Washington Semester | American University | Admissions

Washington Semester Program, Washington, DC - American University

FINANCIAL AID FAQ

Q: I'm on financial aid at my home school. Will it transfer? If not, does the program offer financial aid?

A: Many of your financial aid questions can be answered by your home school representative or their financial aid officers. If you can't get answers through your home school, just pick up the phone and call us at (800) 424-2600 — we'll do our best to help you out.

We've discovered from past experience that getting your parents involved in the financial aid process is most helpful when the home school is processing (or not processing) the aid and there are unanswered questions. Don't be afraid to call home and ask Mom or Dad to step in and ask some questions when it comes to the $$$$. Don't worry that talking over the finances with them makes you any less responsible; just more realistic and careful.

With regulations constantly changing regarding federal financial aid, it pays to assume nothing and make a few calls. Be sure to get names of those you speak with and make some notes to refer to at a later time if necessary.

Q: I'm on work-study at my home school. Can I use my work-study at AU?

A: Discuss this option with your financial aid counselor (at your home school if they're processing your aid or at AU if your home school won’t process your aid). It may be possible to use your federal work-study. If it isn't possible, we offer something similar to work-study; we call it work-award.

Q: I'm from a non-member school and don't have a clue as to where to begin to get my financial aid questions answered. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Our best suggestion is to try to contact students from your school who have participated in the program in the past and find out who they talked to and what they had to do. It's not always easy, but if there's someone who has already been through it, why not start by asking them a few questions. If you need help finding a student from your school who has attended or a faculty member at your school who may be able to help, contact us.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

Dean’s Scholarship
Because of the significant differences in tuition and housing costs between American University and some of the home schools from which students come, there are a limited number of Dean's Scholarships available to help bridge the gaps.

If you are interested in applying for a Dean's Scholarship, please complete the attached form. We encourage you to apply early for these funds. Submit your completed form either with your application or after you have been accepted.

--> Download Dean's Scholarship Application

Work Awards
The Work Award program was started by the Washington Semester Program in 1995 as a way for students to earn some extra pocket money while they're in D.C.

The work responsibilities are mainly administrative and support positions with very flexible hours. We want you to focus your attention on your seminars and internship, so we let you schedule your work hours around them. There is a cap placed on how much money work award students can earn during the semester, and they can work a maximum of 20 hours a week.

How do you know if you are eligible for a Work Award position? Well, if you currently receive federal work study funds at your home school and they will not transfer with you to the Washington Semester Program, you may apply for a Dean's Scholarship. Most of the Dean's Scholarship funds are allotted to students as Work Award positions. Once you apply for a Dean's Scholarship, you'll receive written notification on whether you have received a Work Award.

Federal Financial Aid
Ideally, your home school will process your aid package and allow AU to bill them for the program charges. If they choose not to do it this way, find out what the process is from them or contact the AU Financial Aid office (202/885-6100 direct). You can also reach AU's Financial Aid office by calling the Washington Semester office at 1-800-424-2600 and asking to be transferred to financial aid. Be sure to mention to anyone you reach whether you are an accepted or prospective Washington Semester student and the semester in which you plan to attend.