Want an opportunity to venture outside of Riverside while building your resume with an internship accompanied by the experience of a lifetime in the nation’s capital a.k.a. the greatest city in America? WELL KEEP ON READING AMIGOS.
What it is:
As far as university supported destination study programs go, Study Abroad seems to get all of the glory. And who can blame it? Getting to use all of that fancy Italian you’ve been studying for the past three quarters, cruising on vespas, eating gelato, and Instagramming pictures of you and your peeps at the Colosseum – SIGN ME UP. But if you’re looking to stay more stateside in your academic endeavors, the UCDC Program is for you!
Students from nine of the UC campuses come together in Washington D.C. at the UCDC Center to study, live, and take classes there for a quarter as well as work a part or full time internship (depending on the internship’s needs). For a better description of the academic, professional, and social components of the program, check out this link http://www.ucdc.ucr.edu/
Work Hard:
As part of the program, each student has an internship (which they receive class credit for, the amount of which is flexible depending on the number of hours one interns) at the company/organization of their choice that they work at anywhere between 24 – 36 hours a week depending on their class schedule. My fellow UCDC participants worked everywhere from Capitol Hill to NBC News to Law Firms to even a Wine Distribution Company. Most participants do internships that align with their major but.
As a Media and Cultural Studies major, I was fortunate enough to intern at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the Arts Management department. I worked 36 – 40 hours a week, which I earned eight units for, so I only took one class instead of two. If there is anything I can say about my internship experience, besides giving me a competitive edge for applying to jobs now that I have the prestigious UCDC Program on my resume, it is that I am now prepared for the 9 AM to 5 PM work grind. I definitely can now appreciate the challenges of keeping up with a regular academic schedule on top of a full time job.
Play Hard:
As the old adage goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well luckily that is not the case in Washington D.C..
Our nation’s capital is literally always bustling with excitement – a stark comparison to our beloved Riverside. There is something for everyone, from the Smithsonian museums to the National Zoo to the Library of Congress to shopping in Georgetown to a bevy of culinary experiences that would be any foodie’s paradise and more, you will never be bored in Washington D.C.. Best of all, most tourist attractions are completely free to visit – got to love government owned entities. The UCDC Center is located in a prime area of the Northwest quadrant of D.C. – Dupont Circle – making most destinations of interest a quick walk or Metro ride. Even better, the Obamas are the Center’s neighbors with the White House only being two blocks away so it was not uncommon to see the President’s motorcade whiz by on my morning commute.
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For the 21 and over crowd (underage readers – avert your eyes!) –
Let’s be real, going to UC Riverside, we are not accustomed to real nightlife. Sure house parties are fun, so is Downtown Riverside every once in awhile but regardless, someone has to drive in order for you and your posse to go out. If you partake in UCDC, you may get a wee bit spoiled because with the Center being located in Dupont, prime nightlife is just a block walk and due to the fabulous Metro system, any other bar district you may want to go to is just a quick train ride away.
Also, D.C. is the magical land of FREE happy hour, FREE taco Thursdays, and BOTTOMLESS brunch. How is this possible, one might ask. While all establishments will not let your cup and plate overfloweth, there are 2 bars located a block away from the Center, the Mighty Pint (http://www.themightypint.com/) and the Sign of the Whale (http://www.signofthewhaledc.com/) in which you can enter into a raffle for you and your friends to win free happy hour (everyone is guaranteed to win at some point). On Thursdays, the Front Page (http://frontpagedc.com/) also located 2 blocks from the Center, has free tacos – at first I was distraught that D.C. does not celebrate Taco Tuesday like we do in California but this more than made up for it. Lastly, brunch is a BIG DEAL in D.C.. Most restaurant establishments host brunch but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, restaurants with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys are the way to go. Some restaurants even have bottomless “Build your own” Bloody Marys. Proceed with caution my friends.
What I took away from this experience:
Yes, free sightseeing and free happy hour in the most beautiful city in the country (I’m a bit biased if you have not already noticed) are wonderful, but the greatest thing I have taken away from my UCDC experience is a sense of direction. Last summer, I applied to UCDC because I wanted a change of pace. As a senior, I had grown tired of my mundane routine in Riverside. Do not get me wrong, I bleed Tartan gold and blue just like the next Highlander, but I needed something fresh. Being away from my quotidian life for ten weeks, gave me the breather I needed as well as a fresh perspective on life.
Before UCDC, frankly, I had zero clue what I was doing with my life after my graduation on June 15th. Through my internship at the Kennedy Center, I now have a better idea of what I want to do with my life post graduation and where I want to live. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the program to apply and see what happens. As dramatic as this may sound, UCDC has changed my life, opening me up to experiences, both professional and personal I believe I could not have had anywhere else. This is an immense opportunity and my only hope by writing this article is that more people will look into it so that there lives can be bettered just as mine has.
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BONUS – My Top Places to Check Out in D.C. (in no particular order)
1. Bus Boys and Poets – U Street District
– It’s a restaurant! It’s a bookstore! It’s both! Bomb brunch with Beyonce as ambiance music.
2. Woodley Park National Zoo
– HUGE zoo with every animal you could possibly ever want to see there, including those pandas from China that everyone is always talking about, and it’s free!
3. Baked and Wired Cupcakes – Georgetown
– Literally the best cupcakes in the world with flavors like “Irish Car Bomb” and “Uniporn and Rainbow Hoes.” That is all.
4. First Lady Dress Collection at the National Museum of American History – Smithsonian
– Collection of dresses that the First Lady’s wore for every occasion from Dolly Madison to Hillary Clinton. My personal fave was Michelle O’s Jason Wu 2009 Inaugural Ball gown.
5. Beacon Bar – Directly Across the Street from the UCDC Center
– All I have to say is $5 martinis all day everyday. Get the watermelon martini. You’re welcome.
6. Mad Hatter – Dupont Circle
– An Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant that turns into a club at night. Has the best DJ in D.C. hands down. Also has a Krispy Kreme breakfast sandwich and chicken and waffles for brunch.
7. Walk the National Monuments at sunset.
– Beautiful views. Perfect for Instagraming.