Academic Credit

How many credits will I receive for this program?

 

The amount of academic credit that you receive for the program will depend on your home institution. If your college or university is affiliated with The Washington Center, you should consult your liaison. If you do not have a liaison, contact us at info@twc.edu [3].

 

Will credit for this program count toward my major/minor or other on-campus requirements?

 

In some cases, the credit that you receive from attending our program can count towards on-campus requirements, but this will vary from institution to institution. Speak to your campus liaison or email info@twc.edu [3].

 

How am I graded for my participation in this program?

 

Students receive three grades for participating in the program. You would be evaluated by your internship site supervisor, academic course instructor, and TWC program advisor. Recommended grades, along with your professional portfolio, will be sent to your campus liaison. Learn more about grades and evaluations [62]. If you participate in our Postgraduate Professional Development Program, your evaluations would not be sent to your college or university.

 

Do I have to receive credit for the program? I’m only interested in gaining experience.

 

All students participating in our Washington, D.C. Internship Program are required to receive academic credit from their home institutions (with the exception of those participating in our Postgraduate Professional Development Program). Learn more about earning academic credit [63].

 

My institution will not award credit for TWC. Can I still participate?

 

If your institution will not offer any academic credit for The Washington Center experience, you would be required to identify a campus sponsor who can verify that you are unable to receive credit for the program. Contact us at info@twc.edu [3] to inquire about this process.

Internships

What types of internships are available? How does the process of finding an internship work?

 

The Washington Center is able to find internship placements for students across almost all fields, regardless of major and professional interest areas. View some sample internship placements [65].

 

The internship selection process is driven by individual students' interests. Upon being accepted into the program, you would begin working with a staff member on our Internship Management Team. Though The Washington Center is involved throughout the entire process, it is ultimately the student’s decision to accept or decline any internship offer. Please review this information for a detailed description of how the internship placement process works [66].

 

Are internships paid?

 

While some students are offered internships that come with some sort of compensation (a small stipend, Metro fare, etc.), the vast majority of sites working with students in our Washington, D.C. Internship Program provide unpaid positions. The Washington Center is an academic program, so you are welcome to explore the scholarships for which you may qualify [67].

 

Am I allowed to find my own internship?

 

Students are allowed to pursue their own internship opportunities while still participating in the program. If you are interested in doing so, it is important that you speak with your advisor on the Internship Management Team. Your advisor will want to be in touch with the potential supervisor at your chosen internship site in order to ensure that you will be provided with meaningful work, confirm that he or she will be willing to complete your evaluations, and verify that he or she is aware of TWC program components, dates, and any other important details.

 

Do students often receive job offers at their internship sites?

 

During your time with TWC you'd definitely gain experience that you could add to your resume and discuss when applying for jobs or post-graduate study. It is difficult for us to track whether or not students receive job offers following their internships. The majority of TWC participants are returning to their colleges or universities to finish their undergraduate degrees following their time in Washington. Others may find that they would like to adjust their future plans as a result of their semester or summer in Washington and do not pursue full-time employment at their internship sites. We are aware, however, that TWC alumni frequently make use of the relationships that they developed during their semester or summer in D.C. to enhance their job prospects, and many are offered positions directly. TWC definitely encourages networking!

 

What would I do as an intern?

 

The specific tasks for which TWC students are responsible depend heavily on their professional field and the organization for which they're interning. Our goal at The Washington Center is to ensure that students spend most of their time completing substantive assignments that are comparable in nature to the work required of an entry-level professional.

 

What if I don’t like the internship that I accept or something goes wrong with my internship?

 

In the event that an internship placement is not meeting an intern’s expectations or something goes wrong, there are procedures in place that allow The Washington Center to first mediate any problems that arise and then, if necessary, to place the intern with a new organization. TWC is unable to take action if we are unaware of your concerns, so it is important to help us address any issues by speaking to your assigned program advisor.

 

By what date will I confirm my internship placement?

 

There is not a specific date by which students receive their internship placements. The selection process is ongoing and does not end until each student accepts an offer. We'll continue working on your behalf until you have confirmed an internship. Periodically, students may even arrive in D.C. before concluding this process, and in that case you would likely have some interviews in person. We recommend that you stay in touch with your advisor on the Internship Management Team and discuss interviews and offers with him or her.

 

I’m studying abroad the semester/summer before I begin my internship. Will this cause any problems related to the placement process?

 

TWC routinely works with international students attending colleges and universities abroad, so it is absolutely possible to participate in our program directly after returning from studying in another country. You will likely be in contact with your TWC advisor via email and perhaps Skype, due to the challenges of international calling. You should alert any organizations interested in interviewing you to your situation and ask if any prospective supervisors would be willing and able to conduct your interview via Skype if needed.

Program Components

What does this program offer besides an internship?

 

We often describe our program as a comprehensive academic internship experience. Put simply, if accepted, you will be doing much more than interning during your time in Washington, D.C. The program components are as follows: a nearly full-time internship, an academic course, and other programmatic activities, such as guest speakers, panel discussions, tours and site visits, and workshops. You would also compile a professional portfolio of assignments throughout the semester or term. Read more about the activities included in the program [69].

 

Where will I take classes, and who is teaching them?

 

Students take their courses in one of two locations – in classrooms located in the lower level of the Residential and Academic Facility or in the annex building of TWC’s Headquarters. The instructors for these courses are adjunct faculty for TWC. They are most often professors at one of D.C.’s many universities or professionals in the fields associated with the courses being taught. A course guide with faculty biographies is available upon request. Contact info@twc.edu [3].

 

What is the Leadership Forum?

 

The Leadership Forum is a series of events, primarily taking place on Monday afternoons, which is meant to enhance the experience, both professionally and academically, for students during their time in D.C. Read more about the Leadership Forum [70].

 

What assignments would I be required to complete?

 

Students are required to complete two separate sets of assignments. First, you must submit any required assignments for your academic course to your evening course instructor. Then, under the guidance of your program advisor, you will complete a series of assignments, many of which will be included in your final portfolio. Check with your liaison to learn if your college or university requires any additional assignments beyond those collected by TWC (i.e. an independent study project, journal, etc.).

The Application

Does my institution have a campus liaison? If so, who is it?

 

To inquire as to whether your school has a liaison and/or co-liaison, please e-mail us at info@twc.edu [3]. If your school is not affiliated with TWC and there is not a liaison there will be a few additional steps in the process, such as identifying a campus sponsor.

 

What is a campus sponsor? How do I participate if my campus does not have a liaison?

 

At colleges and universities with which we are not affiliated, students participating in TWC programs must identify someone on their campus that can approve their application to The Washington Center and verify that you will be receiving academic credit for your participation in the program. This person is known as a campus sponsor. The appropriate individual varies from campus to campus, but a good person to start with may be your academic advisor, as he or she should be able to point you in the right direction. We are more than happy to speak with someone you've approached to serve as a campus sponsor in order to provide further information about our program or send him or her a course guide, sample syllabi, and even contact information for liaisons at peer institutions.

 

What are the deadlines for the application? What do the different deadlines mean?

 

The Washington Center publishes two deadlines for each semester or term. The first deadline is the “competitive deadline.” Students who apply by this deadline receive priority consideration for The Washington Center’s private financial awards. There is also the “regular deadline,” by which all students applying for any given term should aim to submit their online applications. We are often flexible and accept applications on a case-by-case basis after a given deadline has passed. View the deadlines for the term to which are applying [72].

 

It's always recommended that you apply early if possible, especially for the summer (the term for which internships tend to be most competitive in D.C. generally). Please note that internship sites may have internal deadlines to select interns that fall before those in place at TWC. You can learn more on our early deadline page [73].

 

What is the difference between summer term and summer quarter?

 

Both the summer term and summer quarter are ten weeks in length. The quarter simply begins and ends later than the term. This schedule is designed to accommodate students who attend institutions on different academic calendars. Please review the dates for the upcoming terms here [72].

 

How competitive is the selection process?

 

The Washington Center is committed to providing its D.C. internship experience to as many qualified students as possible. Applicants who are approved by their home institution (if participating prior to graduation), meet basic TWC eligibility requirements [74], and provide a complete application should gain admission to The Washington Center. That said, particular internship sites may be more competitive than others, and the summer is typically more competitive in Washington, D.C. generally (as more students are free to complete a full-time internship experience).

Am I required to pick the program that best corresponds with my major?

 

Students are free to select any program area. The program that you choose does not need to relate to either your internship or your major. However, verify that there is not such a requirement on your campus by speaking with your liaison or sponsor. For your reference, you may view all of the program choices [75].

 

How do I fill out an application?

 

The first step to applying is creating an account in our student portal. This will allow you to fill out the application at your own pace. Be sure to save your information as you go so that nothing is lost when you log out. Before starting an application, be sure to review the information provided [76], so that you know exactly what is required.

 

After submitting the application, when will I hear whether or not I’ve been accepted? How will I be notified?

 

Upon submitting your online application, you will be contacted by one of our staff to inform you of what supporting documents we are waiting to receive from you. Once all of those documents have been received, your application enters review. From that point, you could expect to hear back from us within two weeks via email to inform you of whether or not you have been accepted into the program.

 

How do I know whether or not you have received all of my supporting documents?

 

We are not able to inform every individual when their documents arrive, but we do encourage you to contact us via email at info@twc.edu [3] if you would like to know if we have received your documents.

 

I have forgotten my username and/or password; how do I reset them?

 

Your username is your email address. If you have forgotten your password, you may reset it by following the link for a forgotten password provided on our student portal login page [77].

 

Are recent graduates eligible to apply?

 

Recent graduates who have their most recent degree within the last eighteen months are eligible to apply to our Postgraduate Professional Development Program, for which students are not required to receive academic credit. Read more about this program [75] to find out if it is right for you.

 

Can graduate students apply? What about law students?

 

Graduate and law students are allowed to participate in our programs. However, the program for which you are eligible will depend on whether or not you want and/or are able to receive academic credit. You should speak with someone at your institution to determine whether or not you will be able to receive credit. Please contact us at info@twc.edu [3] for further guidance on this topic.

 

Can first-year students participate?

 

In order to participate, students must have achieved at least sophomore status at their home institutions by the term for which you are applying. Review all of the eligibility requirements [74].

 

Where should I send my official transcript?

 

Your official transcript should be sent to the following address:

 

The Washington Center

ATTN: Enrollment Services

1333 16th St. NW

Washington, DC 20036

 

Can I apply to more than one TWC program at the same time?

 

We do not allow students to apply to multiple programs for the same term. Instead, you should choose which program you would rather attend and devote your time and energy to that application. If you would like to fill out two applications for TWC programs taking place at different times, you may certainly do so.

 

Can I be considered if my GPA is below 2.75?

 

We would consider you if you have a GPA below 2.75, provided that you have approval from your campus liaison and submit three letters of recommendation instead of the standard two. Two of these three letters will need to come from a professor. We would review your full application and ultimately make an admissions decision based upon our assessment of whether or not we believe we can find you an appropriate internship and otherwise set you up for success in our academic program.

Costs & Scholarships

How much does this program cost? Is there financial aid available?

 

The cost of the program really depends on the arrangements that we have with your institution. Our goal is to make the cost of the program, including the program and housing fees, as comparable as possible to the cost of attending your home institution for the same semester or summer term. In some cases, the total cost of TWC may be higher, but you may find that the experience is worth an additional investment. View the base fees for our program [79]. For further guidance, please contact your campus liaison, fill out our Financial Assistance Inquiry Form [80], or email info@twc.edu [3].

 

How much money will I need to bring along?

 

The amount of money required for any given term in Washington, D.C. will vary greatly from student to student depending on one’s lifestyle and habits. We generally suggest students to plan to spend about $150-$175 per week on living expenses, including food, transportation in D.C., entertainment, etc. We also encourage students to take advantage of the fully equipped kitchens in our housing facilities by grocery shopping and cooking for themselves, as this can considerably reduce the cost of living. Luckily, many activities in Washington (including touring the monuments, visiting Smithsonian museums, etc.) are free.

 

How do I apply for Washington Center scholarships?

 

The first step to applying for TWC scholarships is to review the descriptions and eligibility information on our website for each of the awards [67]. When filling out your application, you should then mark interest in all awards for which you are interested in being considered. There is no separate application required for TWC scholarships, but certain awards may require you to send in supporting documents (for example, a copy of your membership certificate for an honors society). If you have any specific questions about our scholarships, please -mail info@twc.edu [3].

 

When will I be notified of whether or not I have been awarded any TWC scholarships?

Students that submit their applications by the competitive deadline of the term for which they are applying will be included in the first round of considerations for financial assistance, which should take place within the month after the competitive deadline. Students submitting their applications between the competitive and regular deadlines will receive notification of financial assistance decisions on a rolling basis depending on how long it takes to receive their supporting documentation. If you have questions about the status of your application as it relates to financial assistance, please e-mail info@twc.edu.

 

 

When does The Washington Center send out invoices? For what fees will I receive an invoice?

 

The Washington Center will send out invoices approximately four to six weeks before the start of any given semester or term. The invoice will reflect the program and housing fees minus any scholarships that were awarded by The Washington Center. Depending on our arrangements with your institution, the invoice will be sent to your institution or directly to you. Please note that you may be required to cover the cost of tuition on campus in addition to TWC fees. Check with your liaison or email info@twc.edu [3] for guidance.

 

What should I do if my financial aid is going to be disbursed after the start of the semester?

 

You will be asked to complete a form known as the “Financial Aid Confirmation Agreement” in coordination with your institution’s financial aid office. Please contact us at info@twc.edu [3] to request this document.

 

Are students reimbursed for Metro fare to travel to their internship site, courses, or events like programming and civic engagement?

 

All students participating in our programs are responsible for all of their own travel expenses to and from Washington, D.C. and also to and from their internship sites and all TWC events while in D.C.

 

Will I receive a 1098-T form if I pay program fees directly to TWC?

 

TWC is not a college or university, and so you would not receive a 1098-T form for any fees paid to participate in our programs. Any 1098-T forms would come directly from your home institution.

Housing & Student Services

If I’m accepted into the program, will housing be provided?

 

Once you are accepted into the program, you are guaranteed a spot in one of our housing facilities, provided that you complete the housing contract and submit the housing deposit on time. Find information on our housing facilities and their amenities [82]. Please direct any housing-related questions to housing@twc.edu [83].

 

I’m using TWC housing, but where exactly will I be living?

 

The Washington Center uses a number of buildings to house our interns and locations may change from term to term. During the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semesters, we have housed students in the RAF at NoMA (owned and operated directly by TWC in D.C.) and the RAF at Solaire (in Silver Spring, MD about 4 stops on the Metro from NoMA). We are likely to add buildings over the summer, as the size of our student body grows during that term.

 

What furnishings and amenities are included in the housing fee?

 

Please review our information regarding what items and amenities are provided [82].

 

Are pets allowed in TWC housing?

 

Pets, aside from those classified as service animals, are not allowed in any of the housing facilities.

 

Is co-ed or family housing available?

 

No. At this time, all apartments are structured for single-sex occupancy. The Washington Center is currently unable to provide family housing options.

 

Can I request a roommate?

 

Yes. You may request a roommate by logging into the Student Portal [77]. Please make sure that your requested roommate also includes your name on his/her form. To promote a welcoming atmosphere, The Washington Center does not place more than two students from the same institution in the same apartment.

 

How many students live in one apartment?

 

All of our facilities feature two bedroom-two bathroom units with two people sharing a bedroom and a bathroom. You can expect to have 3 roommates total. There are a limited number of apartments with single occupancy rooms, for which there is an additional charge.

 

Is D.C. safe?

 

The Washington Center takes student safety very seriously. We recognize that Washington, D.C. is a major metropolitan area, and we encourage students to employ urban common sense when navigating the city. We provide briefings on safety within the TWC orientation period and have a 24-hour emergency phone line available to students.

 

What student life activities are offered?

 

Our Student Life and Career Services staff plans several events for our interns throughout each term. View some of the frequently offered events and activities [84].

 

What is the average commute in D.C.?

 

The average commute in Washington, D.C. is approximately 45 minutes each way. Since the Metro is often the most efficient way to commute, The Washington Center is committed to providing Metro-accessible housing for students. All the properties are within a short walk to one or more Metro stops.

 

Please visit www.wmata.com [85] for more information about the Metro transit system.

 

What factors are considered in assigning housing?

 

There are several factors involved when assigning housing to interns. Our goal is to consider internship placement, roommate preference, term or quarter status, and/or special requests.

 

Can I check into TWC housing early? Late?

 

The Washington Center hosts seminars between each semester/quarter throughout the year. Due to this revolving schedule, early arrival requests cannot be accommodated. Between each program we must clean apartments and have them prepared for students' arrival.

 

If you are to arrive after the scheduled check-in date and time, you must submit a completed Late Arrival Form [86]. We can typically accommodate students who are arriving up to a few days late, but if you have a conflict that prevents you from attending a week or more of a given term, you'll likely want to consider postponing your participation. For specific questions, we encourage you to email info@twc.edu [3].

 

Is parking available at TWC housing?

 

It is recommended that you do not bring your car to Washington, D.C. If you would like to bring a car, you must submit a Parking Reservation Form in the Student Portal [77] prior to your arrival. Parking is limited and therefore not guaranteed. You should also expect that it will involve an additional cost. The Office of Student Life will make every attempt to grant your request.

Pre-Arrival Questions

What are the dates of the program? Are there any scheduled breaks?

 

The dates for each term/quarter are provided on our website [88]. There are not any breaks provided in the schedule. The only exception to this would be national holidays, such as July 4th, on which both The Washington Center and internship sites are closed. Otherwise, students are expected to be in attendance at all TWC events and at their internship sites during the times designated by their supervisor.

 

What do I need to do prior to my arrival in Washington, D.C.?

 

There are a number of actions that you will need to take following your acceptance but prior to your arrival in Washington, D.C., such as registering for your course and submitting a housing contract. For instructions on these procedures, you should pay very close attention to your email, as you will receive email notification when it is time to complete such tasks. You may also want to review this checklist [89] to ensure that you have completed all necessary procedures. And if you unsure about any of this, please contact us at info@twc.edu [3].

 

When can I expect to hear from someone at TWC post-acceptance?

 

Soon after your acceptance, a TWC staff member will contact you to inform you that we have received your application and also make you aware of any missing application materials. You will then be contacted by our Internship Management Team, at which point the placement process will begin. Review this information [66] for insight into how the process will work.

 

How can I contact TWC with questions I have pre-arrival?

 

You may contact The Washington Center with general questions by e-mailing info@twc.edu [3]. This inbox is monitored daily so you should expect a timely response. If your questions pertain specifically to housing, you may instead want to email housing@twc.edu [83].

 

If you would rather speak to someone on the phone, please call 202-238-7900 and you will be connected to the appropriate department.

 

What airport should I select if I’m flying to Washington, D.C.?

 

There are three airports in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area: Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Ronald Reagan International Airport is the most conveniently located, as it is connected to the Metrorail system, while the other two require additional means of transportation into the city.

 

Our website provides more information about getting from the airports to the housing facilities on the day of check-in.

 

What kind of clothing will I need to bring?

 

The clothing that students should bring with them to Washington, D.C. should be a mix between professional attire and casual and comfortable attire. Students are required to wear professional attire to many TWC events and activities and also at most internship sites. However, it also wise to pack comfortable clothing for weekends and exploring the city. Please review this information for tips on what and how to pack for your time in Washington, D.C.