Past Review
By Joo Ik K (Philosophy, Politics and Law, SUNY - Binghamton) for
Study Away Programs and Internships in Washington D.C.
The internship was an invaluable experience because the significance of going from one to two is nothing compared to from zero to one. I was able to meet people whose professions I have a close interest for, participate in menial work that my pre-law advisor warned that I might need to be prepared for if I pursue my current path et cetera. An academical examination of whatever the field has its merits, but undoubtedly, being in the field and experiencing all that it has to offer-and finding one's own possible role within it-is another important point. I must stress that in the evaluation, I am largely separating the experience of the internship with that of the program. So, I may not choose the particular program again purely because of the cost... The program provided an invaluable source of connection, however, once one had an internship, there was few the program offered that could measure up to the price. Granted that I may be misled to an extent because I did receive six credits at my home institution for the internship.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | N/A |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
N/A |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There were a lot of options the staff of the Washington Program opened us to, such as information on various conferences on foreign policy. However, the overall involvement of the administration was minimal, after an internship was found, and so the experience largely depended upon the quality of the internship. Of course, the director deserves full credit for having connections and providing quality internships. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed in a George Washington University Dorm. The building had a starbucks, subway and seven eleven store attached to it. The location was quite close to the mall--jogging distance. The closest supermarket and subway station was a fifteen or so minutes walk. Some of the residents were extremely loud, but most are interns who came to work or tourists. <br /><br /> The dorm was like any other. We needed to move in with all the necessary items... from silverware to bed sheets |
| * Food: |
The selection was of higher quality and variety than what i would have had in Binghamton. Therefore, I am more or less satisfied. However, if you do not cook your own food, the cost is around ten dollars per meal, which may be too much for some... In that case, the best choice is either the cheapest in subway, noodles/can food or cooking. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
From the Smithsonian Museums to the Arlington Cemetery, there is a lot that Washington DC has to offer. On my second week, I believe, there was a gay parade in Dupont Circle... Since the World Cup was going on, they broadcasted a United States game on a big screen on Dupont Circle also. If you look around, there is more than enough to see and do fill many weekends worth without having to know much about the area, or many people. |
| * Safety: |
I do not know about health issues, but concerning safety.. though there were many homeless people around, safety was not much of an issue. However, there was a warning poster on bulletin board at the entrance to our dorm warning residents to watch where you take your jogs, as I believe there was an incident a few years back where an intern went missing, eventually found dead, when she went for a jog. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Generally, a meal is around ten dollars. One intern used to pack his lunches saying that the price was ridiculous. My subway ride was around six stations and the price was almost two dollars one way. It depends on where one decides to live, but if one brings all housing amenities, the two mentioned above are the greatest expenses... unless you want to enjoy the night life, which may inflate expenses to a great extent. Washington DC is definitely not cheap. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The subway system of Washington, DC is convenient but quite costly. One should be aware of the costs, if one plans to use the subway. If it turns out to be too expensive, then alternative housing, and transportation, such as a bike, may be good to search. In addition, housing is also not the cheapest... and though the program provides alternatives, searching well in advance or asking friends would be a good idea. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Washington DC is a place where people with interests in politics and legal work may have particularly invaluable experiences. Therefore, any persons seriously considering a future in those fields would benefit from an experience in Washington DC. However, it would be difficult to justify the monetary price one must pay to enroll in this particular program. The staff of the program serves to lead you with important advice and experience in settling in, but I find that it still cannot justify the price--though I am getting six upper-level credits at my home university. |
