The Internship Experience

D.C. Students

A typical week blends a four and a half-day internship with program-specific rigorous academics. For 36 hours per week students go to their internship where they gain work experience and acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities that will benefit them in their future careers.

 

Students participate in one course per week tailored to increasing their knowledge in a specific area of interest. Monday afternoons are dedicated to The Leadership Forum where participants meet with distinguished leaders with diverse professional backgrounds. They engage in substantive discussions ranging in topics from arts and culture, to nonprofit leadership, environment, and civic engagement.

 

During the week, students also are encouraged to participate in additional events on their own, create a network of contacts to assist their professional development and engage in conversations on different issues, as well as to participate in various service learning opportunities.

 

Regional Students

A typical week blends a four and a half-day internship with program-specific activities and workshops. For 36 hours per week students go to their internship where they gain work experience and acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities that will benefit them in their future careers.

 

Students participate in conference calls and webinar style workshops that cover a variety of topics including how to create a federal resume and how to get a job in the federal government.

Internship Sites

Agencies and Sample Internship Sites

The Washington Center works with several government agencies to provide internships for undergraduate and graduate students. Positions are available at a number of agencies each term, which have included (but are not limited to):

 

• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• National Archives and Records Administration
• and more!

Sample Internship Descriptions

 

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

Internship Description: The internship offers real world museum experience to students interested in pursuing a career within the field. We assign a variety of collections and exhibits related projects to our interns.  The intern's project would be assisting with inventory through storage organization and reconfiguration. The intern will learn about the proper procedures for inventory and storage conditions; condition reporting, how to handle objects, museum terminology, storage techniques, micro-environments, object material sensitivity, and museum database skills (through data entry and object photography).

Specific expectations:

 

• Interest in working with museum collections
• Intern should be detail oriented, organized, and able to work independently
• Intern must be able to work as a team and accept constructive criticism
• Average or above average level of computer literacy (skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, Word, Excel, Access, and a collection database would be an advantage)

 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Washington-Dulles International Airport

Internship Description: The internship offers a hands-on experience to students who are interested in the aviation management career field. Students will have the opportunity to witness airport operations, including those from a flight tower and air-traffic control operations, while lending support where required.

Specific expectations:

 

• Provide administrative support for the air traffic control operation at the FAA Control Tower at Washington-Dulles International Airport
• Assist in the preparation of audio visual presentations
• Receive visitors and conduct facility tours
• Prepare data for analysis
• Compile reports

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

VA Medical Center

Internship Description: The internship offers a practical healthcare-related experience to students who are interested in both long-term rehabilitative care and support to veterans who have been wounded in the line of duty. Specifically, the intern will speak to veterans groups and clinicians educating on prosthetic programs; write standard of operations for clothing allowance and auto adaptive; update position descriptions for prosthetic positions; and work with and attend meetings of prosthetic committees (Major Medical, Home Oxygen, HISA).

Specific expectations:

 

• Average or above average level of computer literacy
• Some knowledge of prosthetics
• Experienced in communications

Locations

Federal agency internship sites are in D.C. and several regional locations throughout the United States. Regional locations vary by term, but past students have interned in the following states: California, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, Washington, Georgia, and Missouri. Students will be contacted if they are being considered for a regional placement.

 

Scholarships/Stipends

Students who are selected for a placement will receive a stipend from The Washington Center twice each month. There are no program and housing fees associated with the Competitive Government Program. Housing is available to all students who would like to take advantage of The Washington Center's fully furnished, conveniently located apartments. If a student wishes to find alternative accommodations, his or her stipend will be increased.

Choosing the Right Program

Is the Competitive Government Program right for you?

If you attend a college or university affiliated with TWC, applying to the Competitive Government Program is probably not the best way for you to participate in The Washington Center--even if you are interested in completing an internship with a federal agency and would like to receive some scholarship support. In fact, most Washington Center students interning in the government are participating in our general D.C. Internship Program.

 

A few things to note before starting your Competitive Government Program application:

 

1. Students who apply to the D.C. General Internship Program will be considered for any funded federal positions for which they may qualify. They will also be considered for unpaid positions within the government and/or other sectors. Some very popular government offices (U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of the Interior, White House, U.S. Congress, and others) do not currently offer internships through the Competitive Government Program, but they have worked with other TWC interns regularly.
   
   
2. If you attend an affiliated institution, you may find that arrangements are in place to make participation in the general D.C. Internship Program comparable to a semester or summer on campus (in terms of the credit you'll earn and the cost of attendance). TWC also has a variety of scholarships available. Should you be offered a Competitive Government Program position, the same credit package may not be available (because the components of the program may vary). Further, some positions are regionally based.
   
   
3. Applying for the Competitive Government Program will by no means guarantee that you'll receive an interview or internship position. By contrast, you will have an advisor working on your behalf to find an internship that will match your interests if you apply through the general D.C. Internship Program. He or she will continue referring your materials to possible organizations until you've accepted an offer.
   
   
4. We receive Competitive Government Program applications from many more students than we are able to place each year. Most openings call for interns who are pursuing majors in STEM, communications, or business-related fields. Agencies often require a 3.0 GPA (or higher), and some request students from certain types of institutions (historically black colleges and universities, minority serving institutions, etc.).
   
   
5. You may not hear from TWC about your application to the Competitive Government Program in a timely manner, as we may be asked to forward candidates' applications to supervisors at federal agencies until the start of a given semester or term (and sometimes even later). You would not be able to decide to do the Washington, D.C. General Program after learning that you are not selected for the Competitive Government Program.

Washington, D.C. Internship Program Resources

 

• Sample Internship Sites [13]
• Career-Specific Programming [14]
• Scholarships for U.S. Students [15]

Eligibility and Application

Eligibility

• United States citizenship required;
• Applicants must be enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, an undergraduate or graduate program. Additionally, candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or above;
• Undergraduate students from affiliated universities must receive approval from their campus liaison [16] in order to participate;
• Undergraduate students from non-affiliated universities must seek approval from their campus if they would like to receive academic credit;
• Candidates should be available for the full term of the internship [17], which will likely reflect TWC’s standard program dates. It is important to note that in some cases, Competitive Government internships will have different start/end dates than those outlined. Individuals who receive such an offer will have specific expectations outlined;
• Students should have demonstrated experience and/or strong interest in working for the federal government.

Academic Credit

Undergraduate students applying to the Competitive Government Program during the fall and spring semesters will be required to earn academic credit. Those applying for the summer term will typically have the opportunity to decide whether or not they would like to earn credit should they receive and accept an offer.

 

Application Requirements

All students who apply to TWC’s Washington, D.C., Internship Program will also be eligible for internship positions within the Competitive Government Program. If students are only interested in being considered for federal government internships that offer financial assistance, a separate application only for Competitive Government Programs should be used. In order to be eligible for this option, students must submit an online application [18].

Once a username and password have been created, students should log into the system and choose “Internship” as the type of application. Under “Washington Center Program Options” students should select the Competitive Government Program. Applicants are encouraged to select more than one agency when asked to indicate their specific interests, as many agencies will have similar positions available. Students must also submit official transcripts to The Washington Center.

There is no application fee required for students applying under the Competitive Government Program option. Please contact Reid May (reid.may@twc.edu [12]) or 202-238-7702 with any specific questions about the Competitive Government Program.

The Internship Experience

A typical week blends a four day internship with program-specific rigorous academics every week. From Tuesday through Friday, they go to their internship placements where they gain work experience and acquire skills, abilities and attitudes that will benefit them in their future careers. They also register to attend one course a week through The Washington Center during their semester.

Mondays are dedicated to tours, lectures or other activities where they meet with distinguished leaders with diverse professional backgrounds. There, students engage in substantive discussions from different topics of international relevance as well as issues affecting Puerto Rico. Participants will visit organizations that offer unique opportunities to learn from global influencers such as:

• World Bank
• Organization of American States
• U.S. Supreme Court
• The Capitol
• The Pentagon
• Library of Congress
• The Newseum

Conferences also play a large role in the academic structure of the program. Throughout the semester students may participate in meetings taking place in Washington, D.C., that may focus on:

• Communication and Negotiation Skills
• Human Rights
• Immigration Policy
• U.S.-Puerto Rico Relations
• Education
• Transparency and Accountability
• Free Trade Agreements in Latin America
• Environmental issues

Students are encouraged to attend additional events on their own throughout the week to practice networking skills and engage in deep conversations on different issues with other professionals in the Washington, D.C. area. They also must work as part of teams in order to complete a civic engagement project by identifying a problem that affects the local community and engaging in creating a positive impact.

Sample Internship Sites

Intern on Capitol Hill

Because the focus of the Córdova Program is the U.S. Congress and its work, students are placed only in congressional offices of either chamber, in the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration, or at Telemundo or Univison. Some of the places interns have worked before include:

 

• The Office of the Resident Commissioner
• Rep. José Serrano
• Rep. Nydia Velazquez and the Small Business Committee
• Rep. Xavier Becerra
• Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
• Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart
• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi
• Senator Harry Reid
• Senator John Kerry
• Senator Robert Menendez
• Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
• Telemundo
• Univision

How to Apply

Students interested in this program must first apply through the Joint Commission of the Córdova Congressional Internship Program. If you apply to our program without first having been accepted by the Joint Commission your application will not be processed. For information about the selection process for this program, contact Cynthia Torres with the Córdova Program Office [20] in San Juan at 787-977-4725 or through internado.cordova@gmail.com [21].

The Internship Experience

Program Components

• Full time externship for 10–15 weeks at a government agency or nonprofit organization (10 weeks for summer, 15 weeks for fall/spring).
• Courses taught by qualified adjunct professors in Washington, D.C.
• Programming in a Legal Externship Seminar that includes site visits, distinguished guest speakers, briefings and other activities of special interest.

Academic Credit and Fees

• Students register, receive credit and pay tuition to their home law school and the law school will remit a fee to The Washington Center for the program fee. Students choosing to live in Washington Center housing are responsible for a housing fee.
• The substantive law classes will be taught by adjunct faculty that The Washington Center will hire and Elon will supervise.

Housing

Housing is guaranteed to all students who choose to take advantage of this option for an additional fee. Check out our state of the art housing facilities [27].

 

“…Hands down best decision I have made in law school. I was allowed to improve my workplace skills and network without the burden of school. It was great and amazing being in D.C. as well. I intend to return after I graduate.”

—Kaye Lynch-Sparks

3L, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

 

Additional Information

• Read our brochure for U.S. students [24]
• Read our brochure for Canadian students [25]
• Download the application [26]

Sample Externship Sites

• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Department of Justice
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Marine Corps Counsel for the Commandment
• Securities and Exchange Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Communications Commission
• Federal Trade Commission
• Grameen Foundation
• Public Defender Service
• United States Green Building Council
• Humane Society
• Human Rights First
• National Endowment for the Arts
• SEIU – Service Employees International Union
• Various Capitol Hill committees and offices

Additional Information

• Read our brochure for U.S. students [24]
• Read our brochure for Canadian students [25]
• Download the application [26]

How to Apply

Program Benefits

• Start applying your legal education in a professional environment
• Gain great credentials
• Explore careers and forge valuable connections in Washington, D.C.
• Apply your ideas and initiative to pressing regional, national and international problems
• Earn 12–15 credit hours through your law school during the fall/spring or 6–9 credit hours during the summer

Additional Information

• Read our brochure for U.S. students [24]
• Read our brochure for Canadian students [25]
• Download the application [26]

The Internship Experience

Estudiar en Washington A typical week blends a four-day-per-week internship with program-specific rigorous academics. Coursework forms the core of TWC’s learning initiatives; Governors Internship participants attend two evening courses each week. One course focuses on a project to aid the development and well-being of their home state; the other is tailored to increasing their knowledge in a specific area of interest.

Beyond regular courses, Mondays are dedicated to tours, lectures or other activities where students with distinguished leaders with diverse professional backgrounds; there they engage in substantive discussions from different topics of international relevance. Participants will visit organizations offer unique opportunities to tour and learn from leaders in influential organizations such as:

• World Bank
• International Monetary Fund
• Organization of American States
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Capitol
• Pentagon
• Library of Congress
• Newseum

Conferences also play a large role in the academic structure of the program. Throughout the semester students may participate in meetings taking place in Washington, D.C., that may focus on:

• Communication and Negotiation Skills
• Human Rights, Immigration Policy or U.S.-Mexico Relations
• Transparency and Accountability
• Entrepreneurship or Free Trade Agreements in Latin America
• Environmental Issues
• Drug Trafficking

Experiential Learning From Tuesday through Friday they go to their internship placements [29] where they gain work experience and acquire skills, abilities and attitudes that will benefit them in their future careers. Moreover, a variety of additional opportunities enrich The Washington Center experience:

• Additional events on their own throughout the week around Washington, D.C.
• Practice networking skill and engage in deep conversations on different issues with fellow students, faculty, or internship site mentors.
• Join a civic engagement project over the weekends.

Sample Internship Sites

Each semester there are many different internship sites available to choose from. Some of the organizations where Governors Internship Program participants have worked include:

• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate
• Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation
• Organization of American States (OAS)
• Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)
• U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
• Cesar Chavez Public Charter School or Public Policy
• North American Association for Environmental Education
• Global Centurion
• In Trust Global Investments, LLC
• Election Mall Technologies Inc.
• CG/LA Infrastructure, LLC
• The Woodward Wilson Center
• National Hispanic Council on Aging
• Latino Leaders Network
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
• Partners of the Americas
• National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)

The Internship Experience

In light of the current economic climate and the increased governmental regulation of the United States economy, this program exposes students to the financial role of the private, nonprofit, and government sectors in the U.S. capital. Students in this program will return to their countries equipped with the skills and motivation to make a real impact as civically engaged, socially aware, business conscious citizens.

 

Through the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program, students will:

 

• Gain an in-depth understanding of the financial roles of the government, private, and nonprofit sectors in the United States and how U.S. public policy affects business decision-making in the context of a global economy.
• Develop critical skills, including cross-cultural understanding, communication, and leadership skills to prepare them to succeed in an increasingly global 21st century workforce.
• Learn the importance of civic engagement and be prepared to make lasting impacts in their communities as young leaders.
• Develop their own networks of professional contacts and mentors who will continue to serve as a resource for personal and professional development after they return home.

From Tuesday through Friday students go to their internship sites, where they gain work experience and acquire skills, abilities and attitudes that will benefit them in their future careers.

 

Students in the Prudential program attend a class one night of the week. Beyond regular courses, Mondays are dedicated to lectures, workshops, or other activities where they meet with distinguished leaders and business professionals with diverse professional backgrounds. There they engage in substantive discussions from different topics in business of international relevance. Students will visit organizations that offer unique opportunities to learn from global influencers such as:

 

• Private Organizations
• Various Embassies
• Think Tanks
• U.S. Government Agencies

Conferences and workshops also play a large role in the academic structure of the program. Throughout the semester students may participate in meetings taking place in Washington, D.C., that may focus on:

 

• Communication and Negotiation Skills
• Professionalism
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Entrepreneurship
• Transparency and Accountability
• Free Trade Agreements in Finance and Economics
• Networking

Sample Internship Sites

Each semester there are many different internship sites that are available to qualified students. Some of the organizations where Prudential fellows have interned include:

 

• AGCO
• Amber Road
• American Councils for International Education
• Bennett Group Financial Services, LLC
• Brookings Institution
• CATO Institute
• Council on Hemispheric Affairs
• Embassy of the Republic of Korea
• FDL Financial Services
• Hudson Institute
• Institute of International Education
• Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation
• InTrust Global Investments
• LTL Strategies
• ManattJones Global Strategies
• Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
• Office of the Attorney General
• TechAmerica
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce-Business Civic Leadership Center
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• U.S.-Japan Council
• Voice of America

How to Apply

Scholarship Coverage

Students accepted into the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program, through a rigorous selection process, will receive a scholarship which covers most expenses including: application fee, program and housing fees, J-1 Visa SEVIS fee, health insurance, and an airfare allowance (Total scholarship value above $13,000 USD).

 

To Apply

Candidates interested in the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program must consult with their campus liaison and fill out the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program Application (http://bit.ly/PrudentialApplication [32]) by April 12, 2013.

 

** Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an initial interview. In order to move forward in the selection process, applicants that successfully pass the initial interview will be asked to complete the comprehensive Washington Center online application that includes the following documents:

 

• One-page Resume
• Statement of Professional Interest
• 500-word Issues Essay to be used as a writing sample
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Copy of Official Academic Transcript
• Copy of Official English Competency Test (i.e. TOEFL)
• Copy of Passport

The Fall 2013 Program begins on August 28 and ends on December 14, 2013.

 

For more information please take a look at our call for applications [33] and informational handout [34]. For questions, please feel free to contact internationalinfo@twc.edu [35].

The Internship Experience

U.S.-Panama Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative

Check out this blog written by one of our international interns, Dina [38].

 

Check out this video from one of our international interns, Fallow Bwatu.

 

 

Check out this video from Querétaro

 

Sample Internship Sites

U.S.-Panama Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative

• Organization of American States
• World Resources Institute
• D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development
• Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Amazon Conservation Team
• Rural Coalition
• InterAction

 

How to Apply

U.S.-Panama Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative

Eligibilty

 

• Must be a Panamanian citizen and have a valid passport.
• Must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate studies or be currently enrolled in a masters or post graduate program.
• Must maintain a minimum grade point average of 91/100.
• Must present current academic transcript.
• Successful completion of an accredited standardized English test [i.e. TOEFL  (Minimum  score of 500 (Paper Based)); IELTS or equivalent].
• Complete all of The Washington Center application components.
• As part of the application, an essay containing a proposal for an Innovative Project must be written (3 pages minimum). Themes for this essay may be selected from: International Trade;  Import and Export Compliance; Commercialization of Technological Products; Innovation; Transparency; Regional Sustainable Development; Research and Development Policies; Copyrights and Patents; Scientific Journalism; Improvement to Panama's competitiveness in different sectors: (i.e. Agro industries; Logistics and Transportation; Bioscience and Healthcare; Sustainable Tourism; Technology; STEM Education; Environmental Law or Renewable Energy).

How to Apply

 

1. Speak with you campus liaison or email us [39].
2. Visit the portal [40] to begin an internship application.
3. Send supplemental documents (below).

Application Components

• Motivational Letter*
• Resume*
• Two letters of recommendation*
• Copy of official identifications
• Copy of valid Panamanian passport
• Letter of Endorsement from the University
• Official copy of professional degrees and current academic transcript
• Official copy of accredited standardized English test results [i.e. TOEFL  (Minimum  score of 500 (Paper Based)); IELTS or equivalent].
• Essay of preliminary project plan (described in Eligibility Requirements)

* These documents should be presented in English

 

Download our program overview for more information [37]

The Internship Experience

During a week Ford Global Scholars spend four days at their internship organization and participate on program-specific events on Mondays.  Once a week Ford Global Scholars attend an interactive course on U.N. Millennium Development Goals specifically designed to cover all aspects of the initiative’s progress and challenges.  In the past, some of the projects Ford Global Scholars worked on included a DVD project to highlight MDG developments in their countries, and a white paper, in which Ford Fellows were given a topic and had to develop unique solutions and ways to implement the solution into practice.

 

In addition to the academic course, Ford Global Scholars have a chance to learn from over 30 distinguished speakers engaged in various public and private international organizations based in Washington, D.C.  During these events Ford Global Scholars share their opinions and take part in interactive discussions covering various topics related to international development, health care, education, gender equality and global poverty.  Ford Global Scholars will visit major international and government organizations, including:

 

• United Nations
• World Bank
• Inter-American Development Bank
• International Trade Administration
• Bread for the World
• ONE
• Amnesty International
• United Way of America
• Grameen Foundation

In the latter half of their semester, Ford Global Scholars will take part in Model U.N. Simulation.

Sample Internship Sites

How to Apply

Eligibility

This program is available to 20 U.S. students and 10 students attending institutions in the following international locations:

 

• Chennai, India
• Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Sao Paulo and Salvador, Brazil
• Shanghai, China
• Johannesburg, South Africa

U.S. students accepted into this program will receive a $3,000 scholarship toward housing in TWC apartments. International students coming from institutions in the countries listed above should review the additional financial details [43].

 

Students will be required to take a specific academic course tailored to this program.

 

The Ford Motor Company Global Scholars Program will be offered each fall semester for three years, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

 

How to Apply

U.S. students who are interested in the Ford Motor Company Global Scholars Program along with other fall semester 2012 TWC internship programs should complete our online application [40]. Until final decisions are made with regard to the Ford Global Scholars Program, we will accept students into their second-choice program (International Affairs, Business and Global Trade, etc.).

 

International students who are interested in this program should complete the downloadable Ford application [44].

 

The fall 2013 regular deadline is June 14th, and students should apply and indicate their interest in this program on or before that date.