George Mason University Top Questions

There is a healthy academic life here but not much else. There is a lack of overall generally enthusiasm for most events except for basketball.

The most popular team on campus is basketball. I was involved in club volleyball, it was interesting but their wasn't that many girls who stayed comitted. Students in the dorms normally don't leave their doors open. However, i think that type of atmostphere would be a lot more exciting. Athletic events are semi- popular, depending on the sport. I met my closest friends from class and my dorm. If i am awake on a Tuesday night i am probably on the internet. Mason Day happens each year, as long as different activities for the basketball team. There are a number of things to do off campus because of the location.

IF you really want to get in with campus life, I would say join a fraternity or sorority. Although this is not the only way to get involved, it's definitely one of the big ones at Mason. In the dorms, everyone left their doors open and almost everyone on our floor was friends. I now live with 4 of the girls I lived with on campus, off campus. Basketball games are huge, everyone loves them. People party thursday-sundays. If you don't want to drink, you can always go to a concert or head into DC/Georgetown to a comedy club. There are a lot of restaurants and movie theaters in Fairfax Corner or Fair Oaks area. Last weekend, I went to a club in DC Thursday night, went out to dinner at Outback on Friday night, and hung out with the roomies Saturday.

Fairfax is certainly not a "college town," but that's hardly an issue since you can hop on the metro or on I-66 and get to DC in a half hour. A lot of people party at clubs in DC. It's also great to be able to spend the day at the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, the National Mall. Mason is not as open a community as some other campuses I've visited. The dorm culture really depends on the dorm, but in my experience, most doors are closed. The Northern Virginia culture seems to exude "I'll do my thing and you can do yours, and we'll leave each other alone unless we have a reason to interact." Nevertheless, the people you have in your classes/group projects are mostly very nice and cooperative.

Do students in the dorms leave their doors open? Nope. It is so weird how you can live across the hall with someone and not even know their name. We are encouraged to get to know each other and hang out with other people that live on our floor but it seems like everyone is too busy to have time to try and make new friends.

Large Greek population, but they are unable to become more popular because of GMU and county restrictions. Large athletic population.

Off campus I work. But along with that are malls, lots and lots of restaurants. And DC is only a half an hour away.

The Greek life is very much a huge presence on campus but you don't necessarily have to be part of those to enjoy their events and parties. This university holds so many different programs and events every week to ensure that we have something to entertain us on the weekends. GMU does a good job in trying to keep the student body active in their social lives.

Sororities and Fraternities are popular to join, also political groups. I was involved with Alpha Phi Sorority. Freshman year students leave their doors open, but as you get into upper class dorms they don't. Athletic events are becoming more popular as we are getting better at sports. Theater is sort of popular. The dating scene is not the best. I met my closest friends freshman year because we all lived on the same floor. People party a lot at Mason even though people do not think Mason is a party school. Fraternities and Sororities are very important especially freshman year b/c freshman wouldn't have any parties to go to if there weren't Greek life, it's also a great way to meet people and make friends. Last weekend I went home for Easter. On a Sat night I can stay in and have a movie night with my roommates or go bowling or something like that, which doesn't have to involve drinking.

Fraternities and Sororities, Student Government, and religious organizations seem to dominate activity groups at Mason. I am a member of Gamma Phi Beta. I joined 1st semester freshman year and am still active as an alum. It is a lifetime commitment I made, and one I continue to be very enthusiastic about!!!I met many of my best friends during my collegiate years as a Gamma Phi!!! I am obviously biased in saying sororities and fraternities are very important:) Athletic events definitely gained popularity as my years as Mason passed.