Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Internships
Academics
Eligibility
Application Process
Housing
Financial
General Information
Q. Why has W&M started the DC Summer Institutes?
A. The Summer Institutes are an opportunity for undergraduate students to combine intensive classroom study of a topic with hands-on work at one of Washington's many nonprofits, think tanks, government agencies, or companies that helps shape that topic.
Two of the goals of the William and Mary 2009 Initiative sought to:
- "Emphasize the practical aspects of learning and knowledge by increasing opportunities for internships in business, social services, government, and other ‘real life' laboratories"
- "Provide an off-campus experience for each undergraduate to contribute the insight and understanding needed for leadership in the new global environment."
Our Summer Institutes meet both of these goals.
Q. Are the W&M Summer Institutes the same as the DC Summer Session or the W&M in Washington Program?
A. No - they are three different programs. Although all are held in Washington, the DC Summer Institutes are intensive 6-7 credit academic programs composed of a 2-week course and 10-week internship in DC. The DC Summer Session offers 5-week classes during the summer, with no accompanying internship. The W&M in Washington Program is offered each Spring and Fall semester only and involves an academically rigorous curriculum built around a semester-by-semester topic with internships matched to that topic, as well as residential, programming, and alumni mentorship/networking components.
Q. Why should W&M students participate in a DC Summer Institute?
A. The DC Summer Institutes allow undergraduate student fellows to combine classroom and experiential learning while seeing the dynamic institutions of the Washington, DC area firsthand. Participating fellows receive extensive help in finding an internship and counseling on how to succeed in that internship.
Q. How are the Summer Institutes managed?
A. Each Institute has a W&M professor in Washington who teaches the coursework. The staff of the W&M Washington Office helps fellows secure summer internships and works to ensure the internship is a quality experience for the fellow and employer.
Internships
Q. Is an internship guaranteed?
A. Yes, we guarantee that you will have an internship at an organization in your field of study.
Q. Will I receive my first choice of internship?
A. Though we cannot guarantee your first choice of internship, we will work closely with you to place you in an internship with a substantive amount of work in an area of interest related to the coursework.
Q. How can you guarantee an internship?
A. The staff of the W&M Washington Office will work with you closely during the Fall 2011 academic year to find you a summer internship that matches the topic of the Institute in which you will be enrolled.
Q. How does that process work?
A. In your application, you will indicate the type of internship in which you are interested. The Washington Office staff will approach a variety of organizations on your behalf, find out the details on how to apply, identify the correct contact person, and advocate on your behalf. Then, staff members will work with you to shape your application and resume accordingly and discuss application strategies. (Please note: You will almost certainly have to interview for all or most positions.) We will continue the process until you have secured an internship. Fellows may also find internships on their own, providing they meet the professor's approval.
Q. Where do fellows work?
A. Fellows work in internships at organizations whose missions generally sync with the Institute's topic. Our goals are to integrate fellows into the day-to-day operations of the organization and to help them leave at the end of the semester with tangible work products.
Q. Can the internships be paid?
A. Paid internships are not very common in Washington, especially in the summer. In the past, a small number of fellows have been compensated for their work.
Q. Who supervises the internships?
A. The Washington Office staff works with each fellow's workplace supervisor to ensure a successful and productive experience for the fellow and the employer.
Q. How are the internships evaluated and granted credit?
A. The Program staff works with each fellow's internship supervisor(s) to assemble a detailed evaluation of the fellow's work experiences for the summer. Fellows also write papers and do class presentations and projects reflecting on their internship experiences. The professor takes all of these components into account when he or she assigns final grades.
Q. How are the Institute topics decided and will they change each Summer?
A. Institute topics are decided by the Departments and Schools that offer them. It is possible that they will change or that other topics will be offered in addition to these in future summers.
Academics
Q. How many credits do fellows earn?
A. Fellows earn 6 or 7 credits - three for the 2-week course and 3-4 for the academic work completed in association with their internship.
Q. When do fellows work and attend class?
A. The initial class runs from Monday, May 14, 2012 - Friday, May 25, 2012.
- 2 additional evening discussions will follow the 5/25 end date.
- Internships run 5/29 - 8/3.
Q. When do classes meet?
A. Classes meet all day for two weeks followed by 2 evening discussion sections later in the summer.
Q. Can I take the class and not the internship, or vice versa?
A. No - if you are accepted into a DC Summer Institute, you take both classes offered in the program. A big part of the value of the Institutes is the link between learning in the classroom and learning in the workplace.
Q. Who teaches the DC Summer Institute classes?
A. For 2012, the professors are:
- Summer Security Institute -- Visiting Assistant Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault
- Summer Community Engagement Institute -- Director of Community Engagement, Drew Stelljes
- Summer New Media Institute -- Modern Languages and Literatures Department Chair Ann Marie Stock
Q. Where are the Institute classes held?
A. In general, classes are held at the William & Mary Washington Office, located in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Building at 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW in the Dupont Circle area of downtown Washington. However, many classes will take place on-location around DC as well.
Q. How do I get to the W&M Washington Office?
A. The William & Mary Washington Office is located about one block from Dupont Circle South Metro entrance on Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Washington. View our directions and parking information page.
Q. How are grades awarded?
A. Grades are awarded for Summer Institutes just like classes on campus.
Q. Does the Honor Code apply to courses in Washington?
A. All policies and regulations contained in the Rights and Responsibilities, the Student Code of Conduct, and the Administration of Student Life Policies sections of the William & Mary Student Handbook apply to all W&M summer courses.
Q. Can I take other W&M classes while enrolled in an Institute?
A. Yes, it is possible to take a W&M Washington Summer Session course while enrolled in a DC Summer Institute. However, keep in mind that if you are enrolled in an Institute, your coursework and assignments will be completed at an accelerated pace.
Eligibility
Q. Who is eligible for the Program?
A. The Institutes are open to current W&M sophomores, juniors, and seniors -- including 2012 graduates. Students need a 3.0 overall GPA or major GPA to be considered.
Q. I am currently a first year student with sophomore academic standing. Can I apply?
A. N0 -- you must be at least a current social sophmore to apply for admission to a Summer Institute.
Q. I'm graduating in May. How can I do a summer program like this?
A. As a graduating senior, you have two options:
- August diploma:
- Use the Registrar's Notice of Candidacy for Graduation form (pdf) to indicate that you will receive your diploma in August instead of May.
- Walk through the graduation ceremony in May.
- Successfully complete the DC Summer Institute courses.
- Receive your diploma in August.
- You can apply for financial aid to cover the cost of the Institute.
- Post Baccalaureate Status:
- Use the Registrar's Non-Degree Seeking (pdf) form to indicate that you plan to take W&M courses after graduation.
- Use the Registrar's Notice of Candidacy for Graduation (pdf) form to indicate that you will receive your diploma in May.
- Walk through the graduation ceremony in May and receive your diploma.
- Successfully complete the DC Summer Institute courses.
- Financial aid does not apply in this scenario.
Q. How are students evaluated for admission to an Institute?
A. To be considered, students submit an online application which includes one online letter of reference. An admissions committee composed of professors and administrators will select students based on a variety of factors. The most successful candidates will have:
- Applied by the preferred deadline
- Distinguished themselves with a strong academic record
- Held previous internship(s), ideally in the topic of the Institute to which they've applied
- Supplied a strong letter of recommendation from an employer (a faculty recommendation is acceptable if you have never held a job)
- Provided quality responses in the application, including the writing sample
- For the Summer Security Institute, successful completion of GOVT 329 is not a prerequisite, but will enhance both your chances of admission to and comprehension of the summer course.
Q. I'm not a major in the department of the courses offered. Can I still apply?
A. The DC Summer Institutes are open to students in all majors and disciplines. For the Summer Security Institute, successful completion of GOVT 329 is not a prerequisite, but will enhance both your chances of admission to and comprehension of the summer course.
Q. If I'm not accepted into an Institute for one summer, can I apply for the next summer?
A. There is no limit to the number of times a student can apply for the Institutes.
Application Process
Q. What is the application process for the DC Summer Institutes?
A. The application consists of two major parts:
- The Online Application. You will be required to create a profile and complete a personal information section, a personal statement addressing the question: "Why is the Summer (Security/Community Engagement/New Media) Institute suited for your course of study or personal interests and how do you hope to benefit from it?," and a description of potential internships in Washington, DC to which you will consider applying if you are accepted to the program. These internships should sync with the topic of the Institute. You will also submit a three- to four-page writing sample from a W&M class.
- One Online Letter of Recommendation: The strongest letters will be at least a one-page testimony from employers who know your work skills, as well as qualities such as responsibility, maturity, and your ability to work well with others. A letter from a faculty member addressing these qualities is also acceptable if you have never held a job.
Q. Where can I get an application?
A. The application is available on the Summer Institutes application page.
Q. When is the application due?
A. Students with applications completed by 5pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 will receive preference for admission to the Summer Institutes. Students who complete their applications after that time will be considered on a space-available basis.
Housing
Q. Where do fellows live while in the DC Summer Institutes?
A. There is no residency requirement -- fellows can live wherever they want. For fellows looking for summer housing, we highly recommend the W&M apartments at the Buchanan in Arlington, VA. DC Summer Institute fellows have preference on a first-come, first-served basis for these apartments if they apply by March 15. You can find other housing information on the summer housing page.
Q. My parents live in Northern Virginia. Can I live at home and take the DC Summer Institutes courses?
A. Absolutely!
Q. I'm going to take DC Summer Institutes courses and rent an apartment on my own in the Washington area. Where should I live?
A. You should live as close as possible to downtown Washington or near a Metro station. Rent will be higher close to the city, but commutes from areas outside the Capital Beltway can be extremely difficult. Suggestions for finding apartments are provided on the summer housing page.
Financial
Q. How much do the DC Summer Institutes cost?
A. Fellows pay regular Summer Session tuition and fees plus a nonrefundable $250 program fee. For the 2012 Summer Session, tuition is $286 per credit hour for in-state residents and $985 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. There is also a one-time registration fee of $25.00, and a one-time comprehensive fee of $50.00. These fees are nonrefundable. Please note: These rates were approved by the W&M Board of Visitors and are subject to change. Please visit the Office of Financial Operations and click on the most recent semester in the left column for the most updated information. For further details see our What DCSI Costs (PDF).
Q. Can I apply my financial aid to the cost of the DC Summer Institutes?
A. Currently enrolled and matriculated W&M students can take out student loans, or their parents can take out a PLUS Loan, to cover the cost of DC Summer Institutes. Students must complete a FAFSA form to apply for loans. Students must also complete a Summer Aid Application. For questions regarding this process, please contact Ginia Anderson at the W&M Financial Aid office.
Q. How much does an average student spend during his/her summer in DC?
A. The average cost per student will vary; however, most students report spending roughly $70 per week on "groceries and other necessities" and about $25.50 per week on Metro fare.
For a more detailed look at what students are spending (pdf), three of the 2011 students tracked their expenditures during their time in DC.
Q. I've been accepted, registered, and paid my tuition -- but now need to withdraw. What are my options?
A. Your $250 program fee is nonrefundable, but contact the Registrar's Office for instructions on your tuition.