Recommendations for Students Denied Undergraduate Admission to George Mason University

Admission to George Mason University is a competitive process. We employ a holistic review of applications, which means we look closely at and consider all information provided in the components of the application. While we strive to support your journey to George Mason University, we may be unable to offer admission for various reasons. Therefore, we recommend that you do not submit a second application for the same term or future terms without first strengthening your academic profile.

There are steps you can take to strengthen your academic profile in order to be a competitive applicant for admission to George Mason University for a future term. We offer personalized admission counseling to assist you virtually or in-person on our Fairfax campus. In our admission counseling, we may recommend the following based on your student type and academic goals.

Freshman applicants who have been denied admission to George Mason University should consider enrolling elsewhere to complete college-level coursework, and re-apply for a future term. There are several pathways to Mason that include regular transfer admission or via one of our community college partnership programs. 

Applicants denied transfer admission to George Mason University should:

• Meet with a transfer admission counselor to discuss strategies to strengthen the academic profile
• Repeat courses with grades of “D” or “F” in the program of study or in program pre-requisites. Grades of “A” and “B” provide the greatest increase to the cumulative GPA. 
• Ensure they have completed a transferable English Composition class. 
• Consider academic forgiveness or a revision of records from their prior institution(s).

Academic forgiveness or a revision of records provides a means for classifying certain courses as reprieved or forgiven to exclude them from a student’s grade point average (GPA). Some students may be eligible to request academic forgiveness or a revision of records, also known as academic renewal, from previously attended institutions. Contact the Registrar’s Office at your previously attended institution(s) for more information. 

If you have questions on how to strengthen your application for a future term, you should contact the Office of Admissions for personalized admission counseling. We are available via email at admissions@gmu.edu, or you walk-in to the Office of Admissions during normal business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm ET, located on the second floor of the Johnson Center on the Fairfax campus. Our last drop in must be checked in by 4:30 pm ET for assistance prior to the office closing. Please note if the university is closed for any reason, the Admissions Office will also be closed. 

An admission appeal is a formal request for reconsideration after receiving a denied decision to George Mason University. Applicants may request an appeal if they have new information that was not submitted at the time an admission decision was rendered.

Appeal requests must be submitted by the applicant. Although we recognize that parents, guardians and school counselors will provide important assistance to students going through the appeal process, parents, guardians and counselors are not eligible to request an appeal on behalf of an applicant.

In order to appeal an admission decision, applicants must submit a formal appeal request through the online form located in their decision letter indicating why the applicant believes their original admission decision should be re-evaluated. 

Successful appeal requests present new information or offer clarity regarding information that was not available at the time of the original decision. Applicants are encouraged to submit any new, supporting documentation that may strengthen their request. 

If an applicant intends to submit new transcripts or test scores, the documents should be sent officially through the school or testing agency. All of the information submitted will be reviewed and will become part of the applicant’s undergraduate application record. 

Appeals are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee. Applicants appealing an admission decision must submit their appeal materials at least one week prior to the start of classes. All decisions of the Appeals Committee are final unless there is new information since the time of the initial appeal. Applicants requesting an appeal will be notified of the appeal decision via the email address listed in the admission application. 

Applicants whose appeals were denied may reapply to a future term with new information for review. 

• Complete the online Admissions Decision Appeal Form linked within your decision letter.
• If you are submitting new academic information, you will need to request official transcripts or test scores be sent as soon as possible for review. Electronic transcript requests can be sent to ugtrans@gmu.edu.  

There is a limit of one appeal per application per academic term unless there is new information since the time of the initial appeal.