Mason move-in day for class of 2021. 3500 students from 83 countries and 49 states. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZZpFpR6LY

Theoretically, GMU requires all freshman to live on campus. A large amount do live there, of course, so it doesn't really have that commuter school vibe. HOWEVER, I am not surprised by the fact that 33% do still live at home. Plenty of the NOVA kids we know that go to GMU live at home because either 1) it saved a TON of money not to pay for room/board when they live ~20 minutes away (basically, the benefits of saving money outweighed those of having the "college experience" to their families) or 2) they tend to live at home for cultural reasons.

My DD goes to another VA public (and lives in the dorms). We were out once and happened to start a conversation with a man servicing us. He asked her why she was going, and when she replied, he said, "My daughter wanted to go to VCU. But I told her: 'Why go anywhere else when George Mason is right here and lets you live at home? You will get the same education.'" I think this sums up a lot of the reasons why a fair amount of GMU students live at home.

This isn't to say that GMU is this desolate place on the weekends/after hours. I have only heard great things about the school socially/academically.

Wow! So it looks like the number commuting at GMU is going up and up each year.

If you can afford it, why wouldn't you want your freshman to live on campus to have the college experience?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All freshman live in the dorms at GMU. You may apply for an exemption but that's not guaranteed. Here's the form for those over 20, married, veterans or students who have dependents. You can apply for the waiver if you live in Fairfax County but it is not guaranteed. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students/apply-exemption

This is just plain NOT true. 33% of freshmen do not live in the dorms.

That's not a correct figure. Even as of this 2015 article, 75% of freshmen were living on campus (DS was one of them) and that was before the new rule was put into effect. http://gmufourthestate.com/2015/11/10/next-freshmen-class-will-be-required-to-live-on-campus/

Yes it is. It’s from their 2017-2018 common data set.

+1


2013-2014: https://irr2.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2013-14&sec_id=F
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
72
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live off campus or commute
28


2014-2015: https://irr2.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2014-15&sec_id=F
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
70
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live off campus or commute
30


2015-2016: https://irr2.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2015-16&sec_id=F
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
69
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live off campus or commute
31


2016-2017: https://irr2.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2016-17&sec_id=F
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
69
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live off campus or commute
31


2017-2018: https://irr2.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2017-18&sec_id=F
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing
67
First-time, first-year (freshman) students, Percent who live off campus or commute
33

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All freshman live in the dorms at GMU. You may apply for an exemption but that's not guaranteed. Here's the form for those over 20, married, veterans or students who have dependents. You can apply for the waiver if you live in Fairfax County but it is not guaranteed. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students/apply-exemption

This is just plain NOT true. 33% of freshmen do not live in the dorms.

That's not a correct figure. Even as of this 2015 article, 75% of freshmen were living on campus (DS was one of them) and that was before the new rule was put into effect. http://gmufourthestate.com/2015/11/10/next-freshmen-class-will-be-required-to-live-on-campus/

Yes it is. It’s from their 2017-2018 common data set.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that’s what everyone is saying. *bangs head* You are required to live on campus unless you live close by, in which case you can get an exemption. 33% of freshmen students at GMU receive said exemption and commute to school. To me, that’s a pretty significant number. (By comparison, the number is 0% at UVA living off campus as freshmen, 0% at W&M, 1% at Tech, 2% at JMU, 25% at ODU, 4% at Radford...)

+1

GMU is making it easy to apply for the exemption by offering an online process. Therefore, no paperwork required.

Who does paper anymore? The rule is they live on campus unless you file for the exemption and get that accepted.

Exactly! Request a waiver and live at home with your parents. Just like the picture in the earlier post shows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All freshman live in the dorms at GMU. You may apply for an exemption but that's not guaranteed. Here's the form for those over 20, married, veterans or students who have dependents. You can apply for the waiver if you live in Fairfax County but it is not guaranteed. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students/apply-exemption

This is just plain NOT true. 33% of freshmen do not live in the dorms.

That's not a correct figure. Even as of this 2015 article, 75% of freshmen were living on campus (DS was one of them) and that was before the new rule was put into effect. http://gmufourthestate.com/2015/11/10/next-freshmen-class-will-be-required-to-live-on-campus/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that’s what everyone is saying. *bangs head* You are required to live on campus unless you live close by, in which case you can get an exemption. 33% of freshmen students at GMU receive said exemption and commute to school. To me, that’s a pretty significant number. (By comparison, the number is 0% at UVA living off campus as freshmen, 0% at W&M, 1% at Tech, 2% at JMU, 25% at ODU, 4% at Radford...)

+1

GMU is making it easy to apply for the exemption by offering an online process. Therefore, no paperwork required.

Who does paper anymore? The rule is they live on campus unless you file for the exemption and get that accepted.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that’s what everyone is saying. *bangs head* You are required to live on campus unless you live close by, in which case you can get an exemption. 33% of freshmen students at GMU receive said exemption and commute to school. To me, that’s a pretty significant number. (By comparison, the number is 0% at UVA living off campus as freshmen, 0% at W&M, 1% at Tech, 2% at JMU, 25% at ODU, 4% at Radford...)

+1

GMU is making it easy to apply for the exemption by offering an online process. Therefore, no paperwork required.

Yes, that’s what everyone is saying. *bangs head* You are required to live on campus unless you live close by, in which case you can get an exemption. 33% of freshmen students at GMU receive said exemption and commute to school. To me, that’s a pretty significant number. (By comparison, the number is 0% at UVA living off campus as freshmen, 0% at W&M, 1% at Tech, 2% at JMU, 25% at ODU, 4% at Radford...)

Anonymous wrote:Here's the rule. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students. Yes, you can apply for an exemption but it is not guaranteed.

Anyone know of someone who was denied an exemption? After reading this thread you would think that being granted an exemption is a rare thing for a freshman. I seriously doubt all local students live in the dorms.

Here's the rule. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students. Yes, you can apply for an exemption but it is not guaranteed.

OK, maybe this is new to you but NOW all freshman at GMU are required to live in the dorms: ""Freshmen students are required to live on campus in our modern residential halls, which feature single, double, triple, and quad rooms, as well as suite-style options." Now if you want to APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION, you can file but it is not automatic. Dorms and meal plans are a moneymaker for colleges and universities.

Anonymous wrote:All freshman live in the dorms at GMU. You may apply for an exemption but that's not guaranteed. Here's the form for those over 20, married, veterans or students who have dependents. You can apply for the waiver if you live in Fairfax County but it is not guaranteed. https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students/apply-exemption

This is just plain NOT true. 33% of freshmen do not live in the dorms.