George Mason University Top Questions

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.