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EnglishHow to Explore and Apply to George Mason University (gmu.edu)
Updated
George Mason University's website gives prospective students four main entry points: Request Information, Apply to George Mason, Explore Undergraduate Programs / Explore Graduate Programs, and Visit George Mason (including a Virtual Experience option). These are the fastest ways to move from initial interest to a submitted application. The sections below explain what each entry point does and how to use them in sequence.
The four core entry points on gmu.edu
The homepage organizes prospective-student actions into labeled tiles. Each one serves a different stage of the decision process:
| Entry point | What it's for | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Request Information | Get on Mason's contact list and receive program and admissions updates | First, if you're still deciding |
| Explore Undergraduate Programs | Browse bachelor's-level fields of study | Before applying, to pick a major |
| Explore Graduate Programs | Browse master's, doctoral, and professional programs | Before applying, to pick a program |
| Apply to George Mason | Start and submit your application | Once you've chosen a program |
| Visit George Mason | Schedule a campus visit | Before or after applying |
| Virtual Experience | Tour and explore campus remotely | If you can't travel to Fairfax |
Step-by-step: from interest to application
- Request information. Submit the Request Information form so Mason can send you admissions and program updates. This is optional but useful if you want deadlines and event invitations sent to you.
- Explore programs. Use Explore Undergraduate Programs or Explore Graduate Programs depending on your level. Note that Mason highlights specific offerings such as Virginia's first quantum science master's, so check whether your intended field has a dedicated page.
- Visit or take the virtual tour. Visit George Mason handles in-person scheduling; the Virtual Experience covers remote exploration. Visiting before applying helps confirm fit for campus, location, and program facilities.
- Apply. Use Apply to George Mason to begin the application. Have your program choice ready, since applications are program-specific.
- Check your portal. After applying, current-student systems like PatriotWeb and Canvas are separate from the admissions application — don't confuse the applicant portal with these.
Resources for parents and families
Mason maintains a dedicated Parents and Families section with Orientation and Family Programs & Services. If you're a parent supporting an applicant, this is where to look for orientation logistics and family-facing support rather than the admissions tiles.
What Mason emphasizes about itself
Two claims on the site are worth knowing as context for your decision:
- Mason describes itself as Virginia's largest, most diverse, and highest-ranked university for innovation, and states it admits every student who is academically ready for its research environment.
- It reports a #1 ranking in Virginia and Top 50 nationally for innovation (U.S. News), and holds a Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability.
These are institutional claims from the site itself — useful for framing, but verify program-specific details (requirements, deadlines, costs) on the individual program pages, since the homepage does not list them.
Common sticking points
- Applying before choosing a program. Applications are tied to a specific program, so explore first.
- Confusing applicant tools with student tools. PatriotWeb and Canvas are for enrolled students; new applicants use the Apply to George Mason path.
- Assuming the homepage has deadlines and costs. It doesn't — those live on admissions and program pages, so follow the program link rather than stopping at the tiles.