Participants will meet with prominent scholars, policy experts, and activists to discuss the social and political challenges facing America. The program is open to college students from any discipline who have an interest in public policy and who will have completed the sophomore or junior year by June 2001. Application materials, due March 23, include a short essay outlining the applicant's interest in public policy and civic engagement, one letter of recommendation, and an official transcript. The largest agency in the U.S. Department of Education and the largest source of student financial aid in America, Student Financial Assistance offers a summer internship program in Washington, DC for approximately forty undergraduate and graduate students each year. SFA does not offer housing for interns, but provides information on available housing at local universities and apartments.
Every intern is assigned to one project for the entire summer.
Students prepare policy papers, write press releases, develop web sites, and work on numerous other projects. The summer begins with an all-day orientation and concludes with the presentation of work projects to senior managers. The deadline is April 1. In each case, the chosen study abroad program must be approved by the Study Abroad Office and candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.