Questions About the Application Materials

Who should write my recommendation letters?

Your recommendation letters should come from people who can attest to your academic potential for graduate study. Ideally, at least one recommendation would be from an individual who is familiar with your academic work – a faculty member with whom you took classes, collaborated with on research, participated in a study abroad or experiential learning immersion, etc.

We recognize, however, that many of our applicants are somewhat removed from an academic setting and that relationships with previous professors are not always sustainable over time. Therefore, we request that letters of recommendation come from recommenders who can attest to both academic capability within the capacity they have supervised/observed/worked with you, elaborating on quantifiable characteristics including (but not limited to) intelligence, motivation, diligence, work ethic, academic interest, writing competence and analytical capability.

How many letters of recommendation are required? Can I submit additional letters of recommendation?

We require two letters of recommendation to be submitted. You will provide the contact information (name and email) for your recommenders in the application portal. The application limits you to only listing two names.

How will my recommenders be contacted to submit their letter on my behalf?

Your recommenders will receive an automated email prompting them to provide their letter of recommendation and submit comments/feedback.

Can I change my recommender after I have submitted my application?

Yes! You can change or send a reminder to your recommenders in the application portal.

What if my recommenders deleted or never received their email?

If you would like to send your recommenders a reminder email to upload their letter, please complete the steps below:

• Log into your application portal.

• Click on the application that you need the recommendation letter for.

• Click “Send reminder.”

• A pop-up dialog box will appear asking if you want to send a recommendation reminder to the recommender. Click “Send.”

If your recommender continues to not receive the reference request, please encourage them to check their spam. Contact the Graduate Admissions team at schargr@gmu.edu with any further issues.

What if my test scores or letters of recommendations are not submitted by the application deadline?

We strongly encourage students to plan ahead and get their test scores and letters submitted ahead of the deadline. For things applicants cannot control - i.e. scores and letters - it is okay if they arrive within a few days of the deadline. We encourage all materials to be received by the deadline, but an application will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received.

What should I include in my written statement? Is there a specific prompt?

For our goals statement we advise: 750-1000 words on your goals and interest in this program. The prompt for the goal statement is rather broad, but should indicate your relevant educational and professional background, why you are choosing Mason and this program specifically, your future goals, and how you hope this program could help you obtain your future career goals.

If I am applying to more than one program, should I have different goal statements?

Yes, we advise that you have different goal statements if you plan on applying to more than one program. The goal statement should be honed for why you are interested in each program and what your future goals are after completing that degree.

How do I submit my Goal Statement?

Your goal statement should be uploaded directly into the online application portal. Only if you have technical trouble uploading your documents should you email them to us at schargr@gmu.edu. If you must email these documents, please be sure to put your full name and the program that you are applying to as a header at the top of each page.

What format should my resume be?

We do not have any specific format that needs to be used. Please ensure that your resume is up to date, and that you have included any relevant/related work experience to the program you are applying to; this can include volunteer/extracurricular experiences!

How do I submit my resume?

Your resume should be uploaded directly into the online application portal. Only if you have technical trouble with uploading your documents should you email them to us at schargr@gmu.edu. If you must email these documents, please be sure to put your full name and the program that you are applying to as a header at the top of each page.

Can I use my unofficial transcripts to apply? 

Yes, you can use your unofficial transcripts to apply! If admitted, we would require that the official copies are sent to our Office of Graduate Admissions. You can send us either the official or unofficial copies at the time of application!

Where do I send my transcripts?

Most application documents should be submitted via the online application portal. A scanned/electronic unofficial copy of your transcript will be used for initial review by our admissions committee. If admitted, you will be required to supply official transcripts. 

Official transcripts should be sent to our central admissions office directly from the institution(s) attended. If transcripts arrive unsealed in the original envelopes, they are not considered official and will affect your enrollment status as a student for future terms. Please send all transcripts to:

E-transcript for U.S. institutions:
Please contact your previous institution(s) or university registrar for more information. Many colleges and universities are able to send official electronic transcripts using secure encryption services such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse. Following their directions for submission, please have the transcripts sent to ugtrans@gmu.edu.

Our office does not accept scanned or emailed copies sent by students or by individuals employed within the universities. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent electronically to ugtrans@gmu.edu using official channels as previously outlined.

E-transcript for international institutions:
Electronic official transcripts and diplomas/degree certificates from schools outside of the U.S. are only accepted via TrueCopy. All other electronic request services used by institutions are not considered official and will not be accepted. 

Postal mailed documents:
Please contact your previous institution(s) and have documents sent to the address below, exactly as it is written. Only transcripts submitted in sealed, university-issued envelopes are acceptable.

George Mason University
Office of Graduate Admissions
MSN-4C8- Official Transcript Submission
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030

Is there a minimum GPA requirement? 

No, we do not have a GPA minimum in order to be eligible to apply. While most students admitted to the Schar School have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, we take a holistic approach to review the application and consider all materials including work experience, elapsed time since your previous degree, recommendations, and personal statement.

What if my GPA is below 3.0? Am I still eligible to apply? 

While most students admitted to the Schar School have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, we take a holistic approach to review the application and consider all materials including work experience, elapsed time since your previous degree, recommendations, and personal statement.

If your GPA is below 3.0 you could consider some optional ways to enhance your application:

• While the GRE is not part of the required materials, if you did take the GRE and received a good/standout score, you could include that in your application to demonstrate additional aptitude.

• You could enroll in graduate-level classes to demonstrate your academic proficiency. We suggest taking some courses as a nondegree student at the Schar School or a local college before applying to our graduate programs. Please be sure to send us your transcript of this coursework.

• Gaining relevant/related work experience for the degree or certificate that you are interested in pursuing could also bolster your eligibility for admission!

I am still finishing a degree; can I still apply? Do you need my transcript? 

Any “in progress” transcripts/degree certificates will need to have the current version submitted at the time of application for review by the admissions committee. Additionally, we will require confirmation of enrollment, which is an official letter from the University Registrar confirming your enrollment and stating your expected degree conferral date. This can be uploaded as a supplemental/additional document as part of your application.

If you are admitted, you will need to send your final official transcript of any degrees in progress at the time of application to the Office of Graduate Admissions within 1 semester after admission.

If I am not sure what my undergraduate GPA is, what should I enter on the ‘Previous College’ screen of the online application?

You can leave the GPA box blank and proceed with the rest of the application. When our office receives your transcripts, we will enter your GPA information into the application.

I started a program at another university, but did not finish the program – do I have to include a transcript for those classes? 

If you have taken any graduate level work at another institution, we require the submission of those transcripts – even if you did not complete the program. This can be an unofficial copy for the initial application submission.

Is there an application fee?

There is a non-refundable application fee, subject to change: $75. Applications received without fees will not be processed. The application fee is paid online with a credit card before the application is submitted.

Can you waive the application fee?

We only provide application fee waivers for US Military and GMU alumni. Unfortunately, we do not provide waivers for other groups or event attendance. The application fee is required to submit your application and have your materials considered for admission.

If I am U.S. Military or a GMU alumni, how do I get the waiver?

If you are eligible for one of our application fee waivers, you should reach out to schargr@gmu.edu or a member of the admissions team when your application is 99% complete and we can apply the waiver so that you can submit. The application must be 99% complete before we provide the application fee waiver.

Is the GRE required for master’s or certificate applications?

No, we do not require the GRE to be submitted for our master's and certificate applications. If you do have a recent score and would like to include it with your application, you can do so.

If I do have a GRE score, should I include it?

While the GRE is not part of the required materials, if you did take the GRE and received a good/standout score, you could include that in your application to demonstrate additional aptitude.

How do I know if I am eligible to apply?

To be eligible to be considered for our graduate programs, we require you to hold a baccalaureate degree from a US institution of higher education accredited by one of the organizations found on the list below, or international equivalent.

George Mason University only accepts applications for graduate and nondegree programs from colleges and universities that hold the following accreditation:

• MSA - Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education

• NWCCU - Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

• HLC - Higher Learning Commission

• NEASC-CIHE - New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

• SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

• WASC-ACCJC - Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

• WASC-ACSCU - Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

Do you require a specific academic background to be able to apply?

No, our diverse community of graduate students comes from many different backgrounds and many undergraduate majors. Your application should demonstrate that you have sufficient preparation to succeed in the required courses for the degree program.

Do you have a GPA requirement to be able to apply? What is the average GPA of admitted students?

While most students admitted to the Schar School have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, we take a holistic approach to review the application and consider all materials including work experience, elapsed time since your previous degree, recommendations, and personal statement.

How can I strengthen my application? What can I do to stand out?

We consider applications holistically; each of the required materials is carefully reviewed to identify students who would be a good fit for the program. Having well written application materials is the best way to strengthen your application.

Some other options to submit a strong application for you to consider:

• While the GRE is not part of the required materials, if you did take the GRE and received a good/standout score, you could include that in your application to demonstrate additional aptitude.

• You could pursue taking some graduate level classes to demonstrate your academic proficiency.

• Many courses at our school assume a solid foundation in subjects such as economics, statistics, and political science. If you have not taken courses in these subjects, did not perform as well in them as you would have liked, or just need a refresher, we suggest taking them as a nondegree student at the Schar School or at the undergraduate or community college level before applying to our graduate programs. Please be sure to send us your transcript of this coursework.

Gaining relevant/related work experience for the degree or certificate that you are interested in pursuing could also bolster your eligibility for admission!

Have a question that isn't answered on this FAQ page? Contact the Schar School's Office of Graduate Admissions at schargr@gmu.edu - we're here to help!