Graduate students choose Mason Engineering for its innovation, resources, and versatility

Deon Franklin grad student orientation

Deon Franklin, a Marine, chose Mason Engineering for graduate school because of its military-friendly environment.

New graduate students did their homework before selecting Mason Engineering for their degree programs. During the 2017 fall orientation, students said they had researched the Volgenau School of Engineering and were impressed with its faculty, laboratories, rankings, and location.

Some say they value the research accomplishments and practical knowledge of the faculty. Others talk about Mason’s high rankings in prestigious national surveys. Still others are grateful that the school has strong relationships with the government, industry, and the intelligence community.

Students chose Mason Engineering because it is:

Innovative. The Volgenau School of Engineering has world-class laboratories in computer science, and it is the fastest-growing school in United States in terms of innovation and research, says Dhruvesh Sheladiya, a master’s student in software engineering.

Snehashis Paul, a master’s student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, specializing in control and robotics, agrees. He was impressed with Mason’s automation laboratory and the fact that some professors have experience in making robotics for bigger companies.

Respected. It is one of the top 100 universities in the United States for computer science according to U.S. News & World Report, says Yash Patel, who is working on a master’s degree in computer science.

Maxine Drake, a master's student, sits on a bench.

Maxine Drake, a captain in the U.S. Army, says she's getting a graduate degree from Mason Engineering because the school has a great operations research program for military officers.

Military-friendly. “I did a lot of research, and Mason is ranked as one of top military-friendly schools in the country,” says Deon Franklin, a former marine and a master’s student in information security and assurance. “It accommodates veterans for the sacrifices they have made or are making.  It offers a diverse range of studies when it comes to information technology.”

It has a great operations research program for military officers, says Maxine Drake, a captain in the U.S. Army who is pursuing a master’s in this area. It’s also a great campus with great resources, she says.

Convenient. “I chose Mason because its location is close to my work, and I wanted to go to school part time,” says Kyu Lee, a master’s student in information security and assurance.

Versatile. The curriculum is versatile and includes all the latest developments in the field, says Hima Bindu Kovur, a master’s student in telecommunications. “I feel very excited that I'm getting to study at Mason under excellent faculty.”

Olivia Collins, a master’s student in data analytics engineering, says she chose Mason because the data analytics engineering MS is one of the only programs of its kind in the country, and she has heard great things about it. 

Well-funded. “I was impressed with Mason’s computer science program, its resources, and the companies that fund those resources,” says Jonathan Anderson, who is working on an MS in computer science.