Making GMU feel small for a shy freshman

Colleges and Universities A-Z George Mason University
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<p>My son was accepted to George Mason and has been leaning heavily towards going there, but he got into JMU unexpectedly where a lot of his friends are going. He knows no one who is going to George Mason. He is a prospective music major (auditioned and was accepted), but now he's not sure he wants to be a music major. </p>

<p>The point is, I feel he needs to go to a smaller college but we really can't afford a good LAC, and he wants a bigger school anyway. Whether it's good for him or not, I just don't know. In any case, can anyone out there tell me if Mason does anything to help its freshmen connect to the school, to feel like they are in a smaller school, etc.? </p>

<p>JMU always boasts that it has a small college feel in a big college community, but I really do feel that George Mason is a bit more serious than JMU, that it is less of a party school, etc. Would love to hear opinions out there from students who go to the school(s).</p>

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<p>Hi Nellcropsey,</p>

<p>I am a parent of a freshman, not a student, but happy to give you my impressions to tide you over until a student responds ;-). Even though GMU is a big university, there are only about 2500 freshmen so the freshman class is big but not huge. 75% of the freshmen live on campus- most of them live in President’s Park dorms, which is sort of its own little area with a diner, so they can meet lots of other freshmen there. Another option is the LLCs (living learning communities) if one wants to live with others of a similar interest group such as Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, or Global Affairs. There is also Honors College and the Cornerstones program. Another thing that makes GMU feel smaller is that the campus is very condensed and centralized, not all spread out like some older colleges that have had to add buildings wherever space permits over time. Most of the students tend to make friends with others on their floor or those in their major. Sometimes they organize sports teams by floor and have tournaments that way, co-ed: soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc. Has he been on the Mason accepted students 2013 facebook page yet? There are students there looking for roommates there. My son is very happy at Mason. Good luck with your son’s decision!</p>

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<p>Hijack for incoming freshmen’s reference.</p>

<p>“President’s Park dorms, which is sort of its own little area with a diner”
Ike’s, the diner in the Park, will be closed next year (I believe) for [url=&lt;a href=“http://facilities.gmu.edu/projects/PresParkDiningAddition/index.htm]renovations[/url”&gt;http://facilities.gmu.edu/projects/PresParkDiningAddition/index.htm]renovations[/url</a>] (good thing, in my opinion). Plus, they went all out on the Commons renovations (second freshman area), so those dorms look pretty nice now compared to when I lived there. The Park may still have that freshman community feel, though.</p>

<p>bookmouse pretty much nailed it. Campus feels big at times (in between classes when everyone is walking), but most people find their niche by doing their interests whether it be a sport, LLC, etc.</p>