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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS about...
Application
| Internship
Program
| Living
in D.C. |
Getting
More Information
Application
- Who should I
get to write my letter of
recommendation?
Pick someone who can best objectively assess your
skills and abilities as an individual or leader. This can
be a current or former employer, professor, program
administrator, etc. Poor choices would be friends,
relatives, or people who've fired you.
- When is the
application due?
The application should be postmarked by February
4, 2000. This means that the
complete
application must be dropped in the mail on that day. Any
applications that are postmarked later than February 4,
2000 will not be considered for the program. Incomplete
applications (i.e. applications missing letters of
recommendation) will not be considered after February 4,
2000.
- Do I have to
be a Political Science major to
apply?
Not at all. The internship program is for all Indian
American students, regardless of their choice of study.
An interest in public policy is helpful, but our primary
interest is in students interested in serving their
communities as leaders.
- I'm a foreign
student studying in the United States. Am I
elegible?
Unfortunately, the program is currentlyonly to
legal permanent residents (green card-holders) and
citizens of the United States.
- I'm a high
school senior attending college in Fall of 2000. Can I
appy?
Unfortunately,
the program requires that participants complete a full
year of college before entering the program. You will be
elegible beginning next summer.
- Can graduate
students apply for the program?
We've
discovered that most graduate students are overqualified
for the work assigned to a Congressional
intern.
Internship
Program
- How much is
the stipend?
The
stipend amount for 1999 has not yet been determined. We
anticipate, however, that it will amount to $1000 for the
eight-week program.
- Can I accept
other scholarships or internships that place me in
Washington?
You may not accept any other Washington internship, even
if it is in a Congressional office. You may accept other
scholarships as long as they do not create any conflict
with participation in this program AND you notify the
Center. Outside scholarships will not receive any
recognition in India Abroad.
- Can I get
academic credit for my internship?
The
Center does not offer academic credit for the program
although your college or university may offer credit for
this type of experience. The Center has faculty from
Georgetown University on staff and we are willing to work
with you to gain academic credit for your
participation.
- Where will I
be placed?
Placing
interns on Capitol Hill is difficult, but we do our best
to find the best match for you based on the information
provided in the application
form.
We prioritize your placement in this way:
- Your
hometown Member of Congress
- A
Member of Congress from your home stateof the same
party
- The
Member of Congress representing your
school
- A
Member of Congress from the same party
- I am studying
[x] in school. Can you place me in an office that
does [x]?
Due
to the difficulty of placing interns during the summer,
it is not possible to guarantee placement in a specific
office or specific work. Each office has its own work
agenda for interns, so you may not be able to work in
your policy interest. In general, however, since Members
are responsible for almost all areas of public policy, it
might be possible to convince your intern coordinator to
allow you to handle your special interests.
- What kind of
work is the internship?
Most
interns are placed in Congressional offices where they
will be expected to perform a wide variety of assignments
necessary for the functioning of a legislative office.
Assignments will vary depending on the specific needs of
each office.
Living
in D.C.
- Does the
Center provide housing?
No, the Center does not assume responsibility for housing
in the D.C. area. Selected participants are sent a
housing guide to assist them in their search.
Participants are also sent a list of other interns
participating in the program. Living with other interns
in the program has received mixed reviews. Generally,
while living with some interns in the program can be
convenient, living with a large number of the
participants can be a harrowing and detrimental
experience.
- How much does
it cost to live in D.C? Will the stipend cover all of my
costs?
D.C. is considered the second most expensive city in the
United States after Manhattan. The stipend should be able
to cover most of your living expenses with the exception
of housing. Interns estimated they spent roughly $40-60
per week on non-housing related expenses. This will
depend on your own living habits. Going out and eating
out frequently can significantly raise your cost of
living. Housing is generally between $350 - $650 per
month depending on where you live and how many roommates
you have.
Should I bring a
car?
Having a car in D.C. can have its advantages if you plan to
get away from the city; some malls and grocery stores are
only accessible by car. Otherwise, city transportation is
quite good with an extensive bus and subway system. The
subway, called the Metro, generally costs $1.10 per ride;
frequent rider passes may be purchased for those who use the
subway regularly. The Metro, however, does not run past
midnight and does not go into the Georgetown area. Housing
further away from the city is generally cheaper but bear in
mind that parking in the city is difficult and can be
expensive.
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