Remember that feeling on your first day of kindergarten? Or the first day at a brand new school? You were filled with excitement, fear, and wonder. As transfers begin a new chapter at GMU, they are likely facing those same emotions. This guide will hopefully help ease those emotions and allow new students to enjoy all that George Mason University has to offer!
1. Get involved
This may sound cliché, but stepping out of your comfort zone and meeting new people with a common interest is the best way to adjust to a new environment. Take advantage of club fairs around the Johnson Center and other planned student activities like community BBQ’s and school spirit days.
2. Use your social media
In my two short weeks at GMU, I’ve quickly realized this campus thrives on its technology-based reputation. Follow clubs, organizations, and even the school itself on Instagram to stay current on campus events. Also register for campus emergency notifications to be sent to your mobile device by signing up through Mason Alert.
3. Meet Your Advisor
Schedule an appointment with your advisor to make sure everything transferred over properly. If you are transferring with a degree, research possibly getting your Mason Core classes waived. The Office of the University Registrar (in the Student Union Building, adjacent to the Aquia neighborhood) manages most issues with transfer registration and declaring your major or minor.
4. Go Greek!
What better way to meet people than joining a sisterhood of like-minded girls? The recruitment process may sound intimidating, but you could possibly find your “home away from home!” Fall recruitment begins on the 15th, so look into Panhellenic Council to register and find the chapter that best fits you.
5. Introduce yourself to your professors
In a class of 150 or more, make a point to introduce yourself to the teacher and clarify anything confusing from the syllabus. Plan to attend office hours. These hours are dedicated to helping students and many overlook this valuable study tool. Connecting with professors early in the semester can also open doors for recommendations and references.
6. Find your study spot and get your study on
Whether it be the newly renovated Fenwick Library or a quiet nook in your housing building, find a place to retreat and study without distractions. This is also the time to adopt some new study habits! Try setting a timer on your phone every hour to take a break from screen time or highlighting the entire page of your textbook. Go outside and take a walk, then come back recharged and motivated. Kate, an NVCC transfer, is grateful for her planner. “I’m trying harder this semester to keep track of my assignments, so I bought a cute planner from Target. I also print out a weekly schedule so I have a visual when I manage my time.”
7. Search for jobs or internships
If you’re transferring in as a junior, now is the time to start looking for experience and opportunities to network. Through Hire Mason, you can find work-study, internships, and regular retail jobs. Fairfax City is also full of cafés and restaurants if you’re looking for some extra cash for next semester’s textbooks.
8. Be optimistic
Coming to a new school is never easy, especially when groups are already established and you’re lost on the way to a new class. Keep your head up. It’s a large campus and even upperclassmen sometimes get lost.
Remember to call your parents. Find your passions or try something new. Going to a new school means a chance to better yourself and grow. George Mason will feel like home in no time.
Photo courtesy of George Mason University