Internship Programs in Washington, D.C.

As the days begin to get longer and the weather warms up, intern season lies right around the corner in Washington, D.C. Every summer, the District hosts somewhere around 20,000 interns from all over the world. Student, and even non-student, interns flock to the nation’s capital in pursuit of their big dreams to change the world. And they’re coming to the right place – D.C. is brimming with opportunity in every field imaginable. Most people think that you only move here to work for the government, but that’s not true! Interns and career professionals move here for any and every professional pursuit such as non-profit work, journalism, lobbying, consulting, law, and the list goes on! If you are considering an internship in D.C., I hope you will realize what a rewarding and thrilling adventure it truly is. The experience you’ll have working in the nation's capital will forever change the course of your career, providing you with rich opportunities you wouldn’t be able to obtain anywhere else.

For those flirting with the idea of an internship in D.C., the first thing you need to know is that there are three main ways you could approach it. First, if you’re a college student, then you can check with your academic advisor to see if your university offers any sort of formal internship program that you can go through. The benefit of participating in your university’s internship program is the reassurance that your course credits are all guaranteed to transfer. Sometimes your university will accept credits taken through outside programs, though you need to verify this with your academic advisor.

Not all interns are college students, however, so not everyone has access to university internship programs. If you find yourself in this camp, don’t give up! You still have several other options. You could consider going at it alone, which means that you would have to find your own internship (Yes, it is possible to apply to internships as an individual and not through a program, though there may be exceptions). Keep in mind there are several other factors such as housing, making friends, acclimating to a new city, etc. that you would have to coordinate on your own as well. Though one benefit to pursuing the internship on your own or through your university is that it tends to be a bit cheaper than going through one of the larger programs based here in D.C. At the same time, there are a number of perks to enrolling through a formal program, so your decision will just have to be based on your personal priorities.

The Washington Center is a prestigious internship program where many leaders in both the public and private sector got their start. This program helps to connect students with internships in a number of fields such as international affairs, business, public policy, and more. But The Washington Center is so much more than just an internship. It supplements your real-world experience with classroom learning that you may be able to transfer over to your university for credit. The Center holds cutting-edge seminars on relevant topics, taught by industry leaders. Upcoming seminar topics include the 2012 political conventions and the 2013 presidential inauguration. The Washington Center recruits students from all across the country and even the world. They help accommodate students’ housing needs by offering placement in shared apartments. If you are intimidated by the hassle of organizing all the moving pieces of the process by yourself, then The Washington Center is a great solution. It takes care of all the details for you, while providing you with a solid launching pad for your career.

Another excellent internship program to consider is The Fund for American Studies. It has been around since 1967, providing patriotic youth with the opportunity to start building their career in public service. They offer a variety of programs including “Capital Semester,” which involves an internship, briefings with movers and shakers at a variety of hot-spots such as the State Department and White House, as well as a semester of classes at Georgetown University. If you participate in Capital Semester, then you will also get to attend networking events and hear lectures from leaders across the District. The program helps to coordinate housing for participants. Another great thing about The Fund for American Studies is that they offer scholarships to deserving students.

Since 1990, The Washington Internship Institute has been helping students obtain real-life experience in both the public and private sector. The Washington Internship Institute offers several programs including: The Capital Experience, Embassy Scholars, Go Green, and Faculty Fellows. This organization has an active alumni network which participants are able to take advantage of.  You can find a blog of students’ internship experiences on The Washington Internship Institute’s website. Check it out to get a picture of participants’ day-to-routine and see if it might be something that you’re interested in.