George Mason University Reviews

"My program has many pros, the biggest being how welcoming and supportive my peers and the faculty are. This program is tough so having a support network is vital. I also love how the faculty really prepares their students for their career as a school psychologist. I feel confident that when I graduate and begin working, I will be able to keep up with the other school psychologists. One thing I would change about the program is to integrate more counseling classes in the curriculum. Counseling is an important part of school psychology and I think a little more focus should be put on developing those skills."

"The pros and cons are the same with many graduate programs. The most challenging aspect is simply getting started. It is dually important to have an architecture for what you would like to see accomplished at the commencement of your studies. There are an unlimited number of human and physical resources which are available and may be leveraged to help achieve your individual goals as well."

"The teaching is excellent, and the faculty are always willing to help. There isn't too much going on in suburban Fairfax, and there isn't a lot of money to go around, but you will be kept abreast of any professional development opportunities that come up. The program also has a good balance of both applied and theoretical linguistics."

"I've only just started this program but from experience I feel that the professors, advisors, and other staff actually care about helping us meet our goals, get certified, and graduate on time. Everything is really structured and easy to follow, and at least for my program, you have a choice to accelerate it. The cohorts are small so you get to know the people you're taking classes with as well as your professors. It's nice that GMU offers a masters program for career switchers like me."

"My graduate program in the history of decorative arts is incredible and affords access to an extensive and priceless network of decorative arts professionals and academics that no other program would provide. Unfortunately I can not fairly rate George Mason's main campus, because my program is off campus in Washington, DC. I am rarely at the Fairfax location."

"Although I was initially very pleased by the helpfulness and speed of the admissions committee, the rest of the schools administration seems lacking. The program itself is simply a video classroom version of the Georgetown post-baccalaureate program. It was difficult to reach teachers for questions. On the bright side, the Mason program was cheaper."

"All y classes are on the Arlington campus which is right in the middle of the city! It is a great city full of young professionals in every sector. The program is new so everyone involved is excited and invested in your success. The career network and other services are accessible and quality as well."

"George Mason has exceptional faculty and staff within the Graduate School of Education who are dedicated to furthering the education and careers of their students. The tuition is reasonably priced, although the department scholarships are hard to come by."

"I have enjoyed my 7 years at George Mason where I have graduated with a BS in Psychology, Advanced Biomedical Sciences graduate certificate, and I am currently pursing a MS in Chemistry and Biochemistry. I think the psychology department is stellar and Dr. Hurley is accessible to students. I did not enjoy the science undergraduate department while I was talking pre-medical classes though there are stellar professors within the departments and many research opportunities. There were also poor professor, high competitiveness among students, and lack of departmental organization/support."

"Mason has provided me with a unique experience that I believe that I wouldn't find anywhere else. At first, I was completely overwhelmed with meeting new colleagues and professors. I wasn't quite sure where I would fit in. A few weeks in, I was working in the lab and felt a part of the team. The workload has been tough but manageable, and teaching has been a pleasurable experience (even though some graduate students from other programs would easily disagree with me). Overall, I am very happy with choosing Mason, and I can't wait to see what kind of projects I'll get myself into next year."

"While the Northern Virginia area has decent job security, the program itself lacks career guidance and job search support. Similarly, the area has great social service organizations for the program's field placements, but the department itself can be so disorganized that students are still unsatisfied with what they end up with."

"A few pros include: -The graduate programsat GMU are tailored for full-time working professionals; professors understand that a majority of the students are already working in their particular fields. Professors keep the classes interesting by teaching material that is realistic and comparable in the job environment. -Diversity of student body: GMU's diversity is unmatched; I have never seen such a variety of people in one school before. -Cost: GMU's graduate programs are affordable in comparison to the other university programs in the DMV metropolitan area. A few cons include: -Traffic/parking: traffic and parking are absolutely the worst part of commuting to GMU. The campus is located on a major street that is always busy, especially during rush hour (the time when most graduate students are on their way to campus. I don't have many bad things to say about GMU, it is a great institution with a vibrant campus."

"I love my program so far, the professors are very supportive in mentoring and helping me. It is a great school in a great location. As usual, money is always the problem. If education was free, I would have multiples degrees by now. Needless to say that is not the case, so the problem is living is expensive here for a student."

"The program is well-located to the DC area, albeit public transportation is more difficult from DC to Fairfax. The program is large and funding is little, unless you're willing to teach."

"I find this program quite comprehensive as it covers all the aspects of industry."

"As I am focusing on new media and information technology to go along with my history degree, I feel that George Mason offers the best program for these two disciplines. Their Center for History and New Media ensures that the graduate program has capable professors who are knowledgeable in the technology needed to excel."

"George Mason's locations near the Washington, DC metro area are fantastic but it could be improved by having core classes on the Arlington campus. For those working in DC that rely on public transportation, commuting to Fairfax can be long and problematic. The classes themselves are of terrific value - I have been able to take advantage of my peers' networks and experiences, as well as those of my professors. Social life for graduate students is available if you are looking for it, have a car, and live near Fairfax for your core classes. I am lacking the latter so I am hoping to cultivate closer relationships when I move to the Arlington campus."

"My graduate program provides me with a very large web of potential mentors and career coaches; everyone who teaches in the secondary education program classes is very experienced and is very willing to share the wealth of information that they have about getting into secondary education. I love the faculty! The only con is the area; Fairfax is not particularly "hip" or "happening," but that is to be expected in a family town."

"The Arts Management program is a great addition to George Mason University. Situated in Arlington, it has great access to museums, galleries, and performing arts venues downtown for hands-on learning. However, not all professors take advantage of this and prefer lecture rather than using the assets of the surrounding area."

"George Mason University's graduate program in Arts Management is excellent. You increase your network of arts managers in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The faculty is knowledgeable and very supportive. If you are an aspiring arts administrator, I encourage you to look further into the program. My graduate experience was second to none!"