Why I Chose Mason: Eric

Name: Eric

Graduation Year: 2006

Major: B.A. in Psychology 

Minor: English (concentration in Creative Writing)

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan/Saitama, Japan/Chantilly, VA

Favorite Mason Memory: When my fiction writing professor decided one night to have the workshop at Brion’s Grill where we ate and had drinks and talked about our writing. Well, that and, of course, the pure elation of watching the men’s basketball team beating UNC and UCONN to get to Final Four in 2006.

Plans: I now reside in Arlington, VA and work as a proposal manager for a Government contractor as well as devoting time to personal writing. I plan to stay in the area for quite some time while I establish myself professionally and hopefully to publish my personal writing.

Why did you chose Mason: Although I was accepted into other Virginia schools, I chose Mason, because it was the only school that offered the opportunities for me to have a real job while I attended classes. I gained experience (while in school) working for Fortune 500 companies; I just wouldn’t have had that opportunity in say, the more rural Virginia schools. By the time I graduated in 2006, I had over 3 years of professional experience and that gave me an invaluable edge over other graduates.

Why I Chose Mason: Sara

Name: Sara

Graduation Year: 2009

Major: Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) Minor:Gender Studies

Hometown: Boulder,CO

Favorite Mason Memory: My very first Mason basketball game. I have never seen so much green and gold in my life. Everyone in face paint, jewelry and bandanas made for an amazing introduction to the atmosphere of Mason fans. So much fun!

Plans: I would like to continue on with my graduate studies in the ICAR program. After that, I plan on working somewhere overseas in community based conflict zones.

Why did you chose Mason: I come from an area of the country that, though incredibly beautiful, promotes very little concern for international issues. George Mason was close enough to D.C. to allow me access to the resources to become involved in the Global Community without needing to move directly in to the city. The close proximity to D.C. also provides Mason’s campus with an amazing amount of diversity. Last week, being International Week, was amazing!

Why I Chose Mason: Alissa

Name: Allisa B.

Graduation Year: 2010

Major: Government and International Politics BA

Minor:  Non-Profit Studies

Hometown: Middlesex, NJ

Favorite Mason Memory: It is hard to say what my favorite Mason memory is because I am only a sophomore and I know that I have many more memories to create while I am here. However, I guess I would have to say being front row for the Barack Obama rally my freshman year was one of the coolest moments to date. It was my first experience seeing a big name speaker on campus and also the first time I saw the Johnson Center filled to its capacity. George Mason University kicked off Obama’s college tour and was one of the first places he essentially announced his run for presidency. GMU could be a major part of the next president’s history. How cool is that?

Plans: I hope to work in the non-profit sector after graduation. I intend to stay in the DC-Northern Virginia area because it is definitely a hot spot for non-profit organizations. I feel I can make more of impact on the type of change I wish to see in the world if I stay in this region of the United States.

Why Did You Choose Mason: Coming from a small town in New Jersey, I definitely wanted a change. Because I knew I wanted to major in politics, it was only logical that I look in the Washington, D.C. area for my college search. However, even though I wanted to be close to D.C., I did not want to necessarily be in D.C. I needed a real college campus, a place I could call home (since I would be spending four years of my life here). The moment I set foot on George Mason University during a campus tour, I knew I was home.
It is hard to describe the feeling, but there was just something about this place. As I continued learning about GMU, the love grew even stronger. Where else can you take undergraduate courses with the distinguished Robinson Professors, who have taught at Ivy League schools, are Pulitzer Prize recipients, and have conducted research all over the world? Or, study with adjunct professors who work on Capitol Hill during the day and then come to Mason to preach what they practice at night? The quality of education here is outstanding, and I could not ask for more.
Not only did the education I was receiving inside the classroom affect my decision in coming here, but it was also the knowledge I would gain outside of the classroom that drew me to Mason.
The Mason’s diversity, I knew I would be introduced to all kinds of new ideas, cultures, and beliefs. In my Comparative Politics class, I have classmates from Albania, Iran, Iraq, Great Britain, and Algeria. Not only do I learn about issues going on in these countries from my text book, but I also get a chance to hear about these situations from my classmates’ personal experiences. You definitely do not get that at just any university. I still cannot believe how much I have learned from the students I interact with everyday at GMU.

Why I Chose Mason: Chris

Name: Chris

Graduation Year: 2009

Major: Communication BA (Journalism concentration)

Hometown: Richmond,VA

Favorite Mason Memory: Defeating UConn to advance to the NCAA Final Four (I was at every game in that tournament).

Plans: Aspiring sports broadcaster…I will go wherever I am called to talk sports!

Why Did You Choose Mason: I chose Mason over VCU and JMU due in large part to the opportunities that I have being so close to Washington,D.C. The communication program is excellent here and I have been able to accomplish many things in my three years that I wouldn’t have been able to elsewhere.

Why I Chose Mason: Dale

Name: Dale

Graduation Year: 2006

Major: Government and International Politics

Hometown: Washington Crossing, PA

Favorite Mason memory: All the cool things that came with being Student Body President during the Final Four run.

Job/Plans: Currently working a Senior Recruiter for Sapphire Technologies in Tyson’s Corner. Plan to start my MBA in Fall ‘09. Training to be a Volunteer Firefighter in Fairfax City and the VP of a small business selling promotional products and Mason gear, www.gmugear.com.

Why Did You Choose Mason: For a million reasons but basically it came down between GWU or Mason and I wanted a campus with grass!

Hello world!

Welcome to Why I Chose Mason. In the upcoming days you’ll have an oppurtunity to hear from current students as to why they chose Mason as their college experience.