Frequently Asked Questions
Read commonly asked questions and answers about...
General Information | Eligibility | Cost | Application Process
Academics | Internships | Housing | Other
General
Q. Why has the University of Mississippi initiated The Washington Internship Experience?
A. We see this as a unique educational opportunity for our students to enjoy a wide variety of experiences in a rigorous and structured way. The program’s goals are to emphasize the practical aspects of learning and knowledge by increasing opportunities for internships in business, social services, government, and other ‘real life' laboratories and to provide an off-campus experience for each participant to contribute the insight and understanding needed for leadership in the new global environment. Despite the potentially life-changing opportunities afforded by a semester working and studying in Washington, there are currently few University of Mississippi students taking advantage of existing Washington programs open to them. The main impediment appears to be cost, with some programs charging up to $18,000 per semester. The WIE makes an opportunity available to students who would otherwise have few options.
Q. How is the WIE managed?
A. The Washington Internship Experience has one University of Mississippi assistantprofessor in Washington appointed on a semester basis. The assistant professor will serve as the instructor for the live mandatory course and as the director of internships. An on-campus program coordinator, whose office is located in the E.F. Yerby Conference Center, also supports the program.
Eligibility
Q. Are out-of-state/out-of-country students eligible for the program?
A. Yes. Out-of-state/out-of-country students are strongly encouraged to apply and will have many internship options.
Q. How do students register for classes?
A. Students selected for the WIE will by flagged by the Registrar's Office and will register for that semester through the regular class registration system.
Q. Who supervises the internships?
A. The internship director works with each student's workplace supervisor to ensure a successful and productive experience for the student and the employer. The UM campus coordinator will conduct a site visit to consult with your internship director. You will also select a professor in the department from which you are earning your degree to supervise your internship course requirements. It is critical that you comply with your academic department’s wishes and requirements in order to successfully complete your internship.
Cost
Q. How much does the WIE cost?
A. Students pay regular on-campus tuition and fees. Housing costs in DC are higher than in Oxford, averaging an additional $450 per month. Your bursar account will be billed for
any additional cost. For fall/spring costs [click here].
Q. Are scholarships available?
A. Each term the Washington Internship Experience will offer need and merit based
scholarships to assist students in funding their “study away” in DC internship experience.
Click here for the scholarship application. This application must be turned in at the same
time as your program application.
Q. Can I apply my financial aid to the cost of the WIE?
A. Students currently receiving financial aid will likely be able to apply most or all of it to
the costs of the program.
Q. Can I get my financial aid increased to assist with the additional costs of the program?
A. Potentially, yes. Every student comes from a different background and has different
needs. The most important thing that you can do is set up an appointment with a
financial aid advisor to discuss your personal options.
Application Process
Q. What is the application process?
A. The application consists of six parts:
•Transcript: Attach a copy of your current official transcript.
•Cover Letter/Letter of Introduction: In a one-page letter, describe how
UM-WIE fits within your goals and experience.
•Résumé: Attach a résumé which highlights your education and experience.
•Personal Statement: Attach a one-page statement which describes your
interest in participating in The University of Mississippi’s Washington
Internship Experience and what you believe to be the benefits of your
participation.
•Writing Sample: Attach a copy of a 3 to 5-page writing assignment (i.e.
essay, report, research paper, etc.) that you submitted as a course
assignment, free of marks and/or grades from professors.
•Letters of Recommendation: Ask your advisor or a faculty member AND two
former employers to complete the reference form and return it to the
University of Mississippi’s Washington Internship Experience Coordinator.
•Application Fee: The application fee is $50. This fee is not refundable and
will be charged to your Bursar account. By submitting this application,
you understand that you are obligated to pay this fee regardless of future
circumstances.
Q. Where can I get an application?
A. You can find more details about the upcoming semester's application schedule at
www.outreach.olemiss.edu/washington_internship.
Q. What are the deadlines to apply?
A. The deadline to apply for Summer 2008 has been extended to February 28. The deadline to apply for Fall Semester 2008 is April 1; for Spring 2009, September 15.
Academics
Q. How many credits do students earn?
A. You can earn up to 12 hours each semester. If you are participating in the program
during the fall or spring semesters, you are required to carry 12 hours to maintain your
full-time status. These 12 hours will include 3 to 6 hours* of work connected with an
internship; 3 hours from the live mandatory class; and 3 to 6 hours from online or
independent study courses. Summer session students are required to take at least 9 credit
hours in order to maintain full-time status.
* Hours depend on your internship within your department of study.
Q. What is the mandatory course offered in DC?
A. The mandatory live course offered is entitled “Washington Policy Process.” This course will allow students to take advantage of the resources in the Washington, DC, area and to
enrich their educational experiences.
Q. When do students work and attend class?
A. Students work at their internships during the day, Tuesday through Friday, and attend the
live class on Mondays. This course involves various readings, writing assignments and
presentations.
Q. Who teaches the classes?
A. A University of Mississippi assistant professor teaches “Washington Policy Process.”
Q. How do students register for classes?
A. Students selected for the WIE will by flagged by the Registrar's Office and will register for that semester through the regular class registration system.
Q. How are grades awarded?
A. Grades are awarded as in any course on campus.
Internships
Q. How do you apply for internships in DC?
A. Applying for an internship position is much like applying for a job. You will create a
cover letter and resume with guidance from the University of Mississippi Career Center
staff and/or our Internship Director, Dr. Joel Clark. You will research possible
internship opportunities to find positions that suit your interests and career ambitions.
Q. Who helps me with my resume for the internship applications?
A. When you apply to participate in the Washington Internship Experience program, you
will submit a resume with your application. Seek the advice and assistance of a career
counselor at the Career Center before you submitting your application and your resume.
Remember, when you apply to the WIE, you are NOT applying for internships in DC; you are applying to be a participant in the WIE. If selected to be a participant, you will work with a staff member or graduate assistant at the UM Career Center in revising your resume from the draft you submitted with your application. Then, you will submit your resume draft to Dr. Joel Clark, who is stationed in Washington; you will benefit from his constructive feedback on your resume and cover letters. Dr. Clark will assist you with contact names and information. You will work closely with Dr. Clark and follow his wisdom and advice throughout your internship application process.
Q. Where do students work?
A. Various agencies throughout Washington, DC. Every effort will be made to place you with an agency that fits with your major of study and career interests. Our internship
director will work with you to ensure a good internship placement and a great experience. The goal is to integrate you into the day-to-day operations of the organization and to help
you compile tangible work products at the end of the semester. Click here to see a list of
internship sites in Washington, DC. Please keep in mind that you are not limited to the
internships listed.
Q. How do students find internships?
A. The professor/internship director, the University of Mississippi Career Center and Washington area alumni work together to match students in the WIE with internships that meet the student's academic and career interests. Students may also find internships on their own, providing they meet the professor's approval.
Q. Are the internships paid positions?
A. Paid internships aren't very common in Washington. If you find a paid internship, you are free to accept it, providing it meets the professor’s approval. The additional revenue could help defray program costs.
Q. Who supervises the internships?
A. The internship director works with each student's workplace supervisor to ensure a
successful and productive experience for the student and the employer. The UM campus
coordinator will conduct a site visit to consult with your internship director. You will
also select a professor in the department from which you are earning your degree to supervise your internship course requirements. It is critical that you comply with your academic department’s wishes and requirements in order to successfully complete your internship.
Q. How are the internships evaluated and credit granted?
A. The internship director works with students' internship supervisors to assemble a detailed evaluation of the students' work experiences for the semester. Students also write papers
and do class presentations reflecting on their internship experiences. The professor takes
all of these components into account when he or she assigns final grades.
Housing
Q. Where do students live?
A. Students live in apartments at the Congressional at 215 Constitution Avenue, NE, which
is located across from the U.S. Supreme Court and other historic buildings on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, close to the Law Center. The Congressional is a secure apartment building just a short walk away from Union Station, restaurants, grocery stores and
shopping.
Q. My parents live in Northern Virginia. Can I live at home and attend the WIE?
A. The residential component is an important part of the Washington Internship Experience, so participants are required to live together in the program residence. Living in the heart
of the city is a rare experience that will make the program far more meaningful for
participating students.
Q. Can I specify a student with whom I'd like to live?
A. The WIE staff makes all room assignments and tries to honor any roommate requests.
Students are paired with either two or three roommates, these apartments accommodate three to four roommates.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why should students participate in UM’s WIE rather than another university's Washington program?
A. The University of Mississippi is bringing its commitment to academic excellence and dedication to public service to the Washington Internship Experience. Although more than 50 schools run programs for undergraduate and graduate students in Washington, the University of Mississippi program is unique. Students take classes with UM professors (online, hybrid or independent study), live in the heart of Washington and earn credit for
working in an internship at an organization whose mission complements the student’s
academic experience and interests.
Q. When do students leave and return from DC?
A. Specific dates will vary slightly from year to year, but generally participants can count on
these for move-in and move-out:
Spring Term: Early January to Late April
Summer Term: Mid May to Mid August
Fall Term: Late August – Mid December
Q. How do you ensure student safety?
A. All the policies and procedures in place on campus will be in place for the WIE. In
addition to the program staff, a graduate student will serve as the students’ resident assistant to help ensure the application of all policies and procedures. In terms of
external safety, Washington is a far safer place than it was even 10 years ago. The areas in which the students study, live and work are among the safest in the city, heavily frequented by workers, residents and tourists. However, Washington is a big city, and crime, even violent crime, does happen on a daily basis. Students in the WIE need to keep safety in mind during their stay in Washington. The very first orientation program the WIE staff and the resident assistant conduct for students when they arrive in Washington is an extensive discussion of safety.
Q. Can I go back and forth to campus during the semester?
A. As a student in the WIE, your schedule is your own to manage.
Q. Can I work part time during the semester?
A. Again, as a student in the WIE, your schedule is your own to manage, but students are
strongly discouraged from working during the semester. With a nearly-full time job, plus
classes that will require significant out of class preparation, students have a difficult
schedule to manage during the semester. An additional job would very likely
compromise their ability to succeed in the WIE.
Q. What kind of schedule will I keep when I am DC? Will I have time to take advantage of the District?
A. You will be busy as a Washington intern! Keep in mind you will be balancing duties and responsibilities to your internship Tuesday through Friday. Monday is reserved for the live class. You will also have opportunities made available to you through the events
schedule; some events are mandatory and some are optional and all are unique opportunities to experience Washington with your UM-Washington group. Fall and spring participants will also need to work on their online classes and independent study projects. With solid time management, students will have time to take advantage of the District. It is a semester to learn and to have fun. Each semester the class will enjoy a number of great events, such as plays, CNN event tapings, speeches from ambassadors, and breakfasts with Senators. Aside from the scheduled class events, students will also
have free time to explore our nation’s capital. Overall, the experience is far more than simply an internship and classes.