A Mason dream leads to two degrees and a future in law

Inspired by her parents who immigrated from Mexico in search of a better life for their children, Ashley Alvarado-Lopez is following the path her older sister, Leasley Gonzalez, set by completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree at George Mason University in 2019. Enrolled in Mason’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program (BAM), Alvarado-Lopez completed her BS in Criminology, Law and Society in 2022 and is graduating this December with her MS in Criminal Justice.

What made you choose Mason?

There were a few reasons. It was financially the best decision. I wanted to stay close to home. But also, one of my sisters was in the teaching program at Mason. When I was at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), I remember coming to campus and studying with her. I liked the whole atmosphere, and I thought, “I could totally see myself going to this school.” And I really admired her, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps.

I think that those of us who grew up near Mason forget that this is a dream school for a lot of people. I actually saw a famous TikToker talking about how excited she was that she got into Mason. So I was really excited because a lot of kids dream of coming here.

What’s one accomplishment you’re proud of from your time at Mason?

Most people don’t know this, but I have an auditory processing disorder. It's something that I’ve struggled with my whole life. I didn’t get diagnosed until my senior year of high school, so I spent a lot of my childhood in school feeling really alone and embarrassed. Teachers even told my mom that she shouldn’t invest in college for me because I was doing so poorly. I got really discouraged. But then one day I decided that I wasn’t going to let someone tell me that I wouldn’t be able to get into college.

So I succeeded at both NOVA and Mason without any accommodations, was on the dean’s list all through undergrad, and got into the BAM Program. I even worked full-time to financially support myself.

How did you balance working full time and going to school?

It was definitely challenging. I relied on coffee. But my professors were also incredibly accommodating and understanding of the situation. People like Marc Meyer, one of my professors in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, would always say “wow, I don’t know how you do it.” And that acknowledgment was meaningful.

What are your plans post-graduation?

My dream is to help people in the immigration system, so I’m hoping to go to law school. I work full-time as a paralegal for an immigration law firm, so I’ll take a year off from school to study for the LSAT while I keep working. I really want to come back to Mason and go to the Antonin Scalia Law School.

If you could give a first-year student advice on how to navigate college, what would you say?

Choose a path that you’re passionate about. When I first started and was trying to decide on a major, I was leaning toward choosing something I wasn't passionate about because I felt it was what I should do, instead of what I wanted to do. But I ended up choosing what I’m passionate about—criminology—and I am far happier and interested in my studies because of it.