Scholars will be able to experience first hand the real world experiences of government in action at numerous locations in Washington. Opportunities to attend lectures and functions with dignitaries, Congressmen, Senators, Judges and Administration Officials are numerous and a great chance to do some networking. Scholars also become well acquainted with the Supreme Court, the Capitol Building, and have the opportunity to attend events at the White House, Pentagon, and even travel to conventions across the country.

There are many exciting benefits which come from being a Scholar in Washington, DC. One could expect to gain an intimate level of understanding in how our government works, as well as how to gain a foothold in a political or government career. Many Washington Scholar interns go on to law school, and some even obtain jobs at think tanks, the administration or on Capitol Hill upon the completion of the Fellowship. Those who make the best of networking while in DC will establish valuable connections which come extremely handy later on. Recent graduates thinking about a career in government will find the Washington Scholars Fellowship Program a great way to get a foothold on their career.

In addition to the aesthetic benefits, many of your colleges may actually award you college credit for the work you do in Washington DC. Unfortunately, as each college is different, there is no set guideline to help you obtain college credit for your time. However, in the past, WSFP has put Scholars in touch with their supervisor in DC before they actually arrive, and the supervisor has put together a letter to the department chair of the college. This letter addresses the various functions that each Scholar can expect to perform. Afterwards, your department chair will make the decision on how much credit to award you, or might make suggestions for an extra project.