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.
Sarah B.
Major: Organizational Studies and Political Science
Company Name: Cisco Systems, Inc.
City: San Jose, CA
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: I sent in a resume and completed two interviews.
Day-to-day activities: I attended meetings, worked on Microsoft Excel projects, created governance maps of the marketing department, and completed basic desk work.
Most rewarding: I loved the people I worked with and the company culture.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge was teaching myself how to work with Microsoft Excel.
Most important thing learned: I learned how to ask questions in the workplace and now understand business world etiquette.
Key advice: Ask a lot of questions and take advantage of networking.
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.
Lisa M.
Major: Political Science
Company Name: Food and Water Watch
City: Detroit, MI
Paid/Unpaid/Course Credit: Paid
Steps to get the internship: I got the internship through a program at U of M called Community Based Research Fellowship.
Day-to-day activities: I conducted research on local farmers. It was entirely my project to work on so I didn't interact with the other employees very much.
Most rewarding: The best part was probably getting the opportunity to feel like I was really affecting change in a community. My research will go on to provide greater proof of the inequalities in the food system in order to create a fair farm bill.
Biggest challenge: Working alone almost all day was difficult but also rewarding. I know that the work I completed was entirely my own but it was a scary experience because I had so much independence.
Most important thing learned: The most important thing I learned was self-growth. I know now that there is a greater range of policy that I would be interested in pursuing in the future.
Key advice: I had an unusual experience in that I was not required to do menial work, as many are. I also was paid for my time in Detroit, which was an absolutely amazing experience. I would say you should definitely go out of town, it's absolutely worth the scariness of moving.