George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.
Waiver Eligibility
To be eligible for this Access, Belonging, and Community Engagement (ABCE) Graduate Program Application Fee Waiver, you must meet at least one of the criteria below and respond to the short essay prompt located on the next page. Please note: This waiver is not granted due to financial hardship.
- Graduated from a Historically Black College / University (HBCU), Tribal College, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), or Minority Serving Institution (MSI)
- First generation college student
- From a single parent household
- Reside in a rural city or town
- Acceptance to one of the following national fellowship programs (See fellowship list below)
- From a group that is underrepresented in STEM
- Individuals with a disAbility / different ability
- Active Duty or Veteran of the US Armed Forces
- Demonstrated commitment to ABCE efforts
- Experience overcoming extraordinary/remarkable adversity (i.e., more than the average individual)
In addition, you must meet both of the following academic criteria:
- GPA 3.0 or higher
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education
National Fellowships List
- BECAS
- Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship
- Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF)
- Ford Fellowship
- GEM Fellowship
- Graduate Fellowship for STEM Diversity (GFSD) Fellowship
- National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
- QUAD Fellowship
- Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship
- Soros Fellowship
Based on the criteria above, are you eligible to proceed with requesting a waiver?