George Mason Supplemental Essay
College essays play an important role in the admissions process, just as they do at George Mason University. While the George Mason supplemental essay is technically optional, we highly recommend students take the time to write a thoughtful response. Naturally, students with strong responses to the George Mason University essay prompts have a better chance of standing out among a large pool of candidates.
GMU is the largest public university in Virginia. The campus is diverse and students from every state and 130 countries make up the student body. While the acceptance rate is relatively high, applicants will still want to put their best work forward when applying. And, with just one general George Mason essay prompt, applicants have one chance to make it count.
Without various George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, students will need to carefully choose how to write the George Mason supplemental essay. To write any successful college essay, you need to do some research on the school and its unique qualities.
So, before we jump into writing the George Mason supplemental essay, let’s check out some GMU quick facts.
George Mason Admissions: Quick Facts
George Mason University Quick Facts
- George Mason Acceptance Rate: 87%
- George Mason Essay Requirements:
- 1 (~400 word) essay – This essay is optional for students who submit standardized test scores. However, this essay is required for students applying as score-optional.
- 1 (~500 word) essay for Honors College applicants
- George Mason Application: Students may submit their application via the Common App or the Mason Exclusive Online Application. Make sure you have met all of the application requirements prior to applying.
- George Mason Application Deadlines:
- Early Action: November 1
- Regular Decision: February 1
- George Mason Essay Tip: There aren’t multiple George Mason University essay prompts. So, this “optional” George Mason supplemental essay is your only opportunity to share who you are and why you belong at GMU. Even if you are submitting test scores, GMU strongly recommends all applicants submit a George Mason supplemental essay.
Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.
Does George Mason require supplemental essays?
Technically, there are no required George Mason supplemental essays. However, there is one optional, school-specific essay. GMU admissions refers to it as “an optional, but strongly encouraged personal statement.” If you want to submit the strongest application possible, you’ll want to consider the George Mason supplemental essay a principal feature of your application.
While your other application requirements are important, none allow you to communicate who you are in your own words. The George Mason essay allows you to share your unique personality, writing style, and motivations for attending GMU.
Now, you may be thinking that without multiple George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, the GMU application will be simple. On the contrary, you’ll still want to give yourself a head start on the George Mason essay. And, if you’re planning to apply to GMU’s Honors College, you’ll have a couple more George Mason University essay prompts to contend with. So, don’t put off starting your GMU essays.
How many essays does George Mason require?
There is one “optional” George Mason supplemental essay. We’ve put optional in quotes because this George Mason essay is required for students who do not submit test-scores. (GMU is test-optional, so students are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores to apply). Either way, we encourage students to write the George Mason essay, whether they are submitting standardized test scores or not.
Applicants to GMU’s Honors College are required to complete one additional essay. For this Honors College essay, students are given two George Mason essay prompts to choose from. That means Honors College applicants should plan on writing two George Mason supplemental essays total.
George Mason does not require students to submit their Common App personal statement essay. However, it’s likely you’ve already written one for other schools on your list. Depending on your grades, recommendations, and extracurriculars, submitting a well-written personal statement can further strengthen your application. If you feel like your application narrative would benefit from your Common App essay, don’t hesitate to submit it.
What are the George Mason supplemental essay prompts?
Now, you’re probably wondering: what are the George Mason University essay prompts? Let’s start with the “optional” essay. This George Mason supplemental essay is considered a “Why School” essay. You’ve likely seen various versions of this prompt when applying to other colleges and universities.
Below is the “optional” George Mason supplemental essay prompt:
George Mason Supplemental Essay Prompt
What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you?
GMU recommends applicants use this George Mason essay to “tell us about yourself and your experiences that have led to this decision.” We’ll get some tips on how to do so shortly.
Up next are the prompts for GMU’s Honors College:
GMU Honors College Supplemental Essay Prompts
1. George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. As a Tier-1 research institution, every day, our faculty, staff, and students work to address unanswered questions, unresolved challenges, and problems that impact a wide variety of populations. In the Honors College, you’ll have opportunities to do this sort of work — and maybe even answer questions and solve problems that matter to you. Tell us about one question, challenge, or problem that you’d like to work to better understand or address during your time at George Mason. Introduce this issue, and then explain why it matters to you and why it might matter to others. Feel free to be creative- research and inquiry can exist in unlikely places.
2. The art we see, the stories we read, and the words we hear have the power to move us and to change us. Tell us about a time that you’ve been moved to act by something you read, a speech you heard, or a work of art that you experienced. What was it, and how did it impact you? What did you do — or what will you do — in response?
Remember, you only have to write this supplemental essay if you want to get into GMU’s Honors College, and you only have to respond to one of the prompts.
Now, let’s go over how to respond to the George Mason essay prompts in more detail.
George Mason Essay Prompts: Why GMU Essay
The George Mason supplemental essay asks applicants to answer a complex question for many: why do you want to go to college? Many students may consider college to be the obvious next step, not even questioning it. However, for others, and many first-generation students, the opportunity to go to college could be at the forefront of their minds. No matter which group you fall into, you’ll need to unravel the question and figure out your motivation behind attending a higher education institution.
Here’s the Why George Mason essay prompt one more time:
What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you?
Successful responses to the George Mason essay prompts will be specific and personal. Take some time to brainstorm each question of the George Mason supplemental essay prompt. When doing so, consider personal anecdotes, experiences, or values that have led you to seek out higher education. The best responses to the GMU essay prompts are meaningful, so allow yourself to dig deep when considering your essay theme.
The second part of the prompt is a standard Why School essay. Here, successful responses to the GMU essay prompts will show that you’ve done your research on specific offerings at GMU. Take some time to look through the website and course offerings. Learn about the campus culture and student organizations. Additionally, take a look at the university’s mission and values. Mention the aspect of the university that most calls your attention. And, most importantly, explain why it’s important to you.
In your 400 word response, you’ll also need to demonstrate why you’d be a great addition to the GMU community. This can be done through the anecdote you share, a value you hold, or an academic interest or curiosity you’ve explored. Be intentional with each word you use in this essay, and make sure that you’ve responded to each part of the George Mason essay prompt.
George Mason Essay Prompts: Honors College Essay
If you aren’t planning to apply to GMU’s Honors College, feel free to skip this section. George Mason’s Honors College is open to all majors, giving GMU students across disciplines the opportunity to join this tight-knit group of scholars. Students live in the Honors College Residential Learning Community, work with an Honors College advisor, and gain access to a unique honors curriculum.
To get into the Honors College, students must respond to one of two George Mason essay prompts.
Prompt 1: Tell us about one question, challenge, or problem that you’d like to work to better understand or address during your time at George Mason. Introduce this issue, and then explain why it matters to you and why it might matter to others. Feel free to be creative- research and inquiry can exist in unlikely places.
This prompt is great for students who feel strongly about a particular social issue, academic question, or challenge facing people today. Essentially, it’s probing your curiosity. What’s something that you want to know more about?
If you’ve already done a research project in high school, you can use this prompt to expand on that interest and imagine how you’ll continue exploring it at GMU. On the other hand, maybe you’re not sure you want to do formal research in college. That’s okay! The prompt isn’t asking you to get technical about how you’ll further explore this issue or topic. Instead, it’s asking why this particular topic is worth exploring, to you and to others.
Prompt 2: Tell us about a time that you’ve been moved to act by something you read, a speech you heard, or a work of art that you experienced. What was it, and how did it impact you? What did you do — or what will you do — in response?
This prompt has a more narrow focus. The key phrase is “moved to act.” For example, many of us feel moved when we watch movies, read books, or experience other forms of art. Those experiences can be meaningful, but they don’t always lead to action.
Now, imagine you read a book about climate change that inspired you to start your school’s first Green Club. That’s a perfect topic for this essay — it fully addresses the prompt. From there, you can tell the story of what you did, what you learned from it, and how you’ll keep taking action in the future.
With 500 words, you have plenty of space to work with for either prompt. Just make sure you don’t spend too long discussing your issue or work to the point that you run out of room to discuss your point of view.
Is George Mason hard to get into?
Generally speaking, George Mason University is rather accessible to most students when it comes to gaining admission. The GMU acceptance rate is 87%, which is among the highest admissions rates in the nation.
GMU boasts an inclusive environment. In fact, referencing their high acceptance rate, GMU admissions states, “We proudly accept almost 90 percent of applicants because we prefer inclusivity over exclusivity.” This stance may be refreshing to many high school students, as prestige certainly isn’t the most important aspect of a school when it comes to finding your perfect fit.
You may feel like this takes the pressure off of responses to the George Mason essay prompts. However, just because the university has a high acceptance rate doesn’t mean you should slack when it comes to your George Mason supplemental essay! Students applying to GMU will be evaluated holistically, meaning that admissions officers are carefully looking at each of the George Mason application requirements, including your supplemental essays. Your essays can also make a big difference when it comes to scholarships and financial aid.
If you’re applying to George Mason, writing an impressive essay should be part of your “how to get into George Mason University” strategy. However, if you’re not sure yet, visit campus or take a virtual tour. If you visit early and fall in love with the feeling of the campus, it might even be something to reference in your George Mason essay!
Does George Mason care about essays?
Since the George Mason University essay prompts are optional, you may be thinking: do George Mason University admissions officers even care about my essay? The simple answer is yes! George Mason University admissions carefully considers every part of an application. The George Mason supplemental essay is a wonderful opportunity to share more of yourself with admissions officers. Use the George Mason University essay prompts as opportunities to share your experiences, values, personality, and writing style with admissions.
Well-written responses to the George Mason essay prompts will bolster your application. Additionally, the research and reflection you do while writing your George Mason supplemental essay will allow you deeper insight into your motivations and future career goals. Don’t minimize the power of reflecting on the important questions that George Mason essay prompts ask students. Learning more about yourself and your educational motivations is a wonderful side effect of writing meaningful responses to the George Mason University essay prompts.
How do I make my George Mason essays stand out?
Now that you know admissions values the responses to the GMU essay prompts in their evaluation process, let’s look at how you can write your best George Mason essay. Here are three tips for writing a strong George Mason supplemental essay:
Get personal
Generic responses to George Mason essay prompts — or any college essay prompts — will always fall flat. Take this opportunity to truly reflect on the questions you’re asked. Brainstorm your most meaningful experiences. Then relate them to your motivations. Your George Mason supplemental essay should be unique to you!
Be specific
Along the same lines, be sure to get specific when responding to the GMU essay prompts. Particularly when it comes to the Why School essay. Mention specific offerings unique to George Mason. This will require you to do some research on the school. Write about the aspect(s) that have most inspired you to apply.
Start early!
Even though there aren’t tons of George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, that doesn’t mean you should leave your application to the last minute. Allow yourself the proper time to reflect, brainstorm, draft, edit, receive feedback, and draft again!
More college essay resources from CollegeAdvisor
There are many facets to the college application process. Starting early and staying organized is the best way to maximize success and minimize stress.
Whether responding to the GMU essay prompts, or other college essay prompts, choosing the topic can be the most challenging part of the process. Check out these 8 College Essay Topics to help kick-start your brainstorming process.
Another way to find inspiration for your own essays is by reading other college essays that worked. If you’re not sure how to tackle your George Mason essay, read through our Why this College Essay Samples.
CollegeAdvisor has a variety of free resources for every step of your college journey. In addition to a library full of free resources, CollegeAdvisor has admission experts to help you along the way with personalized guidance. Reach out if you’re feeling overwhelmed!
George Mason Supplemental Essay – Final Tips
Remember that the George Mason supplemental essay is essentially a Why School essay. Therefore, when planning responses to the George Mason essay prompts, reflect on your reasons for applying to GMU. Then do some research on specific programs and offerings only found at GMU.
Writing a successful George Mason essay will only add to your application narrative. So, even though it’s technically optional, give your George Mason University supplemental essay the attention it deserves.
Here are some final tips to keep in mind when writing your George Mason supplemental essay:
Reflect on your experiences
The George Mason supplemental essay prompt asks students a big question: why do you want to go to college? While it may seem like an obvious question, it may be the first time you’ve been asked it. Consider your personal and academic experiences carefully before responding. What experience(s) have led you to seek higher education?
Make it meaningful
Your George Mason supplemental essay should be impactful. Therefore, your topic doesn’t necessarily matter (as long as you answer the prompt fully). What matters most is that you’re writing about something that is meaningful to you and has impacted you greatly. Successful college essays are passionate — however, passion can’t be faked. So take this opportunity to get real with yourself, and put it on paper!
Grammar and mechanics matter
You certainly don’t want your essay to stand out in the wrong way. Nothing irks admissions officers more than reading responses to the GMU essay prompts that are full of grammatical and spelling errors. Therefore, make sure you edit your essay! Get another pair of eyes to read over your George Mason supplemental essay to ensure that it has no mechanical errors.
Use this guide to round out your “how to get into George Mason University” plan and impress George Mason University admissions with your essay. And, remember that you’re not alone when it comes to the college journey. Get guidance from counselors, parents, classmates, and admissions experts to help you along the way!
This essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
