Category: Mason Family Flash

Whether your student will be heading off to Mason for the first time in the fall or will be returning for a second or third year, talking to him or her about how to prepare for the academic year is important. To help, we have compiled a few questions to help start the conversation about your student’s transition to Mason.

Have you thought about participating in any activities or organizations in the upcoming year?
This question could lead to further discussions of what interests your student holds, what his or her hobbies may be, and how he or she can take advantage of the opportunities in college to further explore those interests. Mason offers a variety of student organizations and student jobs that present unique opportunities for your student to further explore what they are passionate about. Encourage your student to check out Student Involvement’s website for a list of registered student organizations and University Career Service’s Hire Mason for a list of on-campus employment opportunities.

What are you excited about when it comes to your living situation for next year? What concerns do you have?
Whether your student is planning to live on campus or off, living situations in college can be an area of both excitement and anxiety. Mason, however, offers several different housing related resources that promote this excitement and help to calm any anxieties students may be experiencing. If your student will be living on campus, Housing and Residence Life offers many different programs and services designed to encourage students to engage with the university community and to promote Mason’s appreciation for diversity among residents. To learn more about everything that Housing and Residence Life has to offer and to gather more information about move-in day, encourage your student to visit housing.gmu.edu.

For those students who will be living off campus, Off-Campus Student Programs and Services serves as a centralized resource for academic and social engagement opportunities to meet the needs of students living off campus. Mason encourages all off-campus students to join the Off-Campus Council as a way to connect with other students and participate in fun and interactive events designed specifically with them in mind! To see more about the Off-Campus Council and learn more about all of the resources offered by Off-Campus Student Programs and Services, visit offcampus.gmu.edu.

How do you plan to manage your wellness while at college?
College can be stressful and it is important for students to consider their own well-being as they manage this stress. Mason Recreation values the holistic well-being and development of students and encourages the achievement of positive wellness goals, general fitness, social engagement, emotional well-being, and fun. Encourage your student to visit recreation.gmu.edu to learn more about the services Mason Recreation has to offer. Center for the Advancement of Well-Being also offers resources for well-being practices including mediation, positive psychology, and leadership. To learn more about the program and services offered by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, visit wellbeing.gmu.edu. 

What is your transportation plan for the fall?
Mason offers a wide variety of transportation options such as shuttles, carpools, and Zipcars for students. Learn more by visiting transportation.gmu.edu. If your student plans to bring a car to campus, make sure they purchase a parking permit online at parking.gmu.edu. Parking passes for the 2014-2015 academic year will be available beginning August 1, 2014.

It is important that students feel prepared for the upcoming year, or years, ahead. These questions can spark the conversation to stimulate excitement about your student’s time at Mason and prepare him or her for the many opportunities in store!

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services

 

July 1:	Fall 2014 Graduation Application Available
July 2:	Last Day to Add/Drop Classes - Session C (No penalty)
July 3:	Summer Graduation Application Deadline
July 3:	No Session C Classes Scheduled
July 4:	Summer Graduation Application Deadline
July 17:	Last Day of Classes - Session B
July 21-22:	Exam Period - Session B

Brought to you by Apple Federal Credit Union, George Mason University’s official banking partner.

Establishing good credit is a necessary step in the process of becoming financially independent.  Good credit can help your student qualify for loans, land a job and rent an apartment.  Credit also affects interest rates and insurance premiums and can have an impact on many different financial decisions for years to come.  When used properly, credit cards are a great way to help your student begin building good credit. It is important to examine the varies ways both you and your student can use credit cards effectively to build good credit and develop financial independence.  Here are some ways to help your student get started:

Allow your student to be an authorized user on your account.  This is a popular choice for families because they have the option to monitor spending and help their student establish excellent repayment habits.  Plus, if you have good credit, your student’s credit score gets a boost too!

Get your student the right credit card. If you feel your student is responsible and ready, encourage him or her to manage his or her own credit card. Student credit cards (link to: https://www.applefcu.org/CreditCards/Platinum#tab4) are typically a great option for first-time credit card users.  Student credit cards are available for consumers who want to build credit, but lack significant borrowing history.  Encourage your student to look for a card with a wide variety of benefits, but to also focus on a fixed-rate card with no annual fees and reasonable credit limits.

 Use the credit card for occasional, small purchases. When starting out with a credit card, encourage your student to use it for small, recurring charges.  Think of regular expenses, such as groceries, gas or reoccurring subscriptions, like Netflix.   Your student will want to use the credit card for charges that he or she will not have a problem repaying at the end of the month.  Frequent and extravagant shopping trips can send credit card debt out of control faster than you could imagine.

Avoid big-ticket buys, except in case of emergency. Remind your student that having an emergency fund is important.  By keeping credit card charges low, in the event an emergency expense pops up, they’ll still have plenty of their credit line accessible.  If their car tire blows out or their cell phone breaks they can purchase a replacement without exceeding their credit limit.

Pay off the balance each month. Establishing good repayment habits early is key to avoiding future credit card debt.  Encourage your student only use the card for purchases they can afford and pay off at the end of each month.

For many families and students managing money is an overwhelming and intimidating discussion topic.  Discussing financial independence, however, is an important step in assisting your student achieve his or her financial goals.  Ultimately, responsibility is the key to positive credit card management.

Since 1956, Apple Federal Credit Union (FCU) has been committed to helping students. We offer fast, convenient and reliable financial options. We’ll help your student understand the value of saving, earning and borrowing. With Apple FCU, your student will have access to the largest credit union branch network in Northern Virginia, including a branch on the Mason Fairfax campus and ATMs on all campuses.  Plus, access doesn’t end away from campus.  Apple FCU offers access through mobile and online services and access to more than 53,000 surcharge-free* ATMs nationwide.

Emily Fulk
Senior Communications Specialist
Apple Federal Credit Union

 *Other institutions may impose a foreign ATM fee surcharge. Membership eligibility required. Federally insured by NCUA. EOL.

 

MasonDiscounts.com is an online mall created for the George Mason University community by Affinity Stores, Inc. The discount mall provides a unique way for all members of the George Mason community including students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni to save money and contribute to student scholarships at Mason.

The virtual mall offers the best discounts and coupon codes from over 1,200 stores including NFLShop.com, GAP, Kay Jewelers and even Amazon. Every purchase generates donations of up to 10% of the total purchase toward the general scholarship fund at Mason. Organizers hope to raise $50,000 for student scholarships over the course of the year.

Here’s how it works: 

1. Find something you want to buy from an online store
2. Visit MasonDiscounts.com to view all the latest offers from that particular store
3. Click an offer to get the discount, cash back, or both
4. Up to 10% of your purchase is automatically donated to the Mason Scholarship Fund!

Some deals particularly benefit the Mason community by featuring local businesses. For example, a special deal with the Fairfax/George Mason University Papa John’s location may feature substantially lower prices than another Papa John’s location.

Join today and become part of the grass roots movement of conscious commerce enabling consumers to give back without sacrificing price. At MasonDiscounts.com, every purchase makes a difference. Just visit MasonDiscounts.com every time you shop. The site is free and can be accessed by simply registering at MasonDiscounts.com.

 Aileen Northern
Affinity Stores, Inc.