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Personal Experience: A major draw for many Hope students is the personal experience of living in one of the most cosmopolitan and exciting urban settings in the country. Washington, D.C., by virtue of its status as the nation's capital, is steeped both in rich American history and diverse international cultures. Many Washington Honors Semester students enjoy their experience so much that they move back after graduation, making D.C. one of the largest and most active centers of Hope alumni. Living Independently
Transportation
Expenses A student's expenses for the semester consist primarily of tuition, transportation costs, and personal expenses. Tuition to Hope College is the same rate as a regular semester on campus. Transportation costs include getting to Washington, and the use of the Metro system while in the city, which ranges from $26 to $40 per week. Some internships offer travel stipends. Personal expenses in D.C. can vary quite broadly, although most students find them to be slightly higher than at Hope. For example, monthly rent is typically about $600 per student, which is billed to their Hope account if they are staying in the group housing arranged by the college. The cost of food varies depending on how extravagantly students choose to live, though they can save money by cooking for themselves. Similarly, some students may find it necessary to buy more professional clothing to wear for their internships, while others do not need to spend as much on their wardrobe. Finally, participants also are required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $300 upon their acceptance into the program to guarantee their place and defray the significant administrative cost of running the program. The financial expense is just one another aspect to consider and plan for when studying off-campus, although most alumni will say that their time in Washington was invaluable in every respect and more than worth the cost compared to a semester at Hope. Approximate Costs for WHS 2012 Tuition (full time): $12,390 (billed to Hope account) (16 credits) Extras: NOTE: A semester at Hope costs approximately $16,520.
The food expense is variable. There is an Aldi store and a store that's
comparable to
D&W. Cable is an option - one group used a tv antennae and was fine with
that. Internet is another option - there is Internet access in the lobby
of the apartment complex. These few items should be decided by all of
those in the apartment. Of course, if you don't drive, there is no parking
expense. If you do drive,
there
is fuel
expense
for
the
car.
Entertainment expense is whatever you want. There is a lot to do and
see in D.C. with little or no cost.
In
their own words... |
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Washington
Semester participants can choose either to find their
own independent
housing
arrangements or live with the other Hope students in a program
- arranged
apartment complex. Students will gain the experience of commuting daily
to work, shopping for groceries in an urban environment, and preparing
their own food. In their free time, they can enjoy the capital's
bustling nightlife or take advantage of the city's many free museums
and attractions. Finally, there is a wide range
of churches
and
denominations to worship at.
While
in Washington, students will learn how to navigate the city using the
Metro mass transit system,
which
is
convenient,
safe,
and
inexpensive. One of the best and cheapest forms of transportation is
walking, which is easy to do in a very compact capital city. Participants
are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington,
though
there are
many
inexpensive
flight options
into the
city. Students also have the option of keeping a personal car with
them during the semester.