Frequently Asked Questions
About WISE & the Application Process

Q. What are the dates for the 2011 program?

5 June - 5 August 2011

Q.  My college quarter/semester will not be finished by the WISE start date.  Can I start the WISE program late?

No. Past Interns who have had this situation have been able to work out an arrangement with their professors to leave school early. Some have been allowed to take exams early or as "take home" exams while participating in WISE.

Q. How many interns is WISE planning to sponsor in 2011?

10-12.

Q.  Do I apply to WISE or to the sponsoring society?

Apply directly to a sponsoring society.  Contact information is provided on the application form.  If you are a member of more than one sponsoring society, you may apply to each separately.

Q. What is the deadline date for submitting applications?

Application materials must be post-marked on or before 31 December.

Q. Is there a salary?

There is a stipend of $2,100, paid in three installments at the beginning, middle and end of the program. In addition, WISE covers the housing costs for each intern at George Washington University, as well as provides fare cards to partially cover Washington Metro system costs.

Q. Do I have to belong to one of the sponsoring societies?

Yes.  Consider joining to make yourself eligible for WISE

Q. Are graduate students eligible to apply?

The program is open to recent engineering (or computer science) graduates beginning study in a technology policy-related Master’s program or law school. 

Q.  Are Freshmen or Sophomore students eligible to apply?

No.  Students should have completed at least two years of undergraduate study.  The program sponsors believe that the first two years of coursework are required to give you the grounding needed to relate your engineering training to public policy.

Q.  Are Computer Science majors eligible to apply?

IEEE will sponsor individuals in a Computer Science degree program if they are also IEEE student members.

Q. When will I hear if I have been accepted?

The sponsoring societies begin reviewing applications in mid-January. Once the choices are made, students are contacted with sponsorship offers, usually in mid-February. Once all slots have been filled, a notice is placed on the WISE webpage and all applicants will be send responses advising them of the status of their application.

Q.  What happens if I accept a WISE Internship sponsorship offer and another opportunity comes along later.

It is very difficult to fill vacancies that occur within a month or two of the start of the summer program, and certain costs (e.g. the cost of the reserved dorm room) must be absorbed by the program sponsors if you change your mind and then elect not to participate.

If you think you are likely to accept another Internship or anticipate some other contingency that would prevent you fulfilling your committment to the WISE program, you are asked not to apply and/or accept a WISE sponsorship offer.

If by some circumstance you accept a WISE Internship, but are forced to withdraw from the program, you are strongly encouraged to give notice as soon as possible of your withdrawal so that an attempt can be made to fill the vacancy.

WISE Webmaster: Chris Brantley, c.brantley@ieee.org