Washington Program: Responsibilities

Now that you have been selected for the Washington Program, the next two months will be crucial in preparing to work, study and live in Washington for four months and we ask that you cooperate fully in this preparation for your Washington semester. Your cooperation is important because so much needs to be done in a short period of time. Our expectations are that you will attend your classes and that you will secure extensions or permissions if you cannot meet one of your commitments. Please note that you are expected to mark your calendars as you would be expected to do while in DC. You will not receive reminders from the OCS office. Our assumption is that if you cannot organize your time to satisfactorily complete this preparation, you are not ready for a semester in our nation's capital. Lastly, remember we are here to help you, so do not hesitate to call on us.

The requirements related to this preparation include:

1. Attending the Orientation Meeting. We will discuss finding an internship and housing.
2. Attending the Life in DC dinner to meet with alumni and each other to discuss the Washington experience.
3. Attending the Final Update Luncheon to finalize your leaving campus.
4. Submitting on or before the due date copies of six letters to organizations with which you would like to intern. Please bring one copy of each letter to the OCS Office, Heggblade Center, Room #110. Please photocopy the original letters after you've signed them. Computer copies of your letter will not be accepted. In the lower right-hand corner of each copy in blue ink indicate your order of priority (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th choice) and write the date you mailed the letter (not intend to mail). Even if you have made alternate arrangements with Professors Pitney or Spalding, you must submit your plans in writing (short explanation).
5. A number of organizations in D.C. have responded to our students' initial letters by sending their own application packets. You should be prepared for that to happen and you should return the completed packet in a "timely" fashion, plus submit a copy to the Off-Campus Study Office.
6. Submitting by the deadline these required forms: Insurance Authorization, Intern Clearance, Information Release, Health Form, Transcript Release, Emergency Contact and Housing (CMC only). CMC students please give the housing and checklist forms to Judy Peairs in the Dean of Students office. Pitzer, Pomona, Scripps and HMC students must inquire with their Dean of Housing to make arrangements for housing.
7. Evidence that you are actively pursuing an internship. Our expectations include doing follow-up calls to Washington to check on the status of your application and keeping in regular contact with Professor Spalding (weekly, if necessary). It also means submitting copies of all correspondence (letters and/or applications) which you have sent to employers after the regular deadline. If the organization you are planning to apply to would prefer that you apply at a later date, please submit your plans in writing.