<prompt> Human: I will be graduating this year with an MPA and am looking to travel for a few months after grad school in South America and then move to D.C. I have heard that it is much easier to find a job when you actually live in the city that you are applying in hence the move.  <response>: You can get an acceptable room in a group house in DC for around 1000month, that might help. 1 bedroom apartments start at 1800mo if you dont want to get stabbed or commute over an hour. You Universitys career services office may be able to help you get set up with employers. Its not uncommon to have a nice long lag between offer and start in the public sector. 