Admissions FAQ

1. I'd like to speak or meet with someone in Admissions; how do I set up a meeting?
2. When and where are classes held?
3. How much does tuition cost per credit hour?
4. Do I have to submit an application if I want to take a class, but am not interested in pursuing a degree?
5. What can I do to strengthen my application?
6. Who should write my recommendation letters?
7. When are the admissions deadlines?
8. Where do I send my application materials?
9. Where do I send my transcripts?
10. How do I apply?
11. If I am not sure what my undergraduate GPA is, what should I enter on the Previous College screen of the online application?
12. I applied online; how should I submit my resume and goals statement?
13. My recommenders deleted or never received their email giving them access to upload their recommendation letter into my online application. How do I send the email prompt to them again?
14. How do I check my application status?
15. When and how will I find out my final admissions decision?
16. My domicile status is incorrect or has changed; how do I change my status?
17. I am an international student and have questions regarding my visa; whom should I contact?
18. Is it possible to defer my offer of admission?
19. I was awarded a scholarship from SPP; where do I see the scholarship posted on my account?
20. Where do I see my enrollment deposit credited?

1. I'd like to speak or meet with someone in Admissions; how do I set up a meeting?
If you would like to set up an appointment, please email SPP Graduate Admissions at spp@gmu.edu. Make sure to include your name and what program you're interested in and someone will get back to you shortly. Please note that meetings are informational only. We do not conduct interviews.
Additionally, you may want to consider attending one of our Open Houses or Information Sessions. At these events, you will have the opportunity to meet with Admissions staff, program faculty, and current students.

2. When and where are classes held?
Most Master's classes are held Mondays - Thursdays in the late afternoon and evening on the Arlington Campus. The Organization Development and Knowledge Management degree is an executive format program and meets selected weekends throughout the year.
The PhD program's core curriculum is currently being offered solely at the Arlington campus, however, as students progress through the stages of the program they may need to travel to Fairfax to take certain elective and methods courses.

3. How much does tuition cost per credit hour?
For the 2011-2012 Academic Year, the in-state tuition is $661/ credit hour and out-of-state is $1,200.25/ credit hour. To find out more about in- and out-of-state tuition, please visit the Domicile Office website.

4. Do I have to submit an application if I want to take a class, but am not interested in pursuing a degree?
Yes, the School of Public Policy requires that all students wishing to take classes apply to SPP. If you are not interested in seeking a degree through SPP, you can apply to take classes through our school as a non-degree student.

5. What can I do to strengthen my application?
Many public policy 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 at the undergraduate level before applying to the School of Public Policy. Please be sure to send us your transcript from this coursework.

6. 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 do not always remain tangible. 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.

7. When are the admissions deadlines?
Please select the appropriate program from the links below.
PhD
Master's and Certificate
Non-Degree

8. Where do I send my application materials?
With the exception of official transcripts (and writing sample for PhD applicants), all supporting documents will be accepted only if uploaded to your online application. Letters of recommendation should be submitted through the online option as well. If recommenders are unable to submit their letters online, please have them sent via email to spp@gmu.edu.

9. Where do I send my transcripts?
Most application documents should be submitted via the online application. However, most transcripts cannot be submitted electronically and must be mailed to our office. When mailing your transcripts, please have the university or college send your transcripts to us directly or if you have them sent to you, keep the transcripts in their original sealed envelopes. If transcripts arrive not sealed in the original envelopes, they are not considered official and cannot be used to complete your application. Send all transcripts to:

School of Public Policy - Graduate Admissions
3351 Fairfax Dr., MS 3B1
Arlington, VA 22201

10. How do I apply?
The fastest and most efficient way to apply is online. In order to help you get started with the application process, please follow these steps:

First, double check to make sure you do not already have an account with George Mason University:
Click on the "Forgot your Username or Password?" link on the right side of the application page, fill in your email address in the form that pops up, and click the "search" button. If you have an account already, your user name and password will be emailed to you immediately. Please use this email to login and begin your application.

If we were not able to locate your username after you completed the first step (above):
Click on the "Create Account" button on the right to begin your application.

You can submit an online application by going to the following web address: http://admissions.gmu.edu/grad/applynow/

11. 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 official transcripts, we will enter your GPA information into the application.

12. I applied online; how should I submit my resume and goals statement?
Your resume and goals statement should be uploaded directly into the online application. Only if you have technical trouble with uploading your documents should you email them to us at spp@gmu.edu.

If you must email these documents, please be sure to put your full name, birth date or G number (if known) as a header at the top of each page.

13. My recommenders deleted or never received their email giving them access to upload their recommendation letter into my online application. How do I send the email prompt to them again?
If you have chosen to use the online application and would like to send your recommenders a reminder email to upload their letter, please complete the steps below:

• Log back into the online application.
• Select the blue link for the application you submitted.
• On the left side of the screen, select the link near the bottom for "Recommendations."
• In the Recommendation section, click the button for "Recommendation Provider List."
• Select the box to the left of the recommender to whom you would like to send a reminder email.
• At the bottom of the box for "Recommendation Provider" information, click the "resend" button.

14. How do I check my application status?Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email that will contain a website address to the Mason Graduate Community of Scholars as well as your specific username and password. You will be able to log into the Community of Scholars website to view updated information related to your application.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that all application materials are received by the School of Public Policy Graduate Admissions Office.

15. When and how will I find out my final admissions decision?
Applicants to our Master's and Certificate programs will be notified of their admission decision via mail approximately 6 weeks after the application has become complete, meaning that SPP has received all application materials. Due to the fact that decisions are given only by mail, please make certain that the mailing address you provide in your application is correct.

PhD admission decisions are usually sent out in April for fall applicants.

16. My domicile status is incorrect or has changed; how do I change my status?
Please visit the George Mason University Domicile Office website for instructions on how to change your domicile status with the university.

17. I am an international student and have questions regarding my visa; whom should I contact?
The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) can assist international students with visa information, as well as other issues relevant to international students. This office also provides support for international students once they arrive at GMU.

18. Is it possible to defer my offer of admission?
Students who are accepted to the School of Public Policy are permitted to defer their admission for one semester only. Deferral requests must be received in writing to spp@gmu.edu or to:

School of Public Policy - Graduate Admissions
3351 Fairfax Dr., MS 3B1
Arlington, VA 22201

Please note that those admitted to our ODKM or PhD programs do not have a deferral option due to the fact that we only offer admission once per year.

19. I was awarded a scholarship from SPP; where do I see the scholarship posted on my account?
Scholarships are posted on the bill sent to you from Student Accounts. If paying via Patriot Web, you will need to subtract your scholarship from the amount shown.
To view scholarship information on Patriot Web:

• Once logged in, click on FINANCIAL AID, then AWARD.
• Click on AWARD AMOUNT BY TERM. Please note that only the
  current term's award will be shown, even if an award has been granted for a future term.
  20. Where do I see my enrollment deposit credited?
  Your $200 non-refundable deposit (submitted with the Enrollment Confirmation Form) will be credited towards your first semester tuition costs. You can view this credit on Patriot Web and on the tuition bill sent to you from Student Accounts.