The TFAS Summer Fellowship in Washington D.C. - The Business and Government Relations Program

Spend 8 weeks in the nation’s capital with students from around the country and world who are all interested in the legislative process and learning about business and regulation. The intensive schedule is designed to maximize your time in Washington by combining learning in the classroom with practical internship experience. The Business and Government Relations Program will give you an insider’s view of Washington, and by the end of the summer you may be ready to call DC home!

Competitive candidates should have a strong academic record, demonstrated interest in the principles of originalism, limited government, and free enterprise, and a commitment to honorable leadership and the values essential to the preservation and success of a free society.

Is there a GPA requirement?

There is no formal GPA requirement but in general our admissions committee looks for applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher. We like to see well-rounded students who demonstrate ambition, academic ability, leadership ability, maturity, and involvement in campus and community activities. A low GPA may be compensated for with a strong resume, good recommendations, and well-written essays. The committee also weighs the strength of your curriculum and difficulty of the courses you have taken.

What are my chances of being accepted?

The admissions process is competitive, but if you have strong academic and extracurricular achievements, you have a good chance of being admitted. Admitted students come from a wide variety of schools, backgrounds, and academic majors. Since our class sizes are fixed, the number of admitted students varies on the size of the applicant pool, which is different from year to year. Our admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis and students who apply early are given preference in admissions, scholarship awards and internship placement. Something to keep in mind when you are deciding when to apply!

What year in school should I be?

The majority of the students that we accept are sophomores and juniors, as they generally have had a chance to establish themselves academically at the college level. However, each year we do accept a limited number of freshmen and seniors. The program is very rigorous so we look for freshmen with both outstanding academic records and good time-management skills. Graduating seniors are required to take the mandatory classes associated with the program even if they no longer need the credit. No classes may be audited or taken for pass/fail credit. We look for seniors who are fully committed to all aspects of the program.

The undergraduate programs are open to students 18 years or older who have completed at least one full semester of undergraduate education at a two-year or four-year institution. Students pursuing a Master’s Degree in the United States are ineligible to apply for any program. Students pursuing a Master’s Degree at an international university are eligible to apply for all programs except for the Legal Studies Institute (LSI).

Can I be accepted into the Washington, DC programs if I am an international student?

Yes. We do accept a very limited number of international students each year. The application process is very competitive due to the small number of spaces we have available.

Is there a special deadline for international students?

Yes. The international student deadline for the summer programs is January 15. If you are interested in a semester program you must submit your application by October 5 for the spring and by April 10 for the fall program.

If I am an international student but already studying at a university in the U.S., do I need to apply by the international student deadline?

If you are an international student already studying in the U.S. you can apply after the international student deadline. However, if you are a student applying for restricted scholarship funding specifically available to international students, you must apply for the international student deadline in order to be considered.

Those selected to participate in the fellowship program will receive a full-tuition scholarship to attend the program and housing for the duration of the program. Awards are highly selective – only 15-20 students will be invited to participate in the 2019 program.

How are scholarship awards determined?

We award scholarships based on academic record, extracurricular achievement, leadership ability and financial need. About 80% of all students receive scholarships. We award scholarships on a rolling basis, so if you need financial assistance we encourage you to apply early. Full scholarships are available through our Leadership Scholars Program.

What do I need to submit if I am applying for a scholarship?

If you are a U.S. student, you are required to complete the scholarship portion of the online application including the scholarship statement, as well as send in the appropriate personal financial materials. You can find details on what materials are required by clicking here.

If you are an international student who is NOT currently studying in the U.S. and you would like to apply for a scholarship, you are required to complete as much of the online scholarship application as possible and you MUST submit the scholarship statement.

If you are an international student currently studying in the U.S., you will have to provide documentation of any scholarship assistance you receive from your university. This does not need to be in a formal letter format, but may be a print-out from your university’s online system or a university bill that shows the breakdown of costs. Additionally you will be required to submit the scholarship statement.

Is there scholarship funding available for international students?

Yes. There is very limited scholarship funding available to international students. Alumni of TFAS international programs will receive priority admissions and scholarship consideration. If you are an international student, you must apply by the international student deadline in order to be considered for funding.