Frequently Asked Questions

LIVE
Where will I live?
How will I get to Washington?
Do I have to live in Student housing?
Can I bring my car?
What is it like to live in Washington, D.C.?
How will I get around in Washington without a car?
Do I need to bring my computer?
What should I bring?
Does the program include meals?
Is medical care available?
How much money should I bring?
Should I open a checking account in DC?

LEARN
Do I have to take the classes?
Will I receive credit for the classes?
Will I receive a transcript?
How should I dress?
How much will my books cost?
Are classes, site briefings and lectures mandatory?
How busy is the schedule?
What if my school's schedule prevents me from arriving by the start of the program?
Is The Fund for American Studies part of Georgetown University?

INTERN
Will I receive credit for the internship?
How will my internship be determined?
Can I find my own internship?
Are the internships paid?
What if I want to intern for a member of Congress?
What will I do as an intern?
How will I get to my internship?
How should I dress?

ADMISSIONS

Is there a GPA requirement?
No. While academic excellence is sought in program applicants, the admissions committee looks for a well-rounded student who demonstrates ambition, academic ability, leadership ability, maturity, and involvement in campus and community activities. Weakness in GPA can often be compensated for with a strong resume, good recommendations, and well-written essays.

What are my chances of getting accepted?
The admission process is competitive, but students with strong academic and extracurricular records have a good chance of being admitted. Accepted students come from a broad variety of schools, backgrounds, and academic majors. Since the class sizes are fixed, rates of admission are dependent on the size of the applicant pool, which varies from year to year. Students who apply early are given preference in admissions, scholarship awards, and internship placement. Students also receive a 5% discount off the total cost of the program if they apply by the early action deadline.

What year should I be in school?
All undergraduates are eligible for admission. Sophomores and juniors are the ideal candidates for admission, as they generally have a sufficient academic background to handle the coursework offered in the institutes.

What if I'm an international student?
International students are welcome to apply to the Institute, but scholarships for international students are limited.

What kind of resume should I submit?
Applicants should submit a one-page typed resume that is clean, accurate, and well laid-out. Resumes should summarize your academic experience, your work experience, and your honors, awards and activities. Keep in mind that this resume is used to help secure you an internship, so we may fax it to potential intern sponsors. Please make sure it is readable and printed on white paper.

Can I use a credit card to pay for my application fee?
Yes, credit card payments are accepted for application fees and all other fees. Credit card payments must be made online.

How are scholarship awards determined?
Scholarships are awarded based on academic record, extracurricular achievement, leadership ability, and financial need. More than half of all accepted students receive scholarships. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $9,500.

Can student loans be used to cover the cost of the program?
Yes, student loans can be used to cover the cost of the program, but your home school must make loan disbursements, as that is the institution that keeps track of your overall financial aid picture. Your financial aid office may require that a consortium agreement be signed in order for a loan to be processed. The Fund for American Studies will be willing to sign or prepare consortium agreements for your school. Please click here for a consortium agreement.

How will I be notified of my admission status?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and admissions decisions are generally made within three weeks of the receipt of a complete application. Applicants will be notified in writing and by email. Applicants can also check their admission status online.

Can I send parts of the application separately?
Complete applications containing all required items are preferred, but application pieces may also be faxed or mailed separately. For example, professors may send letter of recommendation directly to us, or they may give them to the applicant to submit with his application. University registrars may either send a student's transcript directly to us, or issue it to the student. Applications will not be reviewed until all required items are received.

What kind of financial information do you need to make a scholarship decision?
If you applied for or received financial aid through your home university, you must submit your Student Aid Report (SAR) and Financial Aid Award Letter. The SAR is available at the U.S. Deptartment of Education's website http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your Award Letter is available through your financial aid office. If you do not recieve financial aid, you must submit a copy of your parents' most recent tax return. All students are also required to submit a scholarship essay, in which you should describe your need and merit. Tell us if you are putting yourself through school or working throughout your college career.

LIVE

Where will I live?
Students are matched with roommates of the same sex and are housed together in a furnished residential building in Washington, D.C. The building is convenient to public transportation. The living environment is conducive to fostering discussion among students and to building a sense of community.

As Georgetown students, Institute participants have full access to the many amenities of Georgetown University including the gymnasium, library, and free transportation to/from campus.

How will I get to Washington?
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington, D.C. Three major airports, an Amtrak station, and a bus station service the city.

Do I have to live in Student housing?
Students are encouraged, but not required, to live in the Student apartments. Living in the student housing provides convenience and saves time in a very busy schedule. Moreover, living together in student housing helps to facilitate interaction among students, which is an important goal of the program.

Can I bring my car?
Students are discouraged from bringing their cars. Parking on the street is limited to two hours for non-residents of the city. Short-term students are not eligible for resident parking stickers in the city. Student apartments are close to a subway station.

What is it like to live in Washington, D.C.?
Washington is a very livable city that is world-famous for its handsome architecture, stunning vistas and colorful landscape, as well as its world-class cultural attractions. Besides numerous monuments and landmarks, Washington is home to more than 90 museums and public galleries, including the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex. The Smithsonian comprises 16 museums, art galleries, and the National Zoo, all of which are free to the public. With its vibrant theater and music scene, Washington is second only to New York in number of public performances of the arts.

How will I get around in Washington without a car?
The Washington area is served by one of the most efficient, clean and safe transportation systems in the world. You can take the subway or a bus to locations throughout the city of Washington, DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. If you plan to take the metro, (which most students will have to do to get to their internship and special events) you should budget approximately $20-$30 per week for commuting costs. A free Georgetown University bus provides transportation between Capitol Hill and the main campus.

Do I need to bring my computer?
Student rooms are equipped for computer hook-ups. Many students set up email accounts when they arrive on campus through such free email providers as hotmail. The courses do not require extensive word processing or other assignments that make a computer a necessity.

What should I bring?
You must provide your own linens, towels, pillows, and all bath amenities. You may bring a computer, television or stereo if you desire. Laundry facilities are located in the building.

In packing clothes, be prepared for weather that can vary dramatically during the semester. January through March can be cold and snowy, and early spring can be quite warm. Early Fall is typically warm, but the weather turns cold by November. In class you may dress casually, but at internships and most Institute functions, professional dress is required. While dress codes vary from office to office, typically men wear coats and ties, while women wear dresses, skirts, or dressy slacks.

Does the program include meals?
Students are responsible for their own meals during the program. There are grocery stores and restaurants within walking distance of the student apartments, and cooking facilities are available in each apartment.

Is medical care available?
The medical facility at Georgetown University is open to all students with an I.D. card. A full range of primary health care services are accommodated by appointment. Urgent cases are accommodated during office hours and after hours are referred to the Emergency room at Georgetown University Hospital. The Student Primary Care Clinic Charges for all services. Student's insurance companies are billed first, and balances are billed to students. For information on purchasing student insurance, please call 202-687-4883. For international students, you are required to have health insurance, and may purchase it in your country or in the US. One website you may want to visit is www.gatewayplans.com.

How much money should I bring?
Please plan to bring enough money to cover meals, entertainment and transportation costs, incidental expenses, and whatever souvenir shopping you might want to do. A rough estimate of what a typical student spends is $125 per week.

Should I open a checking account in DC?
For students who wish to open a bank account, there are numerous bank braches in the Union Station/Capitol Hill area.

LEARN

Will I receive credit for the classes?
Most universities accept transfer credit from Georgetown University, however students are encouraged to check with their registrar or dean about the credit transfer policy. Institute classes will often satisfy a requirement within one's major, but may also be used as electives.

Will I receive a transcript?
Grade reports will be sent to all students, and official Georgetown University transcripts may be obtained through the university registrar.

How should I dress?
The dress code for class is casual, but professional attire is required for internships, site briefings, and guest lectures.

How much will my books cost?
Books generally cost about $175, but students can often share a set of books.

Are classes, site briefings and lectures mandatory?
We fully expect each student to attend every academic and extra-curricular session, complete all reading assignments, participate actively in class discussions, and show respect and consideration to fellow Institute participants, faculty, and guest lecturers. Students are also expected to adhere to scheduled internship hours and complete all internship assignments.

How busy is the schedule?
The schedule is rigorous and designed to give students a rich immersion in education, politics, and government - the true Washington experience of a lifetime. Days are long, and free time is limited mostly to the late evenings and weekends. During program, you will have an intense internship, course, and lecture schedule, so be prepared to be busy. Because of the limited duration and intensive schedule of the Institute, we highly discourage long distance travel by participants or visits from friends or relatives during the program.

What if my school's schedule prevents me from arriving by the start of the program?
The program director will on occasion allow students to miss a few days of the Institute. However, because of the fast pace of the program, late arrivals are discouraged. Students must contact the program director to obtain approval for a late arrival.

Is The Fund for American Studies part of Georgetown University?
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is an independent nonprofit organization that has been an academic partner of Georgetown University for more than 30 years. TFAS employs Georgetown professors, and contracts for classroom space with the university. However, TFAS is not part of Georgetown and has no connection to the Georgetown graduate or undergraduate admissions offices. Participants are enrolled as Georgetown students for the semester.

INTERN

Will I receive credit for the internship?
Yes, six credits will be granted for the internship seminar.

How will my internship be determined?
Accepted students will be sent a detailed internship questionnaire through which they can indicate interests and preferences. Program directors will use this information to match students with prospective intern sponsors. Your resume, essay and transcript may be sent to potential internship sponsors during the matching process.

Can I find my own internship?
Yes, students who know where they want to intern or who have contacts in internship sponsor organizations may wish to arrange their own internship. However, the program director must approve the internship.

Are the internships paid?
Generally internships are not paid, although some organizations offer a small stipend. Since thousands of interns come to DC each semester, substantial intern positions are very competitive and in high demand. Also, there are many organizations that cannot afford to pay an additional staff member but that offer interns incredible responsibility and significant work experience. Your reward is the contacts, experience, and knowledge you will gain.

What if I want to intern for a member of Congress?
Students who wish to work in Congress are encouraged to make the initial contact with their senators or congressman. In selecting interns, Congressional offices usually give preference to constituents. Approaching your own Representative or Senator will give you an advantage over other applicants. Our staff will work with you throughout this process and will also explore opportunities in other congressional offices.

What will I do as an intern?
Intern responsibilities vary, but all include substantive work, such as conducting research, coordinating events, managing databases, covering congressional hearings, and writing for newsletters or other publications.

How will I get to my internship?
Students are responsible for getting to and from their internships by using university or public transportation.

How should I dress?
While dress codes vary from office to office, typically men wear coats and ties, while women wear dresses, skirts, or dressy slacks.

When will I find out about my internship placement?
The program director will notify you of your placement prior to the start of the program. The earlier you are admitted to the program, the earlier you are likely to be placed in an internship. Students applying near the application deadline are likely to be notified within weeks of the start of the program. Students have the opportunity to specify the preferred type of organization when they fill out the internship questionnaire. However, no internship is guaranteed. Students seeking internships with specific organizations should contact that office directly, particularly if it is not included on our internships lists.