WINTER 2026 PROGRAM CALENDAR

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: Winter 2026 Calendar of Events.

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Deadlines

Events & Workshops

Things To Do

Dates to Remember

HOUSING CONTRACT

  • BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Do not begin the housing contract process without first receiving a program acceptance email.
  • Deadline: The Housing Contract deadline is specified in your acceptance letter since students are admitted at different times.
  • 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, October 6, 2025, 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: Please complete the Individual Development Plan Form and the SMART Goals Workshop advising forms found at the following link prior to signing up for your mandatory advising appointment: PTS Dashboard.
  • 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:
    • Complete the Individual Development Plan Form and the SMART Goals Worksheet prior to signing up for your advising appointment. If you sign up for an appointment without completing the forms, your request will be denied or cancelled.
  • Sign-up Link: Mandatory Advising Sign-up.

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RESUME & COVER LETTER BASICS WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 3:10-6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, October 9, 2025, 3:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: The Grove, Room 1360.
  • 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:
    • Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 3:10-5:00 PM.
    • Thursday, October 16, 2025, 3:10-5:00 PM.
  • Location: The Grove, Room 1360.
  • 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: Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
  • 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: Tuesday, October 22, 2025, from 3:10-5:00 PM.
  • Location: The Grove, Room 1360.
  • 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: Wednesday, October 23, 2025, from 3:10-4:30 PM.
  • Location: The Grove, Room 1360.
  • 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: Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 11:59pm
  • 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 by Monday November 3, 2025, please email the Washington Program.

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HOUSING PREFERENCE FORM

  • Final Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025.
  • 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: Friday, November 21, 2025.
  • 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: Thursday, January 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: There is a 37-hour window to check in, from 8 am ET on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, to 9 pm ET on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
  • 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: Friday, January 9, 2026.
  • Information: UCDC Program staff will hold a mandatory orientation for all students.

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FIRST DAY OF INTERNSHIP

  • Date: Monday, January 12, 2026.

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SECOND HOUSING PAYMENT

  • Deadline: Sunday, February 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, March 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: Friday, March 20, 2026.

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RETURN FROM DC

  • Checkout Date and Time: You must check out and leave the UC Washington Center by 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • 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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