For Parents

Welcome to the Washington Program! We are so thrilled to have your adult child as part of our program. Through internships and academic courses, they will have the chance to develop essential professional skills and gain confidence in the work environment. Additionally, they will get to experience the exciting opportunity of living in the heart of our nation's capital.

We truly understand how important your role is in supporting your adult child's success, and we want to assure you that we are here for them every step of the way. If there's additional you'd like to know that isn't covered on our website, please feel free to email us at washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu. We are eager to assist in making this a meaningful and rewarding experience for your adult child.

Thank you for entrusting us with this unique opportunity to support your adult child's growth and development. We look forward to partnering with them throughout their exciting journey in Washington.

  • What are the benefits of going to Washington D.C.?
  • Students benefit from an internship experience in the following ways:
    - Gain valuable career-related experience. This relevant work experience can give students a competitive edge when the time comes to finding a full-time job after graduation
    - Development of career-related skills and abilities
    - Opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and skills from involvement in activities in the professional environment
    - Chance to learn more about a given career field and gain a better understanding of what the professional environment is really like
    - Development of a network of professional contacts
    - Possibility to develop a mentoring relationship with a professional
    - Potential to be offered a permanent job. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2008 Experiential Education Survey, employer respondents indicated that, on average, 70% of interns receive full-time job offers as a result of their internships.
  • How will the program prepare my adult child?
  • The Washington Program provides many resources that students can utilize in order to assist in finding an internship in DC. 

    We provide:
    - Individualized advising sessions
    - Professional development workshops
    - Resume and cover letter reviews
    - Mock interviews
  • How do I pay for the program?

  • As participants in the Washington Program, students remain entitled to the same tuition fees as those required by UC Davis.

    All university financial aid eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office. The Washington Program sends the names of all confirmed participants to the UC Davis Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office then receives a program budget from the Washington Program office. Financial aid packages for students accepted into the Washington Program are determined based on this budget. Since the Washington Program cost is slightly higher than the UC Davis standard cost, you will receive your standard UC Davis aid plus additional funds for the unmet need. This may be offered to you in the form of a loan based on eligibility. Additionally, students can apply for outside scholarships and/or loans. Once packaging is complete, the Financial Aid Office will notify each student in the program. This can take up to 6 weeks after a student is admitted to the program. The Washington Program does not estimate student need nor does it determine what students' packages will be.

    To discuss your financial aid eligibility in greater detail, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Please ask specific questions and include your name and student ID number.

    The program also offers scholarships to accepted students, which can be found on our Scholarship page.

  • What safety measures are in place in Washington D.C.?

  • The Washington Center is secured by access control, CCTV, and a security guard service. All entry and exit points to the building are monitored 24/7 by a network-based CCTV system. Access control is maintained and monitored by Stanley Convergent Security Services. The security guard station in the main lobby is manned 24/7.

    The front door of the building serves as the main access for our residents, faculty, staff, and visitors. Center residents will receive a card key that provides access to the building's main entrance and floors that are available for their use. Students will be required to carry this card key with them whenever leaving their apartment. Under normal circumstances, the building is unlocked during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. M-F. At all other times, students will need their card key to enter the building. The card key is required at all times to use the elevators and exit the stairwells.

    All guests to the Center must sign in at the Security Desk and will be issued a Visitor's ID. There are areas within the building (including office space on floors 2 and 3) that have limited public hours of access. An appropriately coded card key is required for after-hours access to these areas. The UC Washington Center reserves the right to close the building to any non-resident or guest and to ask them to leave the building at any time.

    For more information about the Washington Center, please visit our Housing Information page.