Steps to get the internship: I found the application online and applied!
Day to day activities: I spent each day attending Congressional hearings and taking notes, researching legislation, writing memos, and developing PowerPoints.
Most rewarding: I loved going to the Hill on a regular basis!
Biggest challenge: After attending Congressional hearings, meetings, and conferences, I was responsible for informing our clients on the topic. It was challenging to evaluate all of the information and pick out what was most relevant to each of our clients. This forced me to know both the issue and the client.
Most important thing learned: Regularly writing policy memos helped me develop a more concise and effective writing style.
Key advice: Find an internship that offers you an opportunity to learn something new and challenges you.
Lauren M.
Major: Communications and English
Company Name: WUSA Channel 9, Local News, a CBS affiliate
City: Washington DC
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: For Course Credit
Steps to get the internship: I applied online and had a phone interview.
Day to day activities: Press releases, analyzing ratings and composing daily reports on how last nights news cast did in comparison to our competitors, attending news meetings, helping produce weather alerts, proofs, and promos, writing brief scripts for weather alerts, proofs and promos, organizational tasks and getting lunch
Most rewarding: I loved living in D.C. and being able to go out with reporters for filming.
Biggest challenge: When there was nothing to do at work it was a bit boring, and being far away from home was difficult sometimes.
Most important thing learned: I learned to be patient and polite, listen to everything, write down everything, ask for a letter of recommendation, network, make connections, and pay attention to details.
Key advice: Don't expect it to be glamorous, but do expect it to be worth it.
Katy B.
Major: Spanish
Company Name: Global Entrepreneurship Week
City: Washington, DC
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Unpaid
Steps to get the internship: I filled out an application and conducted one phone interview
Day to day activities: I researched startups related to the ecosystem and potential partners for our company, reached out to company partners, and translated.
Most rewarding: I got to manage a large portion of a demographic survey that went out to our partners in over 130 countries and completed the translation for this survey.
Biggest challenge: Some of the startup ecosystem research I did was tough. I was looking for information on countries where we don't have partners which was difficult because most of them don't have the infrastructure to have startups.
Most important thing learned: There are really only two responses when someone asks you if you can do something: "Yes" or "I'll figure it out." I was able to accomplish a lot more than I ever thought I would because I didn't close myself off from any projects just because they seemed difficult.
Key advice: Be broad in your internship search. I had previously interned for my US Representative (DE-AL) and thought for sure that I wanted to be in a Congressional or Senate office, but GEW was a completely different perspective that I otherwise would never have gotten.
Olivia B.
Major: Public Policy
Company Name: American Enterprise Institute
City: Washington, D.C.
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Unpaid
Steps to get the internship: I applied through the formal application process because I heard about it through the Public Service Internship Program at the University of Michigan.
Day-to-day activities: Compiling news debriefings, organizing conferences by drafting speaker bios and running registration, editing and fact-checking articles and upcoming books.
Most rewarding: Attending conferences and meeting with scholars was very rewarding.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge was completing expense reports for the office.
Most important thing learned: I learned a lot about Asian Regional Security, especially about the role of the United States Department of Defense in Asia.
Key advice: Take advantage of personal connections and keep up with them afterwards.
Jess G.
Major: Political Science
Company Name: A Congressional Office
City: Washington, D.C.
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Unpaid
Steps to get the internship: I filled out an online application.
Day to day activities: These included attending briefings, answering phones, writing and researching bills, and sending out news clips.
Most rewarding: It was rewarding to learn so much about the government and what happens.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge was the fact that I had no office experience beforehand.
Most important thing learned: The differences between republican and democratic bills.
Key advice: You should always come in to the office with a good attitude and be open to instructions.
Libby S.
Major: Psych and International Relations
Company Name: Truman National Security Project.
City: Washington, DC
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Unpaid
Steps to get the internship: I emailed the internship coordinator for an organization I was interested in and we chatted over email. I sent her my resume, had an interview, and I was in!
Day-to-day activities: I worked for the executive director, researched national security issues, and went to meetings with senators and seminars on foreign security topics.
Most rewarding: I realized that people actually want to make this country better, not just about politics. I also learned about the benefits of working in a grassroots organization.
Biggest challenge: The most difficult part of my job was keeping up with all of the news on the issues we discussed and sorting through the bias to get the facts.
Most important thing learned: I learned a lot about the importance of networking.
Key advice: Understand that there is a lot to learn from your bosses and that networking can be a key to success.
Katie K.
Major: Public Policy
Company Name: Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington
City: Washington, DC
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Unpaid
Steps to get the internship: I found out about this opportunity through U of M's Public Service Intern Program. I sent in my resume and cover letter and then interviewed with the internship coordinator.
Day-to-day activities: I worked as a caseworker, logging information about our program participants and listening to them about their concerns and successes. I worked with homeless participants and helped them acquire housing. I also worked with unemployed individuals on cover letters, resumes, job applications, and e-mail etiquette.
Most rewarding: When participants found jobs or housing they were so grateful. Seeing their successes and knowing that I had a part in that was really amazing.
Biggest challenge: Casework can be mentally exhausting at times; I had to focus on the accomplishments of the participants instead of their barriers to success.
Most important thing learned: Non-profit work can be a fantastically gratifying experience and is a nice break from academics.
Key advice: If you want to have a lot of responsibilities during your internship, small non-profits can provide that kind of training.