Finding Internships

• Most popular option for students
• You always have an inside track with your own representatives
• Apply to Congressmen representing districts where your relatives live
• If you do not get an offer, feel free to call intern coordinator or chief of staff
• Internships typically last 4-6 weeks
• Most of the work does not have strong ideological or partisan content
• Some Congressmen and Senators offer compensation, but most do not

• Apply early. Very early if the agency deals with national security or law enforcement.
• Internships will likely last much of the summer.

Good Places to look:

The White House

• Applications will be reviewed by the White House
• Internship Program team on a rolling basis during the application window; completed applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to submit their applications sooner rather than later in the application period.
• The application portal usually opens mid-October and closes mid-November.
• Selected applicants will be notified the following spring.
• The Summer program is typically a 10-week program, beginning in June and ending in mid-August.

The White House Historical Association

• The Association occasionally has internship availability in individual departments. This is on a sporadic basis, depending on the season.
• All internship opportunities will be posted on the website linked above when they are available.

• A demonstrated commitment to the issues that a group works on is very helpful
• Much of the work will have strong ideological content
• Internships often last for the entire summer
• Many groups offer limited compensation

• Helps to be registered and active with a political party
• Organizations differ regarding length of internship and compensation

• Popular option for students interested in public policy
• These internships tend to be pretty competitive
• Commitment to both the ideology and the issues of a given think tank is helpful
• Demonstrated ability to do research is often helpful
• Internships often last the entire summer
• Most think tanks offer limited compensation

• Alabama connections at Van Scoyoc, Barbour, Rogers, and Griffith, and Balch and Bingham
• Compensation and work responsibilities vary

• Washington, DC Media, Capitol Hill Media, Ideological Publications located in Washington, DC
• Some previous experience as a writer or reporter is usually helpful
• Some organizations are willing to offer training to aspiring journalists (National Journalism Center, American Journalism Center)

• Henry Clay Center’s College Student Congress
• AMA Government Relations Advocacy Fellowship
• APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government
• APS Congressional Science Fellowships
• Asian Pacific American American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Fellowship
• Capital City Fellows Program (CCFP)
• Central Asia-Azerbaijan Fellowship Program
• CFR Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship
• CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship Program
• CHCI Graduate Fellowship
• CHCI Public Policy Fellowship
• Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy
• David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship
• Eben Tisdale Public Policy Fellowship
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Science and Technology Policy Fellowships (SunShot Initiative Fellowships)
• Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program
• Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
• Hertog Advanced Institutes
• Hertog Political Studies Program
• IEEE-USA Engineering & Diplomacy Fellowship
• International Leadership Foundation (ILF) Civic Fellowship Program
• John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
• Meridian Institute Fellowship
• RWJ Health Policy Fellows
• State Policy Fellowship Program
• Urban Leaders Fellowship
• S. PIRG Fellowship
• VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship
• Victory Congressional Fellowship
• Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program

There are many good websites that advertise all sorts of internships in Washington.  Simply enter search terms of relevance to your interests and see what you can find (e.g. politics, political science, public policy, Republican, Democrat, Congress, research, etc.).