Out-of-State Families

Welcome to George Mason and the Commonwealth of Virginia. As an out-of-state family, we know it can be difficult to have your student living away from home. However, know that you are not alone in this transition. There are more than 700 out-of-state students in the freshman class and a variety of resources available to make both you and your student feel at home at Mason.

For more information on resources for out-of-state students, visit outofstate.gmu.edu. Families, check out some ways to stay connected (from afar!) to your student and to Mason.

Keep your family in the loop as to what is happening at Mason by making sure they have signed up for the Mason Family Association. Encourage them to sign-up at masonfamily.gmu.edu to receive our weekly e-newsletter, the Mason Family Flash.

Follow us on Facebook by liking George Mason Family Programs to receive daily updates. If you are interested in connecting with other Mason family members on Facebook, join our George Mason Family Association closed group.

Plan a trip back to Mason for Family Weekend, which will be held November 8-10, 2019. Family Weekend is a great time to catch up with your family and have them experience what life is like as a Mason Patriot. Registration will open in the summer.

Encourage your student to invite their siblings, cousins, friends and neighbors ages 6-18 to our eighth annual Sibs & Kids Weekend, which will take place on April 27-28, 2019! Sibs & Kids Weekend is filled with fun, educational and spirited events designed to get siblings excited about college and share in life as a Mason Patriot.

All students love receiving mail – especially out-of-state students that don’t get to see their family as often! Take advantage of our partnership with Campus Survival Kits and send a care package to your student. Each kit includes a hand-picked selection of snacks as well as a hand-written note.

If your student is living on campus, remind them to activate their mailbox in The Hub mailroom, so you can send care packages, letters and little pieces of home to your Mason Patriot. For more information, visit mailservices.gmu.edu. Also, there is a UPS store located on Mason’s Fairfax campus that can help with any shipping needs your family may have.

Mason offers a wide variety of transportation options for students, so we encourage all out-of-state students and families to become familiar with our services. With three major airports in the Metro D.C. area, it is easy for you to travel home! Visit transportation.gmu.edu for more information.

If at any time we can be of assistance to you or your student, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at families@gmu.edu or 703.993.2475.