Skip to content Where Legends Are Made

The Washington Experience: Places to Look for Internships

Congressional and Senate Offices

  • Most popular option for students taking part in the Washington Experience
  • You always have an inside track with your own Congressman
  • 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

Executive Branch Agencies

  • Apply early. Very early if the agency deals with national security or law enforcement.
  • Probably helpful if you are a Republican; Depends on the job.
  • Internships will likely last much of the summer.

Advocacy Groups

  • 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

Political Party Organizations

  • There are a number of organizations that do work for various political parties (Democratic National Committee, Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, College Democrats of America, Young Republicans, Libertarian Party)
  • Helps to be registered and active with a political party
  • Organizations differ regarding length of internship and compensation

Think Tanks (Policy Research Organizations)

  • 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

Lobbying

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

Political Media

  • 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)

Additional Sources of Information on Finding Internships

  • There are many good websites that advertise all sorts of internships in Washington. One resource that is useful is http://www.internships.com/washington-dc. 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.).