Who can apply for Beyond BYU?
Any current BYU student can apply, but preference will be given to political science majors (and minors) and juniors and seniors. We also invite you to apply if you have attended in the past. While we hope to mainly bring new students who have not participated in Beyond BYU in the past, having some returning students helps our program run smoothly in D.C.
In short, if you are interested in working in Washington, D.C. after college graduation, please apply! Who we select will depend on how many applications we receive, but it doesn’t hurt to apply!
How much will it cost to attend Beyond BYU?
The political science department will cover your airfare of up to $650 and you are responsible for covering any amount in excess of $650. Your flight must be booked through BYU travel after given an authorization code. Generally, students will arrive in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 30th and fly out on Saturday, May 3rd. While attending Beyond BYU, students can either stay with a friend or family member, or with other students in the Hyatt hotel at a cost of $50 per night per single student (on Wednesday April 30th, Thursday May 1st, and Friday May 2nd). The hotel rooms will be shared between three students and contain two queen beds and a large pull-out couch for the third student to sleep on. The political science department will pay for the remaining hotel cost which is around $60 per night per student. Although some meals will be included in the program, you should expect to pay for most of your meals while in Washington, D.C. The hotel is close to a grocery store which may help keep costs low. While in D.C. you will also be responsible for paying for travelling around the city. The hotel is near the Mount Vernon Square metro stop (at the corner of M street NW and 7th street NW) and is a good central location for exploring the city.
Can my spouse and I attend together?
Yes! If you plan to stay at the Hyatt hotel with your spouse, you and your spouse will be required to pay $150 per night to cover the student portion of the hotel room. All the other costs should be the same for married and single students. If you wish, you may also stay in shared rooms with other students separate from your spouse if cost is a concern. Married couples should fill out separate applications.
What are the expectations for participating in the program?
The political science department is heavily invested in Beyond BYU, and we expect all participating students to take their attendance in the program seriously. Before we all meet in Washington, D.C. we expect all participating students to make their travel arrangements before March 28th (by booking your flight through BYU travel once you have received an authorization code and paying for the hotel room). In April, we will also be holding an orientation meeting where we give detailed instructions about what to expect while in D.C. and provide some valuable training on effective networking. Students will be expected to attend this meeting or make arrangements with Jennie Jasperson if they are unable to attend.
While in D.C., we expect that you will attend all events and site visits on your schedule, and be professional in your dress and mannerisms while in attendance. If you need help navigating D.C. or have questions, please ask the other students or one of the two representatives from BYU’s political science department for help. If you are not staying at the Hyatt hotel with the other students, we need the address of the friend or family member where you will be staying.
After the program is over, we expect all students to write a short essay reflecting on their experience and fill out an email survey. We use this information to improve our program from year to year and to ensure that we continue receiving funding to subsidize most the costs of the program. We also ask students to share an photos they have taken with us so we can use them to promote next year’s Beyond BYU program and share in our department magazine and website.
What job sites will I be able to visit?
We don’t have the site visits arranged yet for this year, but you can expect a variety of government agencies (like the CIA, FBI, and the State Department), congressional offices, lobbying organizations, and private sector offices. You can see where we've visited in previous years.
Will I have any free time to explore Washington, D.C.?
Yes! depending on when you arrive on Wednesday and leave on Saturday, you will have the remainder of both those days to explore D.C. Additionally, you will have some free time before, between, and after site visits and events to sightsee. We recommend you make time to see some of the historic landmarks around the National Mall. D.C. is a beautiful city and May is a lovely time to visit.
Can I stay longer in Washington, D.C. either before or after Beyond BYU?
Yes! We will only help cover the hotel costs for Wednesday April 30th, Thursday May 1st, and Friday May 2nd, but you are welcome to make additional arrangements to stay several more days. We will only pay for your airfare up to $650, but you can plan a flight that gives you more days in Washington, D.C. as long as you pay for anything exceeding $650.
Still have questions? Attend our information session on Feb 4th at 5pm in 230 KMBL or contact Jennie Jasperson at jennie.jasperson@byu.edu.