The Mason Spirit

by Sarah Gallagher Dvorak, Director of Undergraduate Admissions

As I got ready to cheer on the Mason men’s basketball team against Towson yesterday afternoon, I thought about how exciting it is to see thousands of people, all wearing green and gold, enthusiastically displaying their passion for Mason. Students, alums, parents, the world-famous Green Machine, and the greater D.C. community all converged on the Patriot Center to cheer their team onto victory. It’s one of the coolest things about college – the collective school spirit that binds people together from all different walks of life.

It’s also one of the things I love most about Mason. The sense of enthusiasm and spirit for our beloved school is palpable throughout the community – whether you’re grabbing a bite to eat at Southside Dining Hall, spinning at the RAC, walking around Old Town Fairfax, or cheering our 14-5 men’s basketball team on to a win, it’s there and it’s special.

Our Fall 2012 freshman application deadline is tomorrow, Monday, January 23. Thousands of students from Virginia, and across the country – Hawaii to New Jersey, Florida to Maine, and Minnesota to Texas – have taken the first step to feeling the Mason spirit by submitting their applications. And Mason’s reputation continues to spread to countries all over the world. We’re evaluating applications from China and India to Malaysia and Brazil.

For the fifth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report ranked Mason as one of the top five “Up and Coming” national universities (we’re 2^nd this year!). We’re proud of our prestigious and innovative academic programs, amazing research opportunities, competitive athletics, diverse student body, and location just outside one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Our students benefit in countless ways from all that Mason can offer them.

If you’re a senior and haven’t applied already, get that application in now. We don’t want you to miss out on all those things that feed the Mason spirit: friendships that will last a lifetime, memories you’ll cherish, and amazing job opportunities throughout the world. And, of course, more than a few big wins at the Patriot Center.

Applying to The Mason Nation

by Katherine Wilson, Assistant Director of Admissions

Hey future Patriots! For those of you who are high school seniors – have you submitted your application to Mason yet? If not, just a friendly reminder that there’s now less than five weeks until the deadline to apply to become a Mason Patriot, and to join us in Fall 2012!  I know this is probably a stressful time for those of you applying to colleges right smack in the midst of your senior year. So, in an effort to lighten the mood a bit, I have a short video to share with you from Jamie Moynihan, one of our Assistant Directors of Admissions here at Mason. Enjoy his musical talent, his enthusiasm, and most importantly – his lyrics!

Mason’s UrbanKnowlogy surprises the JC with a Flash Mob!

Deadlines, applications and essays – oh my!

by Sarah Gallagher Dvorak, Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Passing admissions staff in the halls of our office is quite the funny site these days. Their eyes are beginning to get that kind of googly orientation that all of us who have spent WAY too many hours staring at computer screens would appreciate. You see, Mason’s Scholarship and Honors College consideration deadline is today (December 1st!) and our staff has been cooped up reading application after application over the last month. Although it’s hard work, it’s one of the best parts of our job (especially when we get to admit the applicant!).

Amanda carefully reads essay...after essay...after essay...

 Most of us would probably say that reading the essay can be one of the best, and worst, moments during application reading. Perfecting that college essay isn’t easy and you’re probably hearing a million different pieces of advice about how to knock the socks off admissions committees all over the country – advice that’s often contradictory. Well, I’m just going to share one tip that will make you one of those applicants that puts a smile on our faces, rather than a snarl.

At least there's one smiling Derek at the desk!

Be yourself. You write the most wonderful essay about how brilliant your grandfather is and I may want to admit HIM, but it tells me nothing about you. Speak in your own voice. Tell me about what makes you unique. What makes you get out of bed every morning? What inspires you? What do you love? What kind of impact would you have on this campus? Try to move beyond the more cliché topics – regurgitated resumes, victories in sports, community service and achieving world peace, and laundry lists of characteristics about yourself. Whether or not you choose to write about these things, make sure you put personality into it. Make it a fun read…we’re humans. It’s like comparing the experience of reading a fun beach read with reading a textbook.

So, whether you’ve applied to Mason or are looking elsewhere, just keep these tips in mind.

Well, better get back to reading applications. If you’re a senior and haven’t applied yet, what are you waiting for? Submit your application (and amazing, fun, top-notch essay) now!

Happy essay writing and enjoy the holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving from Mason Admissions!

by Katherine Wilson, Assistant Director of Admissions

Greetings on this crisp fall day before Thanksgiving!

What a beautiful season we’ve had here in northern Virginia. This is my favorite time of year … exciting events around greater Washington, D.C. seamlessly fill up my calendar, my house consistently smells of freshly baked cookies (guess who made pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting last night? This girl!), fall leaves graciously turn from green to gold in honor of Mason’s colors (let’s just pretend that’s true for now), and applications are rolling in to join our next freshmen class of 2012!

Autumn at Mason!

We are thrilled to begin reviewing applicants who hope to start living the Patriot life next fall, and if you want the inside scoop on the application process from our Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Sarah Gallagher Dvorak, STAY TUNED! She will be posting early next week with pointers, reminders, and best wishes as our prospective students continue to navigate the application process this season.

In the meantime, from all of us here at George Mason University’s Office of Admissions: we sincerely wish you, your family and friends a very happy Thanksgiving day tomorrow! We hope this time will provide you with needed rest, giggles, full tummies, and time with those you are truly thankful for. Personally, I’m look forward to catching up this week with my adorable parents who live up in Devon, Pennsylvania. As our Admissions Office will return on Monday, November 28, we hope to see you soon for your next visit to campus! In the meantime, enjoy the video below for a brief taste of the Patriot life!

Blackout Thunder-Snow

by Brenda Shepard, Admissions Representative

Now, I consider myself to be a “tough New England girl,” and I thought I had lived through some pretty crazy winters in New England. I’ve seen snow piles taller than my father and my fair share of days off from school. Never in my life have I been without power for so long and seen ramifications of this extent after a storm.

No one was prepared well enough for this storm, but to be fair, the weather forecasters didn’t seem to know it would be this bad. As I walked around (since there’s nothing else to do when there’s no power), I saw trees limbs scattered around the roads like spaghetti after a food fight. Other trees met their fate and were simply split right in half, or uprooted by the severe wind and heavy snowfall. 

Sitting in the dark of a friend’s apartment, I thought of only one thing: George Mason University, I miss you! Yes, we get snow in Virginia, and maybe it’s because I’ve never seen destruction of quite this magnitude on campus, but Mason always made me feel safe and warm, even if we lost power for an hour or so during cold winter months. New England is nice, and yes, the snow is beautiful, but this was really quite ridiculous.

One more week and I’ll be back in the warmth of the GMU Admissions Office. This travel season has been exciting to say the least, and this was probably the most eventful way to finish it. All I can say is the following: 1) Mason, thank you for this hotel room where I can finally have a hot shower and a fully charged cell phone, and 2) leave the light on for me because I’ll be there shortly!

Tricks, Treats, and Applications Galore!

by Sarah Gallagher Dvorak, Director of Undergraduate Admissions 

Happy Halloween! The ghosts and goblins are out and about Mason’s campus today in full force – and scaring wimpy ole me at every turn! I went with my five-year-old son, Oliver, trick or treating around campus with his “Froggies” class this morning. He was one of three Jedi knights (he’s informed me that there are only “Jedi knights” or “Jedi masters” – no boring “Jedis”). Along with Oliver and his two Jedi buddies were dozens of clowns, Supermen, police officers, fire fighters, Harry Potters, princesses, and creatures that left me scratching my head in wonder.

Oliver as Obi Wan

It was an hour filled with sugar induced craziness and I left pleased that I chose the profession I did. Let’s just say, there’s a reason I didn’t become a pre-school teacher, but thank goodness for those patient men and women who did!

I left the organized chaos of 20 five-year-olds and entered a parallel world of organized chaos. You see, October 31 signifies more than just the scariest day of the year in our admissions office. Tomorrow is our first application deadline for fall 2012 freshmen. Students interested in applying “Early Action” to Mason must apply by tomorrow, November 1. It’s an exciting time – but a little crazy around here – as so far, we have more applications than ever before! And most students tend to submit their applications the day before the deadline, so it’s been fun!

For those of you have applied or plan to apply Early Action, our admissions counselors will begin evaluating applications over the next couple weeks. You will receive your decision in mid-December. Early Action is non-binding so you still have until May 1 to commit to Mason. To find out more about what is required as part of the application process at Mason, click here.

If the Halloween season got you a little sidetracked from completing the application process, you can still apply to Mason by December 1 (Honors College and scholarship consideration) or January 15 (regular admission consideration).

I wish you a day filled with tricks and treats, and I look forward to chatting with you in the future!

Happy Halloween from your Mason Admissions Staff!

Are you from Tennessee?

by Jamie Moynihan, Assistant Director of Admissions

As the end of October draws closer, so too ends another year of recruitment travel for colleges and universities nationwide (it also marks the end of the Jersey Shore’s fourth season).

George Mason’s staff has been spread across the country over the last two months meeting with prospective students, parents and counselors.  I had the opportunity to visit parts of Virginia, Texas and Tennessee:

I got a chance to meet with some great students who are sure to make a major impact on GMU’s campus both in and outside of the classroom.

We have had tons of things happening on campus as this weekend we held our Fall Premier open house, which brought nearly 3,000 visitors to campus.   And last week students packed the Patriot Center for Midnight Madness, the official start of the 2011-2012 basketball season!  Here is a taste of the festivities:

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to start reviewing applications for the Fall 2012 class and I look forward to working with more students over the coming months.  Enjoy the end of October and make sure you wish all of your teachers and/or principals a Merry Halloween!

Oh the places we’ll go…

by Katherine Wilson, Assistant Director of Admissions

Seattle's waking up! View from the ferry to Bainbridge Island.

What an incredible season this has been. As you may have gathered from Jamie, Brenda, Caroline, Andrew and Patrick’s earlier posts…it’s travel season! Each fall, your favorite Mason Admissions Counselors take their heart and soul out on the road by spreading a little Mason love and “Patriot Pride” throughout the rest of the nation. If you’re a high school student and have spotted us visiting your school’s college/career center, a college fair, or…just as likely…a local coffee shop, then you know the drill. We have the unique opportunity to meet prospective students in various cities and suburbs, which is incredibly helpful as we will be counseling them throughout the Mason admissions process. So far, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting potential Patriots in their hometowns within Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Right now, I’m writing from “Blackbird Bakery” on Bainbridge Island…an adorable, beautiful island in Washington. Special thanks to Makaila, a junior at Bainbridge High School, for this great recommendation! It was certainly an early morning to catch the ferry over to the island, but well worth it. Check out my view from the ferry at 7:15 am, up top!

Hellooo Arizona!

But for now, let’s backtrack a bit to my Arizona adventures two weeks ago. What a beautiful state.  Between the breathtaking sunsets, the captivating cacti, the desert valley drive from Phoenix to Tucson, and the inspirational art walk in downtown Phoenix on October’s First Friday, I was in love! My week kicked off with the Greater Phoenix NACAC at the Phoenix Convention Center, and I was so pleased at the overwhelming amount of interest in Mason. Students and parents alike offered excellent conversation and questions about our courses, university life, proximity to D.C., and the small discussion-based classroom atmosphere that’s such a hidden gem within our public university status. Other college fairs and high school visits led me to Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, and greater Tucson. If you saw me around – leave a comment and keep in touch!

You’ll notice (as you read my future posts) a trend – I am IN LOVE with coffee shops, and have to share at least one new favorite with you all from each of my visits. So this year…The Arizona Coffee Shop Award goes to…..LUX Coffeebar in Phoenix! Each room surprises you with a splash of modern art and decor, while their food and coffee are both unique and soulfully created. Special thanks to Nicole,  the Director of College Counselor at Glendale Prep, for this amazing recommendation:

Iced Mocha & a Potato Cheddar Quiche!

Dodging the unbelievable canyons in western Colorado

Next stop was – Coloradoooo! My first few days led me all over the beautiful state. I kicked things off in Aspen for the Western Slope College Fair, and oh my goodness…what a view! Many thanks to Kathy, Director of College Counseling at Aspen High School, for making this trip such a great experience. Hundreds of college representatives were present, and students from over 60 high schools from the Western slope of Colorado came out to meet us. What a great day! My travels continued to beautiful Colorado Springs, and to fabulous Ft. Collins, then finished off the rest of the week in and around the famous mile-high-city of Denver. Here are just two of the numerous images I was able to capture along my travels:

 

A gorgeous glimpse of Autumn along a snowy mountainside

Let’s not forget my award…and The Colorado Coffees Shop Award goes to…Tattered Cover Book Store in downtown Denver! It’s like a bookstore and a coffee shop got married, and bought an enormous multi-level apartment downtown with year-long Christmas lights inside. I loved this place! The thanks for this recommendation goes to the world’s best sister, Carolyn Wilson Baughman (hidden plug, because I love my sister – she’s a freelance writer-producer, and the “Chief Redhead” for Redhead Creative). When you’re on the road for a month, a good coffee shop is home – free wireless to get emails answered and work done, and a good ol’ cup of coffee/iced mocha/cup of tea just means the world.

So now here I am in beautiful, waterfront-surrounded Seattle. And for my next visit, you ask? San Francisco and the bay area of California! Stay tuned next week for my adventures there, and a recap of my unforgettable time out here in Seattle (including a video from Pike Place’s fish market as well!

Happy reading…

The Majestic Mid-West

by Patrick Money, Admissions Counselor

 

“Aren’t you guys the basketball powerhouse that went to the final four?” This question was the first inquiry of my 4 week-long trip in the mid-west, and I honestly thought I had my hands full with students that would only know us because of the epic run in the 2006 NCAA tournament. I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised with the knowledge and interest from St. Louis, Minnesota, and now Milwaukee.

When packing for a month long trip to my mid-west territories for the end of September into October, my warm weather gear was not considered. I humbly say, I could not have been more wrong!! This weather has been a wonderful surprise, with record highs and only ONE day without sunshine and blue skies. The weather has been beautiful, the sites incredible, the food fantastic, and best of all…the students and their families I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with have been amazing. The only thing I would leave this part of the country for is to be back home at Mason (and of course my George Mason Basketball team!!)

The hardest part of recruiting out of state at times is telling families that their children will be happy so far from home. Every student is so very different, and each of them needs something unique to make their four years in college what they want it to be. The pleasant surprise to my season thus far has been the out-going personalities of so many different kinds of students wanting to go far and gain new experiences. The east coast, and more specifically, right outside of Washington, D.C. is such a great area of the country for young people to reach their next step. The young men and women I have met with thus far love our large campus advantages of internships, city access, study abroad, and so much more. These students are also impressed with the small campus class sizes we have and the caliber of our faculty and staff. Needless to say, Mason is not just a hidden gem to many here.

I have had a blast going up in the arch in St. Louis (although I was a bit nervous on the ride up). I was completely overwhelmed with the Mall of America in Minnesota, and could not decide what to buy where. The chance to watch the Milwaukee Brewers WIN Game 5 of the NLDS was inspirational, but I stand by my comment…no matter what great things I have done in my down time, the students I have met have been the highlight of my trip, and I cannot wait to work with all of them all in the application process.

The application season for seniors in high school is a stressful process, but these students in Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin seem to have the total package and are ready to bring their best to the colleges they apply to – and of course to MASON next fall.

Well, that’s all for now. I am off to the Windy City, aka Chi-Town, aka Chicago, IL for a week and a half and will report back soon. Happy applying and blog-reading until then!