want to actually have the college experience? It doesn't have to be frats or football games, but something? Anything? Do they not want or need human interaction?? That's.....odd.....

Mason is not the same as colleges overseas, though. Overseas is well, overseas.

Mason is for kids who want/need close to home, even if they are not commuting. Though it seems primarily still a commuter school.

The dance program is highly sought after by kids from all over.

My friend in SW VA has a child who is very excited to come to Mason in the fall (not as a dance major). Friend is excited because we might be trading daughters, as mine is very likely going to Radford.

Op your son is clearly delighted to have got in. Leave it at that. No one here is going to be helpful about this.

Too MAGA

My kid did get a financial reward for choosing to attend Mason (for the person that said they don't offer this). He is in state. I went for graduate school and have had friends and work colleagues that went for undergrad. Like most colleges, it's what you make of it. Some of my work colleagues participated in Greek life and 30 years later still get together regularly with sorority sisters. And I will say that my work colleagues from Mason have been smart and excellent. Many of the UVA grads I know try to still hang their hat on having attended - even though a long time ago and its kind of gross and off-putting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine. It's sort of a manufactured university setting. No traditions. Student Life is not a priority.

I suspect PP meant this as a negative but the vast majority of universities in other countries don't give two hoots about traditions, student life, frats, football and all the nonsense whose primary reason is to build a brand and eventually charge more. Most focus on educating students so they can go out and get jobs. GMU (or is is GM now?) does a fantastic job at that!

DP here. WTH kind of student does not want to actually have the college experience? It doesn't have to be frats or football games, but something? Anything? Do they not want or need human interaction?? That's.....odd.....

Mason is not the same as colleges overseas, though. Overseas is well, overseas.

Mason is for kids who want/need close to home, even if they are not commuting. Though it seems primarily still a commuter school.

Anonymous wrote:Will add that DC is in the honors program and it is excellent.

How so?

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations to your child on getting into a school with close to a 100% admission rate. Getting admitted must have been hard and employers will be impressed by that line on his resume for the rest of his life. If you can get into a school with open admissions, what can't you do?

Who pooped in your cereal this morning?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine. It's sort of a manufactured university setting. No traditions. Student Life is not a priority.

I suspect PP meant this as a negative but the vast majority of universities in other countries don't give two hoots about traditions, student life, frats, football and all the nonsense whose primary reason is to build a brand and eventually charge more. Most focus on educating students so they can go out and get jobs. GMU (or is is GM now?) does a fantastic job at that!

DP here. WTH kind of student does not want to actually have the college experience? It doesn't have to be frats or football games, but something? Anything? Do they not want or need human interaction?? That's.....odd.....