Additional Online Application Hints for International Applicants

We are excited that you are applying to George Mason University! To make the admission process as efficient as possible, help us by taking the time to review the following common errors or omissions that international applicants frequently make. A complete application will help accelerate the admissions process.

Common Errors with the Admission Application:

• Name and birth date incorrect.

  When submitting an application, students occasionally use nicknames or enter the wrong birth date. Students should use their formal name and correct birth date when submitting an application. Incorrect names or birth dates will create delays or unnecessary hardships. The name and birth date on the application must match what appears in the student's passport when entering the United States.

• Failure to complete the International Student Information Form.

  The International Student Information form provides important information needed to prepare your I-20 document for your student visa. The form must be filled out completely and the addresses must be legible. The projected cost to attend George Mason is approximately $32,497. Applicants need to indicate on the International Student Information Form the source(s) of the funds and the location where they want their I-20 document mailed.

• Bank Statement or Financial support document from wrong individual or out-of-date.

  Individuals (parents, brothers, uncles, etc) listed on the International Student Information Form, as the source of funding for the student, should provide original bank statements. Bank statements should be current, from an individual account and immediately accessible and transferable. Funding sources from landholdings, investment accounts or salary statements are not acceptable. At the point of preparing the I-20, banking statements cannot be older than six months.

• Copy of Passport and VISA not provided.

  Students need to provide a photocopy of their identification page in their passport. International students currently residing in the United States must also provide a photocopy of their US visa and I-94 card from their passport.

• Educational documents or examination not listed.

  Freshmen applicants frequently fail to list all of the educational documents or examinations that they plan to obtain prior to entering the university. All educational documents and examinations should be listed on the application and official copies of the credentials should be provided to the Admissions Office. When official copies are not readily available, photocopies should be provided with an explanation as to when official copies can be provided.

• Transcript Evaluations are not received.

  Students transferring from universities outside of the United States must submit a course–by-course evaluation of their university transcripts by an external evaluation service. An on-line academic evaluation service is available through World Education Services (WES) at www.wes.org.

• Copy of I-20 not provided.

  Students currently in the United States must provide a photocopy of their I-20 document.

• Address in Home Country not provided.

  Applicants must provide their permanent address in their home country.

• English Proficiency not established.

  Students for whom English is not their native language must submit either the TOEFL or IELTS results. Both examinations require advance registration and several weeks to score. It is important to register for either of the examinations early. TOEFL’s on-line registration site is www.toefl.org. IELTS website is www.ielts.org.