Before applying to the Public Policy Scholars Program, please review and take the information below into consideration. If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the program staff at ppip@ag.tamu.edu.
-
The table below provides estimated costs for students to consider during their internship semester in Washington, D.C. Students should be advised that these are approximate and that costs may vary depending on each intern’s individual experiences.
Tuition is calculated based on the number of credit hours a student is enrolled in and will be billed by the student's home institution. Students should refer to their home institution's billing rates to determine the estimated cost of tuition. Students are strongly encouraged to contact their academic advisor to discuss enrolled credits during their semester in Washington, D.C.
Estimated Costs
Housing & Utilities $350 one-time housing fee Tuition & Fees Tuition for 6-12 credit hours Flight $400-800 round trip Groceries $60 weekly Local Transportation* $30+ weekly Recreation $50 weekly Required Health Insurance Varies *This cost depends on the distance traveled and the travel time of each Metro ride. For more information on DC Metro fares and options, please visit their website here.
-
Students participating in PPSP must enroll in the following course credit:
- 6 hours of in-person Political Science courses, which will be taught by a distinguished faculty member from the Bush School of Government & Public Service at the Texas A&M D.C. Teaching Site. The courses and will focus on current issues and special topics relevant to Washington, D.C. and the American political system.
- 0-6 hours of internship coursework, which we be taught online and asynchronously. The internship coursework is meant to compliment the experiences students are having at their internship hosting offices. The internship credit is variable, meaning students can choose to take 0-6 hours depending on what they need for their degree plan and/or to remain financial aid eligible or the semester of their internship. Students will intern part-time (15-20 hours per week) with a hosting office.
Students accepted into the program from System schools will be admitted to Texas A&M University for the semester of their participation. They will be enrolled in placeholder classes at their home institutions, allowing them to pay their home institution tuition/fees and remain eligible for scholarships & financial aid. Once students complete their PPSP semester, a transcript will be sent from Texas A&M back to their home institution for transfer by credit hour.
-
Financial aid eligibility varies among students. It is ultimately the responsibility of each prospective scholar to meet with an advisor from their home institution's Scholarships & Financial Aid office to discuss how participation in the Public Policy Scholars Program will affect the student's financial aid eligibility.
Please note that any financial aid will be administered by the student's home institution.
-
All students participating in PPSP live in fully furnished apartments, just a 20-25 minute subway ride from Capitol Hill! Scholars are housed in 3-bedroom apartments, typically 2 students per bedroom. Each apartment is a massive 1,700 square feet with a balcony. The Texas A&M University System covers housing and basic utility costs for all scholars during their semester in Washington, D.C. However, each scholar is required to pay a $350 housing fee before the semester begins. Below, we've provided a brief overview of our intern housing arrangements.
Scholar Housing Components
-
Fully Furnished 3-Bedroom Apartments
-
Kitchen Utensils plus Pots and Pans
-
Kitchen Appliances
-
Apartment Operated Front Desk/Concierge Service
-
Laundry Facilities (in-unit)
-
Apartment Patio or Balcony
-
24-Hour Fitness Center
-
Accessible Walking/Running Trails
-
Walkable to Grocery Stores/The Metro (Subway System)
-
Garage Parking (limited)
Preparing to Live in D.C.
Do not stress about housing during your internship. This is what makes the program unique compared to other internship programs at other institutions. Once accepted into PPSP, students will attend a meeting to discuss housing expectations, policies, and roommate assignments. Program staff will also discuss more details about what to bring, what not to bring, our modest housing fee, and other aspects to prepare you for city living for the semester!
-
-
Starting a new job, moving to a new city, and learning the ropes can be daunting, but the Public Policy Scholars Program helps its interns navigate the road to success!
Students accepted into PPSP must attend all training sessions and pre-departure events administered virtually. There are typically 2-3 required weeknight events. Each PPSP scholar will also have an individual meeting with program staff to discuss internship placement options.
-
All PPSP participants are required to possess valid health insurance for the duration of the program semester. Students will be responsible for providing a current copy of their health insurance card to program staff prior to leaving for their internship.
Students may use their current health insurance plan or may purchase insurance through their home institution. Please visit your home institution's website below for more information on health insurance plans and eligibility.