<p>Freshmen used to only have one dorm complex: President’s Park. However, they have more incoming then housing, so now they have moved them to both the park and the commons area. They’re both pretty crappy and small in my opinion, but they’re lowerclassmen dorms. After your first year, you can move into townhouses, or apartment suites which are much better and nicer. The newer ones even have the option to have your own room, in which you share a common living room, kitchen, and there are 2 bathrooms per apartment. </p>
<p>The Park is just a drunk fest, or at least it has been, it could change. Usually freshmen just get hammered all week/weekend there. Cops are very strict though, so be careful with them.</p>
<p>IT is a separate major. With concentrations in computer security (my conc.), web design & database, and something else. They just received a $10 million grant to build a new building for it too, I believe.</p>
<p>Computer science and Engineering are good from what I know. You can view curriculums, etc through the Mason website at gmu.edu for further information. They have two buildings dedicated to it (Science and Tech 1, and Science and Tech 2). As for Physics, I’m sure it’s tough and good. Most of Mason’s majors are pretty good, some exceptional. They are getting a very big reputation for their academics.</p>
<p>The research building is REALLY nice from the outside, it’s not fully complete however. I think it’s going to be used for engineering (not sure on this one?) and some bio stuff. It’s definitely going to help.</p>
<p>The new dorms I think are being built section by section. The FULL completion won’t be done until 2008 (but Mason tends to take longer). I believe, however, that once a section is complete, they will allow students to reside. Since it’s going up piece by piece, that seems to be their plan. The new housing will also have a dining hall and fitness center within. Should be a very nice ordeal. </p>
<p>There’s lots of clubs, I don’t know too much about them, I just know there’s a lot. There may be something for outdoor stuff. Look into it. I’m sure you can find it through Mason’s website. </p>
<p>My advice as an incoming freshmen:</p>
<p>This isn’t a normal “social life” college.</p>
<p>It’s predominantly made of commuters, but the University is fixing that rapidly with new housing going up just about every 2 years. </p>
<p>If the fraternity thing is your niche, join one, that’s a huge social outlet that is very rewarding, from what friends tell me. I tried it my first semester here, went to the rush events for a fraternity, wasn’t too pleased with that one in particular, and definitely didn’t do much too receive a bid (which I didn’t), I was basically very quiet and not very social with them, mainly because my decision to not join (if accepted) was already made, and I just hung around a couple more times because at that time, they were really the only people I knew, and I wanted to make sure that my assumption was true. Watch out for those types, a lot can be two faced (definitely not all, I know a lot of fraternity members and they are very genuine guys), in which to “rush” you, they’ll be exceptionally nice to you, yet when you give in, show up to rush events, etc … they are totally different. Probably the main reason after the FIRST rush event, even though I showed up a couple more times just to make sure that I wasn’t going by first impression, I basically decided that the particular fraternity I THOUGHT I was interested in, I truly wasn’t. So be aware of that.</p>
<p>The rest is really what you make of it.</p>
<p>We’re not a party school, but there are parties.</p>
<p>They aren’t a walk down the street, however, you do basically have to know the people throwing the parties, or know people going to them and tag along. They are usually pretty fun though. </p>
<p>Anything else I can help you with, let me know.</p>