George Mason University

Mason is an excellent school, but you have to work at getting the most out of your educational experience. For every easy class, there's another class that is challenging. No one is going to hold your hand and pick your class schedule. Think outside your comfort zone, and try to be a Renaissance man or woman. If you do that, you'll find that Mason is a challenging university with a lot of offer.

5th Year Female -- Class 2004

Faculty Accessibility: A, Social Life: B-

I like George Mason University. I think it gets a bad rap because Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)students can transfer into Mason if they have the required GPA. But you'll find the same situation with any four-year college/university that has a communtiy college a few miles from its main campus. I'm not knocking NOVA students, but some assume that Mason will be easy, and they quickly learn that it is not. I will tell you that the two are not on the same playing field. Don't believe the lies that Mason is a large community college. Mason is an excellent school, and some of Mason's students are downright brilliant. One of our computer science majors recentatly won a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. And there are many more like him.

4th Year Female -- Class 2014

Education Quality: A, Campus Aesthetics: B-

I might have written Mason off years ago as being second best to other Virginia schools, but now that I've taken classes at Mason, I can honestly say the university is top notch. I've spoken with students who've taken classes at UVA as well as NYU, and they'll say that Mason is as good or even better. So be careful to write Mason off before you actually take classes. Keep in mind you go to college to attend classes--not to party and hang out on the quad and look at the pretty buildings. Campus surroundings are important, and Mason is looking quite beautiful these days, but campus aesthetics are not as important as your courses. I give Mason a high rating for being a very good university.

4th Year Female -- Class 2014

Education Quality: A, Campus Aesthetics: B