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I am a Grad student with dual undergraduate degrees, including one in Engineering. I have job experience related to teaching, engineering, product development, and statistics. Heck, I have worked at Johns Hopkins and Virginia Tech! I have to say wholeheartedly that the Volgeneau School of Engineering at GMU has TRIED to concoct a challenging graduate Statistics program -- and has FAILED MISERABLY! The professors are unhelpful to an extreme. In my honest opinion, I have had only two of six professors there, who should EVER be allowed in a classroom. The vast majority are a detriment to society, much less to a learning environment. Students in my program, for the most part, agree that we have all spent huge sums of money to be disheartened and made to feel stupid at every opportunity. The vast majority of us are talented and hard-working, with strong mathematical and engineering backgrounds, and should be easy to teach. The fact that the vast majority of us ALSO can spend 15 weeks in a class, and have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what we might have learned -- is a huge red flag. Avoid this MS in Statistics program AT ALL COSTS! May 17 2013 Engineering Department

The Social Work program at George Mason is awful - it is ranked #66 in the US News & World Report survey of Social Work programs for 2012. Maryland, Catholic, Howard, and VCU are all ranked higher. Mason is dead last in Social Work Programs for the Metro DC area. It's not my opinion: You can research it yourself. With a few exceptions, the faculty won't listen to the students - many of them have an attitude that they can't be bothered. Some of them don't seem very happy to be there. When there's some sort of problem, students get blamed for it somehow and get put on blast in an email sent to the entire student body. The program teaches students about empowering people to advocate for themselves, but when students try to actually do that, they get shut down. The way the department is run seems to vacillate between treating students like they're children, and treating them like they're on their own and need to find their own way. So the students have low morale. The field education program is seriously jacked up - heard too many horror stories to count, and know someone who quit the program over it. The position of Field Director seems to be a revolving door. The "part-time" program really is only part-time for two years - you'll be going full-time your last year, and if you take issue with that, they'll suggest you quit your job and go into debt with student loans (in this economy, yeah right - some can't afford to quit their jobs) to go full-time. What kind of faculty person actually encourages a student to go into debt? So make sure you know up front, if you really want to go to school "part-time," it's only part-time the first two years. Adjuncts seem to teach more classes than on-campus faculty, and in one instance, an adjunct (by her own admission) wasn't even qualified to teach the subject matter she was teaching. The amenities are lacking - cramped up offices for classrooms with no real student lounge. It feels like they converted a hallway broom closet for the student 'lounge.' The only up side is since the classes are held off-campus in an office building, the parking is free. VCU just started an Online MSW program. If you're thinking of an MSW in Northern VA, can't afford the private schools with Howard or Catholic, and don't want to pay the out of state tuition for MD - and can't decide between VCU (which is ranked #11 in US News & World Report) and George Mason, please, PLEASE consider VCU. They have the ranking, the reputation, the faculty and the resources. Mason doesn't. Graduate education is an investment of time and money, and for the effort you put into it, a degree from VCU would carry more weight and respect. Mason is killing their reputation through how they treat their students, and I don't think they care. Jun 19 2012 Social Work

Looking back, I wasted my money on a program that is complete baloney! There are a lot better schools in the area to study Conflict Analysis and Resolution, do NOT waste your money at GMU! Apr 06 2012 Other

The school is notorious for not being international student friendly. If you are an international student and you choose to "pay" this 3rd tier school to make your life miserable get ready to deal with the relevant office inside the university where the director's primary position is that international students enroll for theses and dissertations in order to exploit the system in order to stay in the USA. A very racist and manipulative woman that has caused numerous problems to many international students who are involved in high research, but the administration of the university supports her lies and manipulative behavior. This says everything about GMU! There are way better schools -do not choose GMU! Sep 08 2011 Public Policy

I have completed my Masters of Education through the off campus cohort program but still need a few classes to finish my teacher certification. The classes I have left I will be on campus for. The process for payment and registration is filled with needless paperwork. It took five phone calls to actually get a real person on the phone to answer a simple question that could not be answered online. Every step of the way students are told to fill out multiple forms, pay extra fees (for processing), and to fax paper work or waste time to deliver it in person. God forbid you forget your password. I feel graduate students are only considered money signs for the university. When I go for my PhD I will not be going back to GMU and I will tell all of my co-workers and friends to find other universities to continue their education. Aug 16 2010 Education

George Mason might be the most underrated university in Virginia. Take a look at some of the impressive rankings in areas of law, nursing, economics, creative writing, public policy, and on and on. While people continue to bash Mason, Mason has quietly--and unpretentiously--grown into a highly regarded university. Mason even has a world ranking; Mason is in the top 100 of academic ranking of world universities?and that?s for two years in a row. I would recommend Mason to anyone looking for a solid education at a great value. May 25 2010 Unknown

This was a great experience for me. I would recommend this university for my brothers and family as well. Dec 20 2009 Telecommunications

The History MA program at this university is huge, the largest in the country, and there is no money for MA students. Also, I have not heard one positive comment about the MA adviser. He is arrogant and unhelpful probably because of the size of the program. The faculty is friendly and helpful, but for the most part this hasn't been a good experience for me. Fairfax and northern VA are in general extremely boring places and getting into DC can sometimes be a pain. Sep 19 2009 History/Histories (art history/etc.)

This school is awful. I thought that I would be able to work at a school and earn credit hours to get my Master's degree in teaching. Not the case. The school tries to suck every last penny it can from you. Parking is atrocious and it is impossible to leave campus in a timely manner because the roads through campus are at a standstill when classess get out in the evening. I'm getting flack from the education department for actually getting a teaching degree before finishing there. I'm actually being told, in no uncertain terms, to quit my job and do an unpaid internship instead of staying at my current position at an elementary school. It is really unreal. Jun 01 2009 Education

For undergraduates, this school is unique. The average student is about 27 or so, and most are commuters, so you will have a difficult time having a typical experience here. It seems that most people who attend already have friend circles in place, and do not use college as a place to socialize, which can make it lonely. The town of Fairfax is not college friendly at all. It is very soccer mom, yuppy suburban town. The academics are modest, as is the student body. The psychology graduate program is lacking. The graduate faculty are completely out of touch, and the curriculum is so easy, I actually stopped purchasing textbooks - and this for a PhD. The politics are sickening, and the faculty are very self-absorbed, at least in the clinical program. It will emotionally drain you, certainly, while totally depriving you of a decent education. No matter how smart you are, it will never be good enough, as you seem to be judged on esoteric personality characteristics or other bizarre criteria. You are mere pawns to the faculty, of which you are perpetually reminded. Someone once referred to this program as as "Weekend Warriors" type graduate program, as in it is totally DIY (do it yourself). I would amend that to say, it is DIY, while faculty throw a ridiculous amount of hurdles in your path for no sane reason, other than it is "supposed to" be hard. This is of course ironic, as the academic part is easy - it is the pyshcological warfare that will get you down. Please choose another school if at all possible!!! Mar 14 2008 Psychology

Absolute frustration! Dec 24 2007 Public Policy

Had an outstanding graduate school experience at GMU. Excellent on campus research facilities and opportunities for research projects and grants. The administration has done an outstanding job of position George Mason as a top 75 research university in the nation with a goal of being in the top 50 in 5 years. Nov 29 2007 School of Information

My time at George Mason was very enriching. It is a university that is growing in academic stature as well as prominence within the state of Virginia and the region. The academic program in my field of study is nationally recognized (School Of Information, Technology, and Engineering) and provided ample opportunities for research and application of concepts learned in my professional career. Because Mason is a relatively young school - the campus has been quickly developing into a comprehensive community with new and technologically advanced facilities, enhanced student housing, and a multitude of activities on Campus and in near-by Old Towne Fairfax. I would definitely recommend GMU to a rising high-school senior. Apr 12 2007 School of Information

MBA Grad student, GMAT 710. Great Business School, University career services is very effective. Apr 01 2005 Business - Management and Administration

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