George Mason Welcomes the Class of 2006

As George Mason celebrates its 30th anniversary as an independent university of the commonwealth, it also celebrates the arrival of the largest and the highest-achieving freshman class in the university's history. While the final numbers for the Class of 2006 will not be available until mid-October, as of July 1, more than 2,300 freshmen had declared their intention to enroll at Mason.

The academic quality of the freshman class is rising even faster than our size. Since 1997, the average freshman's SAT score increased by 58 points and the average student's grades have increased from a B-/B to a B/B+.

Escalating national and international student interest is fueling the increase in the school's competitiveness. In just five years, freshman application numbers have grown by more than 60 percent, and initiatives are under way to make sure this expansion continues. Throughout the fall, university representatives will be expanding their recruitment efforts into new areas, such as Florida, Texas, and Toronto, Ontario, while working to attract students from our traditional territories.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions wishes to thank all of the alumni who volunteered their time during the past year and looks forward to working with them again during the coming recruitment cycle. Alumni who wish to volunteer with the Admissions Office should contact Amy Takayama-Perez at (703) 993-2391 or atakayam@gmu.edu.