Living in the nation’s capital
You’ll experience a range of weather unlike that in Los Angeles during your time at Dornsife DC Washington DC Program.
DC is a subtropical climate with cold winters and humid summers. Expect the weather to change from snowfall to heavy rain, and from cloudy to sunny days during your semester-long program.
Students live in Washington DC throughout the semester-long term, aligning with USC’s academic calendar. The city can get very cold in the winter, with average temperatures of 25F, and average high of 40 degrees with light snowfall.
At the end of April, temperatures can get as high as 70 degrees with humidity. We recommend that students bring a mix of both winter and spring transitional clothing that includes layers to manage the transition from day into night.
Centrally located
Our vibrant neighborhood is close to many businesses and government offices/agencies. Most students are able to walk to and from their internships and class.
Students are also walking distance from many excellent local restaurants, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, two Metro stops, dry cleaners, cafes, and much more. The neighborhood is one of DC’s most popular areas and centers.
The nation’s capital is easy to navigate. The Capital Beltway (“The Beltway”) surrounds Washington DC within its 64-mile circular length, framing the US Capitol Building at its core. DC’s streets are laid out in a grid-pattern, with diagonal boulevards named after states. When you’re not walking between your apartment, internships and class, the Metro’s six color-coded lines can get you to where you want to go quickly and safely. If you plan to use the Metro frequently, we recommend purchasing a SmarTrip® card to get the lowest fares.
Explore Washington DC
The nation’s capital is home to thousands of highly-educated workers living among each other a dynamic environment. This diverse city is packed with professionals whose conversations dominated by politics. Come prepared to engage with everything that DC has to offer at school, work, during meals, and at leisure.
Aside from taking courses and internships, students participate in a variety of outside the classroom events. The Dornsife Washington, DC program offers group dinners with local alumni, visits to DC institutions, and guest speakers and lectures.
In the past, students have attended organized trips touring NPR’s headquarters, visiting the CIA, viewing the State Department diplomatic reception rooms, meeting with members of the National Security Council, going to George Washington’s Mt. Vernon and more.