Apply for the Washington Semester Program
Posted on: February 3, 2016; Updated on: February 3, 2016
By Student editor, stucomm@mailbox.sc.edu
The South Carolina Washington Semester Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to spend a semester working and taking classes in Washington, D.C., gaining valuable experience while earning academic credit toward their degrees. The next application due date is Feb. 19, for the fall 2016 semester. Here are what current UofSC students, who participated in WSP, had to say about the experience.
Name: Alexandria Stober
Year: Senior
Major(s): Global supply chain operations management
Hometown: Cary, N.C.
Why did you participate in the Washington Semester?
I decided to do the Washington Semester program because I had interest in politics, but
didn’t know much about it. I knew that I wanted to do a semester in a new city, and
there is nowhere better than D.C. to be immersed in government. I found this program
beneficial because it gave me the opportunity to have new experiences and take classes,
but to also be a leg up on other students by gaining an additional internship experience.
I was excited about the opportunity to develop my professional skills in a new and
challenging environment.
What did you learn throughout the semester?
I learned that our government is run by 20-somethings! As a congressional intern,
it was amazing to be behind the scenes of the US legislative process. It was eye opening to
see how much work ok the Hill is actually performed by young legislative staffers!
I also had the opportunity to become trained on giving Congressional tours, which
taught me how to navigate the Hill tunnels (they’re very confusing!) and all about
DC and American history. I also learned how to navigate DC, which was an incredibly
valuable experience. DC has amazing sites and food and I miss them every day!
What was your favorite part of the semester?
My favorite part of the semester was the day I went to a Women in Business Summit
sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where I met the CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers,
Bob Moritz. I was very fortunate that my congressional office helped to connect me
with an array of on- and off-the-Hill events where I could meet other people and hear
presentations on everything from the aviation industry to the importance of religious
morals in government (plus there was always free food!). The real value of this program
is the connections that can be developed through one’s internship office and through
the plethora of events happening around the city.
What would you say to someone considering it?
DO IT! Even as a business major who didn’t use any of the program credits towards
my actual degree, I find it the most valuable experience that I have had in college.
It gave me the most amazing friends and professional connections. More importantly,
it was the most fun time of my life. Weekends were spent trying new restaurants, running
on the Mall, taking a day trip to Alexandria, and checking out a new museum. D.C.
is an incredibly vibrant, young and exciting city that also offers incredible career
opportunities. No matter your major, I know you will find value in this amazing program.
Name: Elizabeth C. Riegel (Ellie)
Year: Senior
Major(s): Political science and English
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Why did you participate in the Washington Semester?
I was drawn to the Washington Semester because I loved the idea of moving to a new
city while representing South Carolina. The program was an ideal way for me to get
class credit while being totally immersed in the culture of the nation's capital.
What did you learn throughout the semester?
I grew up in a small town in Florida, so I really enjoyed living in and learning to
navigate one of the most invigorating cities in the world. I learned just as much
about government and politics as I did about the the city itself; the food, theater scene,
culture and diverse parts of the city were some of my favorite things to explore.
What was your favorite part of the semester?
My favorite aspect of the program is the sense of community built with all of the
participants: 17 students from all over S.C. moved in together in the heart of the
nation's capital. Together, we tackled full-time internships and classes, and grew
to call D.C. a new home away from home.
My favorite moment from the semester happened when I had the opportunity to go to the White House. Our office needed someone to photograph an event at which President Obama was the keynote speaker. It was incredible to see him, along with many other inspiring individuals, speak and to see the government in action.
What would you say to someone considering it?
No matter what you're passionate about or what your major is, you can pursue it in
D.C. through the Washington Semester program. D.C. is a city full of opportunity, providing
the perfect foundation to bring you closer to your goals.
Name: Ryan Adam
Year: Senior
Major: Political science (emphasis in international relations)
Minors: History and leadership studies
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Why did you participate in the Washington Semester?
For me, participating in the South Carolina Washington Semester Program was a natural
choice. I grew up in a family where the news was on every night at dinner, so politics
and government have always interested me. As such, when I heard about the opportunity
to spend an entire semester living and working in Washington, I knew it was the perfect
program for me.
What did you learn throughout the semester?
The Washington Semester was such a transformative experience for me that it is incredibly
hard to narrow down all that I learned to a few sentences. However, I believe most
of all, I learned the value and importance of real-world experience and internships.
I have greatly enjoyed my time at the University of South Carolina and my academic
career has taught me so very much. But my semester in Washington allowed me to grow
tremendously both personally and professionally. As such, I now understand how to
pair my academic interests with real-world experience to make myself a better candidate
on the job market once I graduate. I believe this is the most important and impactful
lesson that I took away from my Washington Semester, and something that will be exceedingly
helpful in my future.
What was your favorite part of the semester?
I was lucky enough to secure an internship in a congressional office, and one of my
responsibilities was giving tours of the U.S. Capitol for constituents who came by
the office. I loved the opportunity to learn the history of one of America’s most
important buildings and also to interact with people from all across South Carolina,
the United States, and even the world through my tours. It was an amazing and unforgettable
experience.
What would you say to someone considering it?
A few months before I began my time in Washington, I attended an orientation in Columbia
designed to prepare us for the upcoming semester. I distinctly remember Steve Beckham,
the federal legislative liaison for UofSC, telling us that his goal was for our semester
in Washington to be the very best of our undergraduate careers. Mr. Beckham was completely
right. My time in Washington transformed me more than any other organization or program
I have ever taken part in and gave me new outlooks and goals to strive for. I would
not be where I am today with my experience in the Washington Semester Program and
for that I am immensely grateful.
Name: Jared Thompson
Year: Senior
Major(s): Political science, English (minor)
Hometown: Sumter, S.C.
Why did you participate in the Washington Semester?
I’ve had a strong interest in the legislative process for years, and wanted to take
advantage of the opportunity to explore this interest further through a real-world
learning experience in Congress. I first heard of the program freshman year and attended
every interest meeting until applying my junior year. Meeting the program’s alumni
and getting an inside glimpse into their experiences reinforced my desire to go.
What did you learn throughout the semester?
Getting to learn firsthand the inner workings of Congress was an incredible experience.
Despite my intern title, my office treated me just as any other staffer and gave me
responsibilities that challenged me while allowing me to expand my knowledge of the
legislative system. From going to meetings with the congressman, attending hearings
with our legislative director, writing briefs on policy initiatives, and resolving
constituent issues from our district, I was able to directly see the positive impact
my role had.
Some of the best learning experiences I had while in D.C. actually occurred within our house. You can always benefit from having conversations with people who think differently than you, and using these interactions as a forum for exchanging viewpoints not only helped me to understand the background behind someone’s way of thinking but allowed me to learn more about myself. Since coming back, surrounding myself with friends who think differently than me is something I value much more having gone through the semester.
What was your favorite part of the semester?
My housemate Lizzie and I woke up at 4 a.m. to wait in line to hear oral arguments
at the Supreme Court. With our house being located directly behind the court, you
couldn’t beat our location on Capitol Hill. Lizzie and I swapped in and out of the
line so one person could walk back to the house to warm up and refill our coffees.
We originally thought we weren’t going to make it in because the line was so long,
but a number of people dropped out because of the cold weather. Lucky for us, we were
able to jump a few spaces up in line and were the last two individuals they admitted
into the courtroom that morning. Seeing an actual Supreme Court case unfold was an
awesome experience that I’ll never forget.
I also loved being able to meet past alumni of the program while in Washington. You don’t think how wide USC’s roots run as a current undergraduate student until the stress from finding jobs, applying to graduate/law school, and figuring out your next steps after graduation approaches. Making connections with past participants who were able to provide advice and insight to all of these post-graduation decisions definitely calmed the nerves of those who were seniors and opened my eyes as a junior to all the options I have before I graduate.
What would you say to someone considering it?
I think the biggest misconception is that the program is confined to students strongly
interested in politics. The program is open to students of all majors, and you’d be
surprised how much the city has to offer. A number of my housemates worked “off the
Hill” for various nonpolitical organizations, and just because you might not be a
political connoisseur won’t disqualify you from finding a placement that aligns with
your interests.
It’s common for people to receive summer internships and even full-time job offers after the program ends because of the positive relationship and strong work ethic they demonstrated to their offices. Even if you are a junior (like I was) during the program, you’ll develop a large toolbox of transferable skills that will carry over to your work experiences for the remainder of college and long after.
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