VIEW Frequently Asked Questions

who is eligible to apply?

1. All Vanderbilt University undergraduate students.
2. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
3. All majors are welcome.
4. Must have all application components submitted before the deadline Nov.14th, 2012.
5. 1st-year students who apply for the program must submit midterm grades certified by their professors in addition to an official copy of high school transcripts.

what if I’m studying abroad in the fall? Can I still apply?

1. Absolutely, but you must meet all application requirements.
2. Application components can be emailed or mailed in separately.
3. You are still responsible for making sure all materials reach our office.
4. Because we have added a new Spring Washington Seminar component, students studying abroad in the spring semester will not be able to participate in the VIEW program.

what is the housing like?

1. Housing is provided in the Metropolitan apartments. Students live in fully-furnished apartments with fellow VIEW interns in Arlington, VA.
2. To keep the cost of the program down, four students share a 2-bedroom, 2 bath apartment with 2 twin beds in each bedroom. Each apartment has a full kitchen, washer and dryer, TV, and wireless internet.
3. A Vanderbilt staff member also lives in a nearby apartment building and is on-call 24/7 to respond to emergencies and support students.

what is the timeline for the selection process?

1. Complete applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 14th (including $50 deposit).
2. Review of application materials will take place from 11/7-11/18.
3. Interviews with OACS staff will take place 11/26 – 12/7.
4. Selection and notification of 2012 VIEW participants will be made by 12/13/2012.

how does the internship placement process work?

1. Once you are selected, the OACS staff reviews internship preferences stated in each application for the new VIEW cohort.
2. We have individual meetings with each student and discuss preferences and new opportunities. Each student will do extensive research on the organization before deciding to apply including talking with past VIEW interns and looking through the website for information.
3. Once a handful of opportunities are chosen, students will tailor their resume and cover letter to the agreed upon organizations.
4. OACS staff will visit DC in February to meet with all internship providers and discuss the recommended student’s application and answer any questions for the employer.
5. Internship providers schedule phone interviews with the recommended student and make final decisions to offer the position or not.
6. If a successful match is not made the first round, OACS works tirelessly to place all students accepted into the program with an internship within their preferred areas.
7. The best quality to bring to the internship placement process is an open-mind and positive attitude. There is so much to learn and gain through an internship in Washington, D.C.; but as in life, every experience is what you make of it.

will the metro pass cover all of my travel through the summer?

1. Students receive a weekly metro pass for unlimited travel.

can I get academic credit for doing this?

1. Because VIEW takes place during the summer, students who wish to receive Independent Study credit for their internship hours will need to sign up for and pay for the credit hours in addition to the VIEW program fee.
2. We are happy to assist you with this process and sign your INDS request form. Students are able to take up to three credit hours for internship in most majors.
3. Generally, 1 credit hour requires 75 hours of service and a 5 page paper.
4. **All VIEW Participants will receive one credit for the spring semester course, which meets bi-weekly throughout the spring semester.

is financial aid available for the program?

1. Yes, financial aid is available through the OACS office.
2. A financial aid form will be distributed during the application process, and is due when applications are due, Nov. 14th, 2012.
3. VIEW financial aid is determined by a panel of Dean of Students Staff Members and is based on financial need. A copy of the FASFA will be requested with your application.

how many hours will I work?

1. The number of hours per day or per week varies depending on the employer, but many interns work beyond the standard 9am – 5pm work day.
2. This would be a great question to ask the internship provider during a phone interview.

do programming fees cover my food expenses?

1. Food will be provided at all VIEW sponsored events including special topic seminars, VIEW socials, service projects, and other sponsored events (roughly one per week).
2. You and your roommates will be responsible for purchasing groceries or any necessary items throughout the program.
3. There are also many free-food events in DC specifically for interns. “FREE in DC” even has its own website!