Transfer Students

Patriot Pass is your online credential that allows you to access a variety of Mason online systems, such as Patriot Web (course registration, tuition bill, etc) and Blackboard (a web-based learning management system that allows faculty to add resources for students).

Patriot Pass uses your NetID (also called your username) which is your personal online identifier. Your NetID is the portion of your Mason e-mail address in front of the @ symbol. For example, the Mason NetID for jdoe@masonlive.gmu.edu would be jdoe. Your Mason NetID is not the same as your G Number. Your NetID along with a password that you create makes up your Patriot Pass credentials.

To sign up for Patriot Pass, change your password, get a new password, or get more information, go to:

1. http://strongpassword.gmu.edu
2. Click on “I’m new to Patriot Pass
3. Enter your G Number and PIN/Claim Code**

** Your default claim code is your 6-digit birthdate in the format of mmddyy (month month day day year year).

To activate your Mason email account, go to:

1. https://password.gmu.edu/
2. Click on the link in step 5

Note: you need to activate your Patriot Pass before you can activate your Mason email account.

If you experience any trouble activating your Patriot Pass or Mason Account, please call the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or email support@gmu.edu.

All new undergraduate students in F-1 status are required to attend the on-campus orientation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Fairfax campus. All new F-1 freshmen students can register for virtual orientation by completing this online form. More information will be provided to you later in the summer.  

During the Summer, new transfer students will receive another e-mail from the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) with information about a MANDATORY Immigration and Compliance Meeting that we will provide to incoming students. This live virtual presentation is slated to be on Monday, August 12, 2024, for F-1 undergraduate students.  

Questions about orientation? Email OIPS at oipsprog@gmu.edu 

Patriot Preview is an online pre-orientation experience.  This system is tailored to you as a Mason student, and includes a variety of key pieces of information to help you navigate your transition to Mason. Participation is open to all new Mason undergraduates, and we ask that you complete the experience prior to attending orientation.  

You can access Patriot Preview at any time online from your computer, tablet, or smart phone.  You also can complete it in sections or all at once.  The system will remember where you left off the next time you log in.  The experience includes videos, text information, and opportunities to learn more about a variety of topics.  As information is customized to your student profile, including major and special programs, you will need your G number in order to access the system. 

To get started, visit  patriotpreview.gmu.edu and set up a login using your G number and personally generated password. 

All incoming international students in F-1 status are required to check in with OIPS upon arrival in the US.  You can check-in online and the process takes less than 30 minutes.  

• Incoming international transfer students (transferring from another institution in the US) AND current Mason students who will pursue another degree can check in online starting Monday, July 1st, 2024;
• All other newly incoming international students can check in online starting  Saturday, July 20th, 2024.

IMPORTANT: Online international student check-in is mandatory!  Not doing so could cause problems with a variety of administrative requirements. The check-in due date is Wednesday, September 4th, 2024.

  If you fail to check in by this date, please email oipsregs@gmu.edu for further guidance.     

If you experience any problems with your online check-in, please complete the New International Student Check-in Troubleshooting form.  An OIPS staff member will contact you within 1-2 business days.  Click here to access the  New International Student Check-in Troubleshooting form.  

To get started, go to: https://oips.gmu.edu/international-student-check-in-form/ 

Your transfer credits evaluation is displayed on Patriot Web:

• Step 1: Go to http://patriotweb.gmu.edu
• Step 2: Enter your NetID and password
• Step 3: Click on "Student Services"
• Step 4: Click on "Student Records"
• Step 5: Click on "View your Unofficial Transcript"
• Step 6: Click on "Display Transfer Credit Evaluation"

You’ll then see the Transfer Equivalency Worksheet. The left side lists courses transferred from other institutions. The right side lists what the courses have become after being transferred to Mason. (Source: Transfer Credits). 

If there are any credits missing on your Transfer Equivalency Worksheet, please submit a Transfer Credit Inquiry Form.

Important:

• All transfer students are responsible for providing final transcripts to the Office of Admissions before enrollment.
• Your transfer credit evaluation and degree audit should be reviewed with your academic advisor before the end of your first semester at Mason. Transfer credit evaluations are considered final upon completion of the first academic year of enrollment at George Mason University. No changes will be made to evaluations after this time.
• George Mason University will accept a maximum of 90 total transfer credits. No more than 75 credits may be transferred from a community college. The Office of Admissions is responsible for the evaluation and award of all undergraduate transfer credits.
• Each college-level course must be graded with a "C" or better to be considered for transfer.
• Evaluations will be available to new transfers approximately one week prior to their scheduled orientation.
• Evaluations will be available only to students who have paid their enrollment deposit.

(Source: Website of the Office of Admissions)

All Mason students born after December 31, 1956, must provide proof of compliance with immunization requirements mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and George Mason University.  

All students must fill out the Immunization Record Form and submit it to the Student Health Immunization Office by Thursday, August 1, 2024.  Students are encouraged to complete the five immunization requirements BEFORE they travel to the US. Students must submit a completed GMU Immunization Form signed by a health care provider. Students may upload the form to the patient portal along with any blood test reports and/or chest x-ray reports.  

The five requirements are listed below:
1. Hepatitis B (shots or blood test report)
2. Measles, Mumps & Rubella (shots or blood test report)
3. Meningococcal (shot)
4. Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (shot)
5. Tuberculosis (skin test or Quantiferon blood test report) **If your home country is listed on p. 2 of the Immunization Record Form AND you have not lived in the US for the past five years, TB testing is required.  

Students can complete the five immunization requirements upon arrival at Mason, however, wait times for immunization appointments can be long. To learn more about the immunization requirements, and proof of immunization, or to print the Immunization form go to the Student Health Website.  

The deadline to submit the Immunization Record Form and supporting documents (labs and chest x-ray reports if completed) is Thursday, August 1, 2024. We recommend you upload your completed form to the patient portal for review.   

For location and office hours, visit the Immunizations website.  

NOTE: Some students submit the Immunization Record form and supporting documents online to the patient portal and other students prefer to drop off their documents in person upon arrival at Mason. Once you have completed all the requirements, you will receive a secure message from the patient portal. The message will state if your records are complete or if more information is needed. 

• Transfer students are discouraged from registering for classes UNTIL they have contacted their Academic Advisor. 
• While completing your registration for Orientation, you will select 2 important dates. One is for your virtual advising and registration session to select your classes. You are expected to attend this session to get registered for your classes and make sure you are set on the correct academic path for your major.   
• If you wish to get advising for your academic path prior to your virtual advising & registration session, virtual pre-orientation academic advising is available throughout June, July, and August for the major of your academic College/School. To confirm which College/School you are in, reference the full list of . You will then need to reach out to the advisor directly to make an appointment, otherwise, you can come to your chosen virtual session.   majors at Mason. You will then need to reach out to the advisor directly to make an appointment, otherwise, you can come to your chosen virtual session.    
• Placement Exams  – These are major-specific. Review information on how to complete a test at the math placement and foreign language placement websites. Placement testing can be completed virtually or on-campus in-person in advance of your Advising & Registration date. In-person math placement tests are encouraged, and are available daily as walk-in only. Limited virtual math placement test sessions will be available using this navigate link. Be sure to review the major-specific information to determine if you need a test or not for your course registration requirements.

Prior to orientation/course registration, we recommend you review the following information: 

1. Review the Course Registration Guide

• The Course Registration Guide explains how to register and drop classes in Patriot Web (link: http://registrar.gmu.edu/topics/registration-guide/) 
• You will log in to Patriot Web (link: http://patriotweb.gmu.edu) in order to register for classes 
• International transfer students are strongly encouraged to register for "UNIV 300," a 1-credit class to help you transition to Mason and support their success as transfer students. 

2. Review the rule "Full-Time Enrollment Requirement"

• Immigration regulations require international students in F-1 status to take a full course of study in the Fall and Spring.  Undergraduate students MUST register for a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall and Spring. 
• Immigration regulations limit the number of online courses international students in F-1 status can count towards their full-time enrollment (the full-time enrollment requirement for undergraduate students is 12 credits).  International students may count only one course or three credits of online coursework towards the full-time requirement.  However, if an international student is taking more than the minimum required credits, she/he may take additional credits online.  Online courses are marked as "distance education" in the Course Catalog and the venue of the course is marked as "Online/Internet NET" or "TBA." Please note that online courses are different from hybrid courses.   In a hybrid course, the professor and students will meet both on campus and online.  International students can take as many hybrid courses as they wish. 

3.  Download the app Blackboard App for Students on your smartphone

• Blackboard App for Students is is a free mobile and tablet-optimized app for iOS, Android, and Microsoft. This app gives Mason students access to their Blackboard course content on a variety of mobile devices. The first release of the Blackboard App includes the ability to access courses, view the course content, take tests, participate in discussions, and join Collaborate sessions. 
• Link: https://its.gmu.edu/knowledge-base/how-to-install-the-blackboard-mobile-learn-app/ 

If you decide to defer your admission, you must withdraw from courses during the drop/add period  (Final day Fall 2024: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, for a 50% refund).  

If you fail to drop your classes, you are responsible for any fees incurred. In addition, contact the Student Health Insurance Office at insure@gmu.edu to cancel your health insurance.  If you fail to do so, you are responsible for any fees incurred (including late fees). 

1. Review your tuition, health insurance, and fees bill online:

• Go to Patriot Web 
• Click on “Student Services” 
• Select “Student Accounts” 

2. Review payment options:

• George Mason University offers a variety of payment options (online, cash, check, credit card, and payment installment plans).  To learn more about the payment methods, visit http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/payment-information/ 
• George Mason has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our international students. Flywire allows students to pay from any country and any bank. They also offer excellent foreign exchange rates, allowing you to pay in your home currency (in most cases) and save a significant amount of money, compared to traditional banks. You will be able to track the progress of your payment throughout the transfer process via a student dashboard and you will also be notified via email when your payment is received by Mason. If you need to make an international payment, please visit Flywire. 

3. Pay your tuition, health insurance, and fees by the deadline:

• The tuition deadline is  Monday, August 26, 2024.   
• You do not need to wait to pay your bill until  Monday, August 26, 2024. You can pay in advance.  In case you paid too much, you can request a refund.  For more information, review the  FAQs.  

After you have checked in with the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS), you will receive an email message from the OIPS front desk (oips@gmu.edu) with a request to pick up your new “Continued Attendance I-20” in SUB I, room 4300.  This is your final I-20 and completes the check-in process.