George Mason University Top Questions

Pick the school that you are going to be most comfortable at and have the most fun.

Your perfect school will feel right to you when you set foot on the campus. Visit all of your post-secondary education choices. I knew that George Mason was the right school for me the minute that I visited the campus. Look at schools that have good programs in the major(s) you're considering and possibly sit in on some classes within the major you wish to pursue. Don't go to a certain school just because your friends are--they may only end up holding you back. You will meet many amazing people along the way and take what you can from each and every one of them--don't be afraid to be social and get involved!

I am the youngest child in my family and I am paying for my education. My two older siblings have left George Mason University, debt free and with wonderful jobs. As a parent and an upcoming student, take your time researching which school will be best for you. Do not chose a school because of its social life, because you go to college to recieve an education. Although being social is important for development, it should not be your sole college experience. College is only four years of your life, it is important to look to the future and what you want out of it. As a sophomore, I am working full time and attending school full time. School is my top priority, however, I find time to have a social life when it is the right opportunity. School is my top priority, however, I find time to have a social life when it is the right opportunity. Be smart and stay focused.

Never rush to make a descion specially when it comes to picking the college of your choice. Make sure you do lots of research about school but also about what you want and what your personality is. Always consider money situation, the travel between home and school, and the academic level of the school.

I would address the students who are embarking on their jouney to college and give them the advice of choose a college that is well- suited to your professional desires and personal obligations. The right college can only be chosen by having the knowledge about who you are going to be in life and how complacent you are within your life right now. Self- reliance and resiliency are two important characteristics to have for a successful experience in college. Self- reliance is an invaluable characteristic because if the belief is non-existant within the action, the enjoyment gained from the experience is absent. Going to college should not produce an anxiety- induced fear because these are the prime years of your life where the beginning stages of the life course are chartered. Resiliency is a key characteristic to have also because the first time may not always go right, in college there is room allocated for continuous and systematic improvement of your academic, personal, social, and professional life.

College is typically four years, therefore it's important to be well aware of possible activities one might want to partake in during this period aside from academics. It's like an athlete that knows how good he or she wants to be and what exercises to do. However, you need a fully equipped gym that has what you need to create this new you. Don't look at finances first when deciding on a school for yourself! This road will only lead down a narrow path with few choices and usually not much to offer. Unless only an education matters, then finding the right college need to be a wide then narrow approach. After all the world is becoming more interconnected and it is probably wise to take an opportunity to physically engage others from around the globe while shaping the person you will be. All schools have their standard requirements for admission, but it your choice where you really want to go. It doesn't take a team of expert to compile a realistic list and then decide how to financially cover expenses, especially with the wide array of resources available today. Take the time to choose!

Visit the college. Pictures can't give you the information you need. You have to walk around, sit in a classroom, and eat in the cafeteria. Remember, this is where you will be spending the next few years of your life. Just being comfortable with your campus will lift your spirit. Don't worry about finding a campus with a huge social scene and parties every weekend. You won't have trouble making friends if you choose the school you like because, in choosing that school, you already have something in common with everyone else there. You will find friends in your major, in the clubs you join, and in your dorm. Choose classes that you will learn the most from--the ones that challenge you, not the easy "A's". After all, you are paying for it. When I pick a class, I ask myself if I could learn the material on my own. If the answer is yes, I pick something else. I've found myself in advanced economics, chinese, and calculus classes. They are difficult, but I have never been bored, and I have made lifelong friends because of them.

My advice on parents and students on finding the right college would be that students should take their time on deciding. They should definitely sit down and talk to their parents on what would be the right fitted school. You should always check out their scholarship programs, financial aid and definitely the statistics of that school (example: gpa, tuition, how many students get in etc.) The best thing you could do is travel to that school and take a tour. See if you fit in and if this school excites you when you're actually on the campus.

One piece of advice that I would give every parent and child when finding the right college is to be adaptable. There will be many obstacles in the way of finding the right place to go, especially money. However, happiness and suitability at school can make a world of difference in college, so never rule out a possible "right fit" based on money. Also, do not expect the future student to know exactly what he or she will major in or where they will work upon graduation-most people change majors at least once in their career and an honest idea of what profession interests them enough to make a career of can only be found through experience. Choose a college with a wide variety of disciplines and activities. Extracurricular activities and clubs help with the transition process to college, making friends, and providing a safe alternative to drinking, drugs, and illegal activities. Finally, if you don't have the answer, you haven't asked the question: you MUST ask as many questions as you have and be persistent in finding an answer in order to make the right choice in a college.

The advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to make sure you visit as many colleges as possible. Each college is unique in their own ways and it is hard to pick one right away. Even though the student is finding the college, I do believe that the college ends up finding the student. I was a transfer student from Longwood to George Mason University and I could not be happier then when I transfered! Getting involved in college is great for making friends, having a wonderful learning experience, and for resumes. Getting involved in college is one of the best things a student can do!

Basically look at all the schools in the area before deciding on which on is best for you child. George Mason is easily affordable but there are quite a few better schools in the DC area that your child would benefit more from.

If I had to give advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience I would first tell them that it is NEVER too soon to research colleges. I feel that finding the right place to learn is key to a successful college experience. I would say apply for scholarships and grants, then loans. No matter how small the amount or how long the essay required for the financial award, still complete it. It will add up in the end. I would also encourage parents to give their children a sense of responsibility while in high school. Let them learn time and money management before they get to college, it will alleviate the majority of the problems they will face while in school.

While, good professors are valuable, you're most important concern is the student body of the college. You should remember, that if the students of the school are not people you would ordinarily want to be around, the problem is that much worse when you have to learn with and around them. Make sure you feel comfortable with the students at the school.

I honestly believe that you should visit the colleges more than once. Go for orientation and then go during the regular school year see how the campus is on the weekends, go to a football or basketball game and experience how much school spirit the college or university has. I strongly encourage talking to students who already attend the college or university, students and parents can get a good feel about what the school is like by talking to current students. By doing all of these things you can find out which school is going to be best for you and which one you will be the happiest with.

Be committed to wherever you go and stick it out because it only gets better.

The most stressful and exciting part of your senior year will be applying to and choosing a college to attend in the fall. Do research and visit as many campuses as possible. You need to get the best idea of what living at that school is like. It is very important that the perspective student feels safe and welcome on the campus. It is a good idea to go on guided tours, talk to students, and eat on campus. To make the most out of your college experience, the best advise I can give is find something you are interested in and get involved, the earlier the better! Clubs usually range in a variety of interests and if they don't have one you like, you can create your own organization. As far as living arrangements are concerned, if you are having a problem with roommate(s) try to make things work or apply for a room change. You don't want to be living miserably. Acedemically, it is essential that you communicate with your professors outside of the classroom to create a relationship with them, they are there to benefit you. Afterall, that is why you came to college!

I wish I had applied to more than one school (I was confident that I would get in but it was a dangerous thing to do). I had dreams of going to some prestigious school for physics or computer science but felt that I was constrained by financial circumstances from pursuing them. While I am happy where I ended up, I still feel that I would have achieved more and felt more motivated if I had attended a school I longed to go to. The most important thing about finding the right school is choosing one that you would be proud to say that you went to or one that you have always wanted to attend. Making the most of your college experience is more difficult than just getting into the school. Once you're there, you will want to do well. There is nothing more depressing than finding that you are failing any of your classes. An integral part of your success will be study groups, which provide valuable scholastic assistance and great friendships. Joining a extracurricular group (like the IEEE or SWE) will introduce you to more upperclassmen than you will meet in your regular classes.

The most important thing is to get a clear idea of what your looking for in all aspects of a college. Look into what type of campus your looking for by visiting the campus and deciding whether you want a large or small campus. Figure out which school is best for your major but also which school has the largest selection of majors, just in case you decide to switch majors. Find out what kind of activities and clubs are offered at the university. The most important thing when choosing a college is to not make your decision based upon where your friends from highschool are going or go to a school because it is a party school, you have to make sure you choose the school that is going to be best for you in the long run.

My advice to parents is to support your child in what they want to do. Don't pressure your children into majoring in something that they will later on regret. It is time for them to live their dream and not on anyone else's. Parents also need to be a motivator as well as an advisor to thier children. There are times that we may get into a rough patch and we need that extra support in order to get into the right direction. My advice to students would be live your life the way you want to. Work hard for your dream job. Also enjoy the college life and learn how to balance your social life with your academic studies . College is suppose to be considered one of the best times of your life. You want to be able to look back and not have any regrets or doubts about what you should have or should not have done. I know that I should be more involved with school programs to improve my social life and I plan on doing that. I want to be able to say that what I did was a great experience.

I don't think you should pick your college too quickly or too lightly. I believe that no matter what people say, you should pick the college that you yourself would like to attend. I mean, it is four years of your life, not theirs. Look for education, opportunities, reputation to help you attain a job after you graduate, and also the social life. Especially coming from a commuter school one of the biggest and most important advice I would give would be: to get involved. A lot of people complain that there's no thing to do in whatever area school you attend, but honestly it's really up to you. It's up to you to go out there and make something out of your college experience. Whether it be by joining a club/organization, sports team, or anything else. You make the best out of your education, and you make the best out of the experience that you are about to have in college.