George Mason University

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Students Say - Academics
George Mason University, a school in the Virginia suburbs just outside of D.C., has spent the past few years trying to get beyond its reputation as a commuter school, and it looks like it has been doing a good job of it. This innovative spirit and focus on "finding a new way to do what every other older school does" is one of Mason's greatest attributes, and though complaints about construction may pop up from time to time, the school is pushing through "the developmental stage" on its way to becoming a top university. Well-known for having one of the best nursing programs in northern Virginia, as well as a similarly strong school of management and economics department, the location of the school means that "students take their own initiative in finding internships and jobs to better their career prospects." Students are happy with many of their professors, but quite a few people com- plain that the number of adjuncts teaching make classes too easy, especially for the required courses. "I feel like I'm taking the same classes I took in high school again, just with more homework," says a freshman. However, "once you get into your major courses the classes as well as professors improve." There are many tutoring service and other programs available for students who need help, and due to the close proximity to the nation's capital, the school has the opportunity "to host a large number of guest speakers/special lectures including politicians, CEOs and other professionals from major defense contractors in the area, and non-governmental representatives." At times "it may seem that the administrators are out of touch with reality," but they "generally receive student input well."

Students Say - Campus Life
While the school has undertaken massive efforts to drop the commuter label by providing more residence halls and events (on-campus housing availability has now completely caught up to demand), most agree that both the quality and the advertising of the weekend activities could use some work. "There is always something going on every weekend, but it may not be exactly what every student wants to do," says a senior. Many of those who do stay on cam- pus for the weekend think the school should "make a better effort to acknowledge that people actually do live on campus during the weekends...we are all capable of making our own fun, but when the food hours and locations are so restricted we don't feel like we're even supposed to be there, that's taking it a little bit far." Still, the school is doing its best to amuse its students, and pro- grams like Every Freakin' Friday ensure there's an event, well, every Friday, and more than 200 organizations keep students occupied. Trips to the city for eating, shopping, and nightlife are frequent, and from November through March, basketball games are also popular. The school is almost legendary for its "serious parking problem," which can be a very real concern for the commuter majority here, and people "party pretty hard to relieve the stress accrued from parking on campus."

Students Say - Student Body
There is a "wide variety" of students found at this big school, with commuters and non-commuters representing "a mix of traditional and non-traditional students," most of who are "moderately preppy" and come from in-state. There are a fair number of international and Muslim students, and "simply walking through the student center you will hear at least three different languages being spoken." Mason has "very little if any discrimination," and in general most students are very aware of global issues and different cultures. With this physical diversity also comes academic diversity, "where some students like to study a lot and some students like to party a lot."

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