George Mason University Top Questions

yes.

For the most part yeah, big commuting school. Not exactly ivy league.

To some extent

not true many chose mason over those schools

The school does have a lot of diversity, but that's partially what gives the school it's personality

Yes,

yes

for the most part, 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of mason students complain but those who love it really love it

Yeah.

Not really. Some people go to Mason for a few years then transfer out but some people transfer here. Mason was on my top list, it's a good college.

It is true that the school is more of a commuter school and that it is very diverse.

YES

no, there are people from all over the world who go here, my roommate for example is from india

These stereotypes are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} accurate. Even tho in the last four years our on campus life has begin to grow tremendously. By 2009 there will be more than 8,000 people on campus.

Yes, however, we don't really mingle. We're diverse yet kind of socially segregated

Absolutely

to a great extent

according to the princeton review, GMU is the most diverse university in america, representing over 139 countries---so yeah

I would say yes, most of the people from my HS who have gone to mason either weren't good enough to get into a college with a better reputation or could not afford one.

No, not necessarily.

Sort of. There are a lot of commuters, but it's moving more towards residential. There are also a lot of international students, but we do tend to separate into our own groups and comfort zones.

Unfortunately, there are many commuters or people who live on campus that go home for the weekend at GMU. Like everyone says college is what you make of it, usually you wont make friends with the people who go home all the time so you really don't need to worry about having no one to hang out with on the weekends. The friends you do make will be around.

Not at all.

Not really, GMU students are far more diverse than just NoVA dwellers.

I found that I do run into a lot of kids I knew from high school. So yes, I think that statement was a pretty accurate, but I do not see them every day so it is not that typical high school interaction that he was referencing.

Partially

Yes, no one here on the weekends and you will see a wide variety of races represented, but only during the week.

Yes

For the most part. There are a few clubs on campus but nothing really beyond ethnic based clubs and greek organizations. An overwhelming number of students are from Virginia and over half of the student population are commuters.

-yes

yes

I think to a certain extent they might be true. But I know that I've made a few friends at Mason that I didn't have any ties to before.

No, half of the school lives on campus and a majority of the rest are students who previously lived on campus and moved off with roommates. There are plenty of things to do on and off campus within student life, all you gotta do is look around. Mason's not a party campus, but there are parties going on.

Mason is becoming less and less of a commuter school.

We are sometimes lazy or perceived as lazy because we often do not take Friday classes but most students participate in internships and having Friday's off is great because it opens up more time for us to go to work. We are so liberal it's annoying! Almost the entire Mason community is liberal- everyone from faculty and staff to the students. It is frustrating for the small percentage of us who are moderate or conservative to live day to day with out leftist views being pushed at us from everyone.

Somewhat

somewhat. However, I am very involved in greek life, so theres always something to do on the weekends.

Sometimes.

Yes and no. Many people do commute but every year all my roommates were out-of-state students, so that shows that there are many students that come from different areas.

I believe some of them definitely are and some of them definitely are not. The number one stereotype I believe is true is that there is not enough emphasis put on student organizations and interests. I have heard that Merten wanted to make the school an "ivy league university". But it's NOT one and shouldn't be molded into one. The student body needs to be allowed to mold the university into what THEY want it to be. That's when success will be attained.

From my experiences, I think they describe about half of the student population.

Not at all. I have more fun on weekend than i do during the week, and probably see more people on the weekend than i do anytime during the week.

1. the number of resident students we have compared to other schools in virignia is almost the same however we have more commuter students than those schools which is why the stereotype exists 2. what is the point of diversity if there is no integration.

somewhat, GMU does not seem to reject too many people

Not entirely, though there is plenty of evidence around to both prove and disprove this rumor. As with anywhere, just realize you are going to need to look hard for certain things and blind yourself to others.

The latter, yes.

Mason tends to attract really average people. This is especially true now that basketball is actually something to talk about. Frats are growing and what have you. So to a certain degree I find most people at mason to be pretty average. Not necessarily a bad thing, but... it gets old fast. It's not even all that diverse. People sort of stick to groups based on race.

yes, some younger students don't understand that it isn't high school and this isn't the geeks versus the preps, this is a place of learning, but after you get through the freshmen, the upperclassmen generally aren't as closeminded.

Yes, but it's possible to find your own niche. many students leave on weekends to go home or live at home to begin with.

After living on campus for four years, I believe there is a strong sense of community on campus. Even students that live off campus are often in the JC and other areas, either studying or participating in clubs and organizations. I think people, even some students, underestimate the Mason community.