USA Washington, D.C. Programs
Spring 2025

When French city planner Pierre-Charles L’Enfant first decided to put the nation’s capitol building atop Jenkins Hill in 1790, he forever centralized the city around its national political institutions. The “Hill,” as it is now known, with its fierce local politics, classical architecture, and cherry  blossoms, in many ways still feels like a small Southern town. Yet for over two hundred years it has been the place where states unite into a nation and where a nation decides its role in world affairs.

As an intern, you will have the opportunity to become a political insider and explore a variety of interests in such offices as departments of the United States government and national lobbying organizations. Working for lawmakers and witnessing firsthand the daily debates, rulings, and compromises of the democratic system, you will explore potential careers and learn about decisions that shape a nation.

Washington, D.C. is like no other city you will ever visit. Take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you and create a few of your own to make the most of your Washington experience.

Further information can be found in the following resources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.
• https://www.triphacksdc.com/ultimate-washington-dc-travel-guide/ 
• https://practicalwanderlust.com/washington-dc-locals-travel-guide/ 

In addition to the Washington Post and the Washington Times, the District’s two major newspapers, you will also find most U.S. newspapers. Each week, the free City Paper has a listing of weekend activities, a helpful resource in planning your free time. The Friday edition of the Post has a special weekend section listing things to do in D.C.. The D.C. Office subscribes to an array of national and D.C. and Capitol Hill newspapers and students are encouraged to read these at the office.

HELPFUL WEBSITES
• Complete Online Guide to D.C. www.thedistrict.com
• The Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com
• Washington City Paper www.washingtoncitypaper.com
• Washingtonian Online (Arts, Food, Culture, etc.) www.washingtonian.com

Helpful Instagram Follows

• Best Address (history) @bestaddress/ 
• Austin Graff (neighborhoods) @austinkgraff 
• Eat the Capital (food) @eatthecapital 

The Washington, D.C. programs do not have a dining center or a meal plan.  Students prepare their own meals in their apartment where the kitchen is fully stocked with the necessary cooking and dining utensils.

DINING IN
With budget and time constraints, most students tend to eat-in and shop at local grocery stores

DINING OUT

Washington offers an array of restaurants to suit any budget, from inexpensive fast-food restaurants to moderately-priced ethnic restaurants and pricey bistro dining. D.C. has a nationally recognized food scene with Chef Jose Andres doing more than anyone to build this reputation. His epicurean empire includes a number of highly rated restaurants just steps from the Meridian apartment buildings, including Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Jaleo, China Chilcano, and Zaytinya. The Meridian is situated in D.C.’s Chinatown and so excellent Asian cuisine is also easy to find from Daikaya and Rasika, to Reran Ramen and Chinatown Express. Little Ethiopia is also close by with a host of excellent restaurants offering the best Ethiopian food outside of Africa, while the D.C. classics of a halfsmoke or wings with Mambo sauce are ubiquitous. For those seeking a truly upmarket experience, the D.C. area is home to 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, with the 3-starred Inn at Little Washington being the jewel in the crown.

WHAT IS THE HOUSING LIKE?
Students are housed in the Meridian at Gallery Place luxury apartment complex. Students will live in doubles in two-bedroom apartments (i.e. there will be 4 students per apartment).

Linens:

Bed linens are NOT provided. You will need to bring your own sheets for extra-long twin beds, as well as pillows, comforters, blankets, and towels.

Kitchens in the student housing are fully equipped with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, and enough dishes, pots, pans, and utensils for basic cooking. The list of cooking supplies provided is extensive.

ROOM ASSIGNMENTS
Your room assignment is determined based on the information students provided in their housing questionnaires. You will receive your apartment and roommate assignment by e-mail within two weeks of the start of the program.

Room Condition

You will have one week from move-in to report any damage or broken furnishings in the apartment so make sure you do a thorough inspection so you are not charged for damage that you did not cause at the end of the semester. More details will be included in the student handbook but you are expected to keep the apartments in good condition and will be liable for any damage caused beyond general wear and tear.

GENERAL HOUSING RULES
You will receive detailed information on housing rules and regulations during orientation. Be mindful of the following:

• Students in the Boston University Washington Program are subject to the policies, procedures, and codes of conduct in place at Boston University, as well as any local ordinances or laws.
• Students are prohibited from engaging in conduct which poses a threat to the health or safety of persons or property, which interferes with the rights or well-being of others, or which violates any provision of the Code of Student Responsibilities or any other rule/regulation of the University or any other applicable law.
• Boston University reserves the right to dismiss any students from the program for failure to maintain personal behavior, or for other reasons of health, safety, and welfare of the University community.
• Each student is responsible for keeping the residence accommodations, including all furnishings and equipment, clean and safe and for maintaining the cleanliness and order of public areas.
• For safety and legal reasons, smoking, whether by residents or by any other person, is absolutely forbidden on BU Washington, D.C. Study Center premises. Smoking should be confined to outdoor areas. Fines will  be assessed for damages to program housing caused by smoking, such as cigarette burns on floors and furniture.

ROOMMATES
Your roommate and apartment-mates may have a lifestyle different from yours, as well as different expectations for their semester in Washington. Flexibility, patience, and a spirit of cooperation are essential, especially if you have never lived in an apartment situation before.

As you would in any living situation, find time during the first week to share your habits and preferences and establish a few ground rules. It is also a good idea to meet with all of your suitemates during the first week to discuss cleaning arrangements and agree upon use of the common area. If you do not get along with your roommate as well as you would like, it may help to remember that your semester in Washington will pass quickly. Discuss any concerns you may have and work out a mutually beneficial arrangement to get you through the end of the semester. If you cannot resolve a problem, seek advice from the program staff. If necessary, set up a meeting with your roommate or suitemates and ask a staff member to join you.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Keep a good attitude. Remember that you’re not in Washington for the housing.
• Don’t be compelled to be best buddies with your roommate; you can be good roommates while going your separate ways.
• Academic matters take priority in the room.
• Don’t borrow anything without permission.
• Try to be neat; confine your belongings to your “territory.”
• Discuss any problems that may arise.
• Seek advice from the program staff if you cannot resolve a problem.

WHAT IS THE AREA LIKE?
The Boston University Washington, D.C. Center is situated near the majority of Washington government agencies and bureaus, national and international cultural attractions, and national historical landmarks. The surrounding neighborhood is well-established and boasts a variety of ethnic restaurants along its tree-lined streets.

If your wardrobe consists almost entirely of jeans and T-shirts, you may want to invest in business attire for our internship placement and the occasional formal event. Casual wear is fine for classes. Men should bring a minimum of one suit or a sport coat, dress trousers, and a couple of ties. Women should bring conservative clothing for work. Students are encouraged to emphasize natural fibers that breathe and comfortable walking shoes. Many Washington women keep dress shoes in their desk drawer and wear sneakers to work.

Students in the spring program should anticipate cool weather at the start of the semester with temperatures roughly around 35°F. Spring arrives early in Washington, with the National Cherry Blossom Festival in late March or early April. Similar spring weather typically does not arrive in Boston until mid-May, a full month after “the District.” By the end of the semester, the temperature should be around a comfortable 66°F. Students in the fall program should expect warm, humid weather at the start of the program, which may extend well into October. The temperatures will begin to decline in October and by December will average 40°F.

CLASSROOM FACILITIES

Classes are held at the Boston University Washington, D.C. Study Center at 1776 Massachusetts Avenue (near Dupont Circle), Suite 650. Two classrooms, a student lounge, office space for student use, and wireless internet are available, as well as a well-stocked kitchen. Limited printing is also available.

LIBRARIES
Washington has a wealth of library resources. The Library of Congress, the repository for Thomas Jefferson’s extensive book collection and the crown jewel in our nation’s library system, is a must-see during your stay. Designated reading rooms in the Library of Congress are open to the public.

During Orientation, Boston students will be provided training on how to use the Library of Congress resources and obtain a Reader Registration Card that allows them special access as researchers to use the Library’s reading rooms and collections.

The Boston University Washington, D.C. Study Center has a small but growing library focused on current course offerings. In addition, area universities also allow use of their libraries. Students who take George Washington University classes will be able to access that library.

A select few libraries are open to those students who hold a Capitol Hill ID. In addition, many federal departments—most notably the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation—have their own libraries which are open to the public. The District of Columbia also has many local public libraries.

AREA UNIVERSITIES
Washington is home to Georgetown, American, George Washington, Howard, Catholic and other leading teaching colleges and research universities. Although the Boston University Washington, D.C. Study Center is within easy commuting distance of several area universities, our students are only permitted to enroll in classes at George Washington University. While some students have made arrangements to overload, taking courses beyond the 16- credit course load is not recommended. As you will discover, balancing full-time internship responsibilities with a demanding academic schedule will leave little time to complete additional coursework.

GYMS
The Meridian apartment building has a 24-hour fitness facility with updated weights and cardio equipment.

The cost of books for the Washington Internship semester program is approximately $100 as many books are either available online or in the Study Center library. Should you wish to purchase your own copies of the books then Politics & Prose at 5015 Connecticut Ave. is a good source for books.

As part of the internship course, “The Washington Experience”, students participate in field trips on Fridays, roughly 11 AM to 3 PM, to gain access to “behind the scenes” D.C..  Students visit places they normally wouldn’t if they were there as tourists.

Here are some examples of our Friday events:

• A tour of the White House
• A tour of the U.S. Capitol
• A tour of the Pentagon
• Visiting Arlington National Cemetery
• Walking around the National Portrait Gallery
• A visit to the National Gallery of Art
• A visit to the Kennedy Center
• A tour of the Central Intelligence Agency
• A trip to the  Newseum
• A tour of the Drug Enforcement Agency
• A trip to the Holocaust Museum
• A tour of NPR
• A tour of National Institutes of Health
• A tour of National Archives
• The Lincoln Assassination walking tour
• A visit to National Cathedral
• A tour of the Supreme Court
• Volunteering at the D.C. Central Kitchen
• A tour of the CIA
• Halloween walking tour of Lafayette Square
• Watching Meet the Press in person
• Visiting the monument and memorials on the national mall, including the Washington Monument, The Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, FDR, Vietnam, Korean, and World War II memorials
• Embassy Visits–recent ones include: Austria, Bahrain, and Israel

THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS

Internships and internship placements are intensive, and semester students should be aware that the process is very different from other Study Abroad program sites. This is true for several reasons:

• First, the Washington, D.C., internship program is 14 weeks long and commences immediately after the orientation rather than occurring mid-way through the program.
• Second, students are expected to source the internship themselves, rather than having one provided from a third party provider. While BUD.C. staff give substantial assistance, the onus is on the student to be proactive and to apply early.
• Third, the internships are at a professional or near-professional level and are intensive.
• Fourth, internships in Washington, D.C., are extremely competitive and often serve as an entry into the job market. It is so competitive that many adult professionals volunteer for an organization prior to a job offer; college interns must compete on that level.
• Fifth, many if not most government agencies, officials and organizations have a formalized internal internship application process and program with specified qualifications and deadlines that students on the BU program must adhere to separate from the application process.

The competitive nature of the internship placement process is such that students must conform to the application requirements of individual offices even with placement sites that Boston University Study Abroad Washington, D.C. regularly works with. This usually means that the student intern applicant will submit their application packet directly to a recommended placement opportunity, and the Boston University Study Abroad Washington, D.C. staff will follow up with an endorsement AFTER the application is complete.

From an application standpoint, there are three types of internships in the Washington, D.C., area: those which require a security clearance (most government agencies and some private consulting  organizations); those which are highly competitive; and regular internships. Security clearance required internships (e.g., Department of State, Department of Justice, CIA, etc.) must be applied for a year in advance in order to allow time for the FBI clearance process. Highly competitive internships (e.g., Congressional Black Caucus, Smithsonian, etc.) usually have an application date that can extend from four months to as far as eight months in advance of the internship. Regular internships (e.g., most  congressional and interest group and lobbying internships) can be applied for from one to four months in advance. The Boston University Study Abroad Washington, D.C. staff have extensive contacts and expertise in placing students in competitive Washington, D.C., internships. It is critical that you be pro-active in working with the D.C. Program Manager to revise your résumé to make your application highly competitive within this specialized market.

In our experience, competitive interns have some of the following:
• A well-defined interest and learning objective related to the goals of the office
• A substantive course background in the major focus of the internship OR some constituent ties to the party, group or mission of the organization
• Previous office setting work experience is desirable
• A self starter; ability to perform tasks with limited supervision and to juggle multiple priorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent research skills
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Attention to detail, ability to multitask and meet deadlines
• Sensitivity towards subject matter as well as participants
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Initiative and follow-through on all assigned tasks
• Ability to troubleshoot/problem-solve
• Ability to produce concrete results with minimal supervision
• Any knowledge of D.C. policy communities or specialized research skills (e.g., press, statistics, social media, etc.) are always a plus

Internship students are asked to submit internship questionnaires and résumés electronically. This information will assist the program staff in understanding your background and experience and serves as a guide in determining preliminary placements. If you have not yet submitted an electronic copy of your résumé to the D.C. Program Manager, please do so immediately.

Trust the BU Study Abroad Washington, D.C. Staff

The BU Washington, D.C. staff knows the ins and outs of the Washington, D.C. internship market. If you have your own internship contact, please share this information with the D.C. Program Manager during your initial conversation so that he or she may explore this placement with you. A friend or family member with professional connections in Washington may urge you to pursue a suggested internship. Though well-intentioned, the friend or relative is unlikely to know whether the company is within a reasonable commuting distance of the BU Washington, D.C. Academic Center, is downsizing or experiencing a difficult transition, or whether the company is reluctant to host an intern. With his or her knowledge of the Washington business and political climate, the internship coordinator is in the best position to determine whether a prospective internship will satisfy academic requirements and provide an appropriate level of challenge.

Finalizing Your Placement: Patience Please

The placement process can take as little as two weeks to as long as three months to complete. The D.C. Program Manager is focused on matching your interests and skills with a suitable placement. Placing interns in a competitive work environment requires both a thorough assessment of students’ interests and skills and an understanding of Washington’s changing job market. The BU Study Abroad Washington, D.C. staff asks that you remain patient as they work to help you secure a placement that will best utilize your talents and fulfill your internship or writing goals.

You should be prepared for some ups and downs, including some rejections. Some sites may prefer someone recommended by a donor or someone who lives in a Congressperson’s district. You should not take rejection personally. It is important, however, to make your résumé as competitive as possible. This may include some revisions and even résumé-building where you can reach out and add some additional references or skills. The earlier you start the process, the more options you will have.

Self-Assessment:
Narrowing your Interests and Goals
Sizing up your personal attributes and completing a self-assessment are helpful starting points in identifying goals for your internship. There are many self-assessment instruments to choose from. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a personality inventory, is administered through most campus career centers and is an especially popular tool. This widely used standardized test can help to deepen your self-knowledge—especially your preferences in social and work situations but will not identify potential career paths.

Completing standardized tests is one strategy in identifying your strengths and personality traits. With some reflection, you should have little difficulty reaching conclusions on your own. The following strategies, outlined in The Experienced Hand: A Student Manual for Making the Most of an Internship, by Stanton and Ali, should help in identifying the work setting or specialty in which you feel you would be the most effective:

• List and evaluate your personal and academic interests. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Why did you choose your major? What courses have you enjoyed?
• Reflect on your career goals. How will the internship fit into your academic and career plans?
• Make a checklist of your organizational preferences. What type of experience do you want? What kind of
organization are you looking for? A large corporation? A small company? A non-profit organization?
• Focus on your work values. Do you like to work as part of a team or independently? Are you self-directed, or are you more comfortable and effective in a more supervised environment?
• Decide what you have to offer. Even if you have no formal work experience, you have acquired skills in research from writing class papers and, from your job experiences, varying skill levels in public relations, marketing, or management. Social skills—such as flexibility, friendliness, and a good sense of humor—are equally important in the workplace and should not be discounted.

While we encourage you to set ambitious goals for your semester off-campus, please be mindful that the internship may or may not be integral to your career plans. For some students, the internship experience has a profound impact on their chosen career. For the vast majority of students, however, the internship affords an opportunity to develop new skills and gain greater exposure to the world beyond the classroom. If you are convinced the internship will be a life transforming experience, you are likely to be frustrated and disappointed.

Notification of Placement
Placement is a joint and interactive process between your individual applications and follow-up that the Boston University Study Abroad Washington, D.C. staff provides on your behalf. The D.C. staff works closely with all internship sites and are able to make follow-up phone calls even where the site specifically requests NO calls with applicants. The D.C. staff has existing relationships with a number of providers, but even in those cases, students must still directly apply often using an online web submission process. Sometimes the internship site will contact you directly first with an offer. In that case, you should respond that you need to discuss with the program staff specific aspects of the internship, including the time frame and deadlines or special requests. In other cases, the internship site will let the D.C. staff know of the  intent to make an offer and ask us if you are still available. The D.C. staff will immediately contact you and discuss the offer before replying to the internship site that you will accept and will let them know that they may contact you directly with the offer.

Internship program students should receive final notification of their placement one to two weeks before they arrive in Washington. In the rare event that you should be without a placement prior to start of the semester, rest assured that arrangements will be finalized within days of your arrival.

FIRST WEEKS AT THE INTERNSHIP
Meeting your internship objectives is unlikely during your first and second weeks at the internship. Like any new job, it will take time for you to feel comfortable and confident in your new role. Adjusting to the work schedule and daily commute may be more difficult than you imagined. You may experience moments when you feel overwhelmed or underutilized. You may discover that the work setting occasionally fails to hold your interest. All of these emotions and challenges contribute to the learning curve during your first weeks. With patience, flexibility, enthusiasm, and observation during these initial weeks, you are likely to find your niche in the organization and receive greater responsibility and challenges.

Establishing a rapport with your supervisor should be one of your first priorities. Although your supervisor may recognize the importance of assigning meaningful work and providing ongoing feedback, meeting deadlines and other job priorities may limit his or her ability to provide coaching and support. If you are accustomed to a more structured work environment, you may need to demonstrate a bit more initiative and self-direction than you have in the past. Your supervisor is likely to recognize and appreciate your efforts to take on additional work.

Finding your niche in work environments where the staff is extremely busy or overworked may require some initiative on your part. Some co-workers may welcome you and include you in their social activities. Others may be friendly and welcoming but have little time to include you in their social activities or answer your questions. With downsizing and restructuring, today’s organizations are often understaffed. Rolling up your sleeves and contributing wherever you can will win your co-workers’ trust and support.

During this introductory period, you may be assigned low challenge tasks to gauge both your attitude and ability to handle simple projects. Although you may be disappointed to receive easy tasks—and have doubts about traveling all the way to Washington for what initially appears to be menial responsibilities—complete the assignments cheerfully and with as much effort as you would for more challenging projects. Successfully completing minor projects demonstrates your competence and capability and is likely to result in more challenging assignments.

It is common for students to envision their internship placements as exciting and glamorous. Although you may experience moments of excitement and challenge, long hours, mundane tasks, and record-keeping figure prominently in most work settings. In addition to developing new skills, the internship provides opportunities to learn about organizational dynamics and the skills needed to succeed in busy office environments. Your internship will provide a greater understanding of some of the realities of the work world and should serve you well as you move into your first professional position.

If Problems Arise
If you are dissatisfied or unhappy in your internship placement, your best course of action is to bring these
concerns to your supervisor’s attention. Without feedback from you, your supervisor may assume incorrectly that you are happy with your assigned tasks. If you are uncertain how to approach your supervisor, the D.C. Program Manager will be glad to help role-play the conversation. If after speaking
with your supervisor you cannot resolve the issue or agree upon an acceptable compromise, your next step should be to speak with the Program Manager or Director.

Attendance
Absences from your internship because you are unhappy with the placement, because the credits do not transfer back to your home institution, or because it is not what you expected are unacceptable. Unexcused absences will be reflected in your grade for the course. Frequent unexcused absences may result in a failing grade and expulsion from the program.

Appropriate Attire
Standards of acceptable appearance and demeanor vary dramatically from place to place. Students seeking to participate in a Boston University Internship Program must understand that they are emissaries of the University. Enrollment constitutes an agreement that they will attempt to live and work within the framework of local custom. Some personal choice of dress, hairstyle/color, body ornamentation, etc. that may be acceptable on most U.S. campuses may make an internship placement difficult, if not impossible. By enrolling in the program, students agree to make every effort to adapt their personal appearance to the generally accepted norms of the community, and understand that failure to do so may make placement impossible and result in a failing grade. Where dress, hairstyle and body ornamentation are dictated by an individual’s religion, race, national origin or ethnicity, every effort will be made to accommodate those needs consistent with our status as guests in the host city.

Washington. D.C., has two basic styles of dress: Professional Business attire and Business Casual attire. Both of these include wearing a jacket. Jackets are required, for example, on the Hill to go to the Cloakroom or to accompany your member to the Floor. Sometimes an intern who keeps a jacket in the office gets to accompany the member when a staff member has forgotten to wear one!

The K-Street style is usually always Professional Business, while some associations work to be quite relaxed in their dress – office culture can impact the dress code even within the city.

Business attire for males is a complete suit and tie and a suit or dress for women. Business casual might relax the rules to include khakis or other types of slacks or pants. Which style is required depends on the office. Students should ask their office what the dress code is for their office and exactly what is meant by “casual Friday” if your office permits this (in some offices, it might include jeans and in others it would not). The general rule is that you can never overdress, and you should always anticipate that an event might come up quickly (e.g., sometimes our interns can get invited to attend a televised presidential speech on the day of the event!). Casual attire can include jeans, and you will see this on the Hill when Congress is out of session – but casual attire NEVER includes shorts in the work environment.

In Summary
Understanding workplace priorities, demonstrating initiative, and assisting wherever possible are key ingredients to a successful internship. As an intern, you may feel overlooked on occasion as a busy staff focuses on its work priorities. A proactive, self-directed approach will win your supervisor’s favor and may lead to new opportunities. Assert yourself. Take responsibility for your internship and volunteer for projects. Your supervisor is likely to recognize and appreciate your efforts.

Academic courses are an integral part of the internship program.  Students intern during the day and take classes at night. Classes are taught by local experts.  Time management skills are of the utmost importance as students learn to juggle academics with their internship responsibilities.  More information can be found on the Washington, D.C. website.

Courses are taught by faculty drawn from the Washington, D.C. area. You will earn course credit for the internship. Although individual office hours may vary, most of you will work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m four days a week. During the semester, each program class meets once a week from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Summer term classes meet twice a week from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Most students will only take BU classes but some students will take one class at George Washington University (GWU). In the Internship Management program and the Health Policy track students may take up to two courses at GWU. You will indicate which GWU courses you are interested in taking on the course selection form.  Students should have a number of courses that they are interested in taking and work with Lisa to see which are available for the upcoming semester. Please Note: GWU classes are subject to availability and students are not guaranteed placement in a course at GWU.

A semester in D.C. can add up but there are ways to watch expenses. Learning to cook or cooking your own food in the apartment’s kitchen is a way to help keep within budget.  There are also happy hours and other opportunities to stretch your dollar further.  Taking the bus is less expensive than the metro and a great way to see the city.   Have a bucket list before you go so you know how much things cost in advance but the good news is that there are many free museums and activities.  In addition, there are many websites that list cheap things to do.  Also, the D.C. staff can assist you with suggestions.

Many students ask if they can work a part-time job while in D.C..  While it may be possible, time is very tight and learning to juggle a full-time internship while going to school in the evening is challenging.  However, there are a limited number of very part-time work-study opportunities in the D.C. office.  If interested, students should contact the D.C. staff for more details.     

A list of the available transportation can be found on the Washington, D.C. website.

All students on the BUDC program receive a U-Pass which gives free access rides on all public transportation in D.C. such as the Metro and bus services. This makes getting around the D.C. area simple and convenient. The apartments are located just a short 5-minute walk from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop and, from there, it is 3 stops to Dupont Circle, the location of the BUDC Study Center where you will take your classes.

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the Metro system so you can best explore, not only D.C., but also parts of Maryland and Virginia using your U-Pass. A system map can be found here.

D.C. also has ubiquitous bicycle and scooter rentals but it is best to get used to living in D.C. and the traffic systems before venturing out onto the roads. Ride hailing services such as Lyft/Uber are also common but can be pricey and slower than the Metro due to traffic and congestion.

D.C. is also a very walkable city and for those looking for a little exercise, it is less than 40 minutes to walk from the apartments to the Study Center.

CARS: BEST LEFT AT HOME

If you do choose to bring your car, you will have to make your own arrangements to secure parking at a nearby garage since off-street parking is extremely limited and cars must be moved during rush hours. Garages charge from $200 to $250 per month for parking.

Most students stay in the D.C. vicinity during the semester.  There is so much to see and do in the city and surrounding area and time is very limited.  If students do leave for a few days, they are asked to notify the D.C. staff.

You will be using your personal health insurance while on the D.C. program.  If you need to see a doctor, you can look-up doctors who accept your insurance. If you need feedback on where they are located in the city, then the D.C. staff can assist you.  In addition, there is a list of nearby hospitals on the Washington, D.C. website if you need to visit the emergency room.

In Washington, D.C. there are many places and opportunities to run, walk, cycle and hike.  There are also plenty of gyms as well as exercise studios (yoga, Zumba, Barre, cycling) that students can join.  There is a list of gyms and nearby grocery stores and farmers markets that can be found on the D.C. website.  Remember you will be busy with work and school, so if you start to feel overwhelmed, remember how you handled stress in the past.  Washington, D.C. is a metropolitan area and you will most likely be able to find many different ways to deal with challenges that arise. 

SECURITY
As in any large metropolitan city, common-sense precautions and “street smarts” should prevail during your semester in Washington. Remember that you are not on vacation during your semester off-campus and are living and working in an environment with all the benefits and hazards of city living. Consult a map before setting off on a tour of the city, and always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.

Time will be set aside during the on-site orientation to discuss safety and security concerns. Heed the staff’s advice and follow any precautions they suggest, which will include the following:

• Never carry large sums of money.
• Never leave a large amount of cash in your room.
• Lock your room and apartment door whenever you leave for class or your internship, and before you go to sleep.
• Do not leave valuables unattended, even for a few minutes.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Carry money for a cab or the Metro.
• Avoid potentially dangerous situations.
• Notify your roommate or suite mates of your plans.
• Leave expensive jewelry and other valuables at home.