Washington Program: Application



Application Button

The application process reflects the character of the Washington program. It is a learning process that will challenge students to exhibit initiative, become self-reliant, and display their strong academic abilities. For these reasons, students must be on campus during the semester of application in order to apply and should regard the semester of application as the equivalent of taking a half-credit course overload.

Once students commit to participating in the Washington Program, CMC considers them to be obligated. Any student who withdraws his acceptance to the Program, therefore, will pay a $350 withdrawal fee. Furthermore, failure to attend Orientation I meeting is tantamount to withdrawal from the program.  Pitzer and Scripps applicants must follow the guidelines from External Studies and Off Campus Study at their respective home school, as well as complete a CMC application.

Students who intend to also study abroad as part of their academic plan, must do so the semester after the Washington Program. CMC students are subject to a special study abroad application deadline if they go first to Washington and must attend a study abroad orientation before leaving campus. Pomona students planning to study abroad following their semester in D.C. are strongly advised to complete their study abroad application concurrently with their Washington Program application and should contact the Office of Study Abroad in Sumner Hall.

  

Application Requirements
  • a completed application form
  • a resume
  • an official transcript (Pomona, Scripps, Pitzer & HMC); CMC students give Permission to obtain an unofficial transcript by signing the application form
  • a letter of recommendation from a faculty member on letterhead
  • 2 short statements as described in the application

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection committee takes into consideration academic preparation, writing and analytical skills, maturity and ability to succeed on The Washington Program. The committee considers applicants’ academic records, resumes, and faculty letters of recommendation. Most importantly, the committee conducts a professional interview with each applicant, where students are expected to address their goals for The Washington Program, and demonstrate that they have the maturity and organizational skills needed to live independently while they commute to work in a full-time in a professional setting, as well as pursue rigorous evening coursework. Applicants should be able to show that they have researched several organizations at which they would like to intern, and that they have a working knowledge of what sort of work they will complete during their internship. Following this professional interview, students receive prompt notice of the selection committee’s decision.

Please note that arranging your own internship in Washington does not guarantee you a place in the Program.