See the below dates and deadlines for this cohort of participants. Once accepted, students are invited to attend all of the below workshops. All professional development workshops and resources are designed for your success! We recommend that you attend as many of the sessions as you are able. If you cannot attend, please let us know by emailing the Washington Program at washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu.

Click the following link to see the current program calendar in Google Calendar Format: Fall 2026 Calendar of Events.

Jump down to Program Calendar Details

* = Mandatory Deadline or Event

Phase 1: Getting Started (Pre-Internship Prep)

• Apr 13: Housing Contract Due*
• Apr 13: Mandatory Welcome Event*
• TBA: Complete Mandatory Advising Forms*
• TBA: Schedule Your Mandatory Advising Session*
• TBA: Resume & Cover Letter Basics Workshop
• TBA: Internship Search Workshops
• TBA: Resume and Cover Letter First Drafts Due*
• TBA: Interview Skills Workshop
• TBA: Professionalism for Interns

Phase 2: Securing Your Internship (TBA Deadlines)

• TBA: First 10 Apps Deadline*
• TBA: Housing Preference Form Due*
• TBA: UCDC Course Enrollment Begins*

Phase 3: Your Quarter in D.C. (September - December 2026)

• TBA (Mid-late Sep): UCDC Center Check-In*
• TBA (Mid-late Sep): Mandatory Residential Academic Orientation*
• TBA (Mid-late Sep): First Day of Internship
• Sep 15: First Housing Payment Due*
• Oct 15: Second Housing Payment Due*
• Nov 15: Final Housing Payment Deadline*
• TBA (Early Dec): Last Day of Internship
• TBA (Early Dec): Departure Date (Checkout)*

HOUSING CONTRACT

• BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Do not begin the housing contract process without first receiving a program acceptance email.
• Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Noon).
• Information: To officially secure your participation and housing, you must complete the housing contract. The process includes several steps, so allocate enough time to complete it accurately. There is no payment required at the time you sign the contract.
• Instructions can be found at the following page: Housing Contract Instructions.

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MANDATORY WELCOME EVENT

• Date and Time: Monday, April 13, 2026, from 6:00-7:30 PM.
• Location: The Grove, Room 1310.
• Information: Join us for an introduction to the Washington Program. You will meet staff members and mingle with your cohort while learning about program resources and next steps. This is a casual event.

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MANDATORY ADVISING FORMS

• Deadline: To be announced. Please complete the advising forms in the Participant Tracking System (PTS) prior to signing up for your mandatory advising appointment.
• Information: Filling out these forms is essential, as it will help our team identify relevant internship opportunities tailored to your interests and provide you with better guidance. 

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SCHEDULE YOUR MANDATORY ADVISING SESSION

• Information: All students are required to sign up for, and attend, an advising appointment with Washington Program Manager, Chad Higgs. Prior to signing up, You should have already:
  • Signed your housing contract.
  • Completed and signed the above mandatory advising forms. If you sign up for an appointment without completing the forms, your request will be denied or cancelled.
• How to Sign-up: After you have been accepted into the program, you will be able to sign up for your mandatory advising session by clicking the sign-up link in your Participant Tracking System (PTS) profile.

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RESUME & COVER LETTER BASICS WORKSHOP

• Dates and Times: To be announced.
• Location: To be announced.
• Information: This session covers the fundamentals of resume writing. If you already have a resume, you should come ready to make edits. If you are unsure where to begin, this will be the perfect opportunity to get some ideas and get started! After attending, you should make revisions and improvements to your documents in accordance with the content covered in this workshop. All students are expected to submit edited versions of their resume and cover letter for staff review. See the below deadline for document submission. 

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INTERNSHIP SEARCH WORKSHOPS

• Dates and Times: To be announced.
• Location: To be announced.
• Information: These workshops offer tips and tricks to maximize your time when searching for internships in D.C. Topics covered include:
  • Improving your resume and cover letter.
  • Interview tips and advice.
  • Tools for your search.
  • Internship Advising Team.

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RESUME AND COVER LETTER FIRST DRAFTS DUE

• Deadline: To be announced.
• Instructions:
  • Your first draft must be emailed to washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu.
  • Resumes should follow the format from workshop materials as closely as possible.
  • Submit your documents as two separate, editable Word Document email attachments.
  • Resumes submitted as PDFs, Google Docs, or cloud-shared documents will not be reviewed.
• Revisions: Your revised resumes and cover letters will be due within 3-4 business days from the date you receive reviewed documents from staff. You may visit the office during drop-in hours to go over your resume in person with your assigned peer advisor.

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INTERVIEW SKILLS WORKSHOP

• Date and Time: To be announced.
• Location: To be announced.
• Information: Learn the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of interviews, how to reduce interview anxiety, and how to answer challenging questions.

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PROFESSIONALISM FOR INTERNS

• Date and Time: To be announced.
• Location: To be announced.
• Information: This session equips you with skills to thrive in D.C.'s competitive internship environment. Key areas include Building a Professional Brand, Networking Strategies, Workplace Communication, and Professional Image.

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FIRST 10 APPS

• Deadline: To be announced.
• Instructions: Complete the "First 10 Internship Applications" form in your UC Davis Washington Program Participant Portal. You may fill this out as you go. If you do not have access to the system prior to the deadline, please email the Washington Program.

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HOUSING PREFERENCE FORM

• Final Deadline: To be announced.
• Instructions: This form will be available on your "To-Do List" in your my.ucdc.edu account and must be completed by the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

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UCDC COURSE ENROLLMENT

• Enrollment Begins: To be announced.
• Instructions: Registration opens for UCDC courses. Everyone must enroll in a Core Seminar and may enroll in an optional Seminar. Instructions for enrollment will be provided to you both by email and within your "To-Do List" in your my.ucdc.edu account.

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FIRST HOUSING PAYMENT

• Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
• Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.
  
  Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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UCDC CENTER CHECK-IN

• Date and Time: Move-in is expected to be in mid- to late September 2026. Specific dates and check-in times to be announced.
• Instructions: Please ensure your flight and transportation arrangements allow you to arrive during these times. If this is not possible, please check with program staff prior to purchasing your flight.

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MANDATORY RESIDENTIAL ACADEMIC ORIENTATION

• Date: Orientation is expected to be in mid- to late September 2026. The specific date and time will be announced.
• Information: UCDC Program staff will hold a mandatory orientation for all students.

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FIRST DAY OF INTERNSHIP

• Date: The first day of internships is expected to be in mid- to late September 2026. The specific date will be announced.

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SECOND HOUSING PAYMENT

• Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026.
• Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.
  
  Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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FINAL HOUSING PAYMENT DEADLINE

• Deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2026.
• Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.
  
  Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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LAST DAY OF INTERNSHIP

• Date: The last day of internships is expected to be in early December 2026. The specific date will be announced.

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RETURN FROM DC

• Checkout Date and Time: Checkout is expected to be in early December 2026. The specific date and time will be announced.
• Instructions: Plan your departure accordingly as you will not have access to the center or its facilities after 1:00 PM sharp. You may be fined for a late departure unless you have pre-approved an extended stay and have signed a revised housing contract.

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