New Students - What to Bring to Mason
Since Fairfax experiences all aspects of the East Coast climate, you will need clothing for hot summers as well as cold winter weather. If you are from a country that does not have such a wide range of temperatures, you may find it easier to buy seasonal clothing once you are here. Dress for school is usually casual and jeans, skirts, shorts, sweaters, and shirts are acceptable. GMU has a large and active international community, and we encourage you to bring some traditional clothing to wear at cultural events when you wish to share your heritage. It is also a good idea to bring your favorite music, some photos, and books in your language to help you feel at home and to share with your new friends at Mason. On-campus housing does not provide sheets and blankets; however, you can buy them when you get here.
Remember to bring personal documents such as:
- Passport and DS 2019 letter
- Proof of immunizations (you will be required to present these documents)
- Academic transcripts or letters that you may need
- Driver's license
- Medical and dental records, and medicines if necessary
- Eye glass prescriptions (an extra pair is always useful)
- A record of all prior trips to the United States (this will be needed if you plan to work on campus)
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Other things you may want to bring
- For math and history courses you took in your freshman year, you may want to bring your textbook or a copy of the Table of Contents. These may be useful for evaluating your first year courses and transferring credit.
- If you bring a laptop, you may want to bring all of the laptop accessories you need and a printer cable, since these are more expensive in the United States and may not match your computer.