Academic Internships
Where We Interned
Lindsay Bell
Major: International Studies
Program: International Affairs
Internship site: Northern Ireland Bureau, British Embassy
Internship term: Fall 2005
While interning at the Northern Ireland Bureau, I learned the most about Northern Ireland's culture and society from people my own age who visited the office for events such as the American Council of Young Political Leader's reception. I have met many different types of people who are in and out of our office on a daily basis. I have also sat in on presentations delivered by the Director Tim Losty on the state of Northern Ireland's economy and read over the statistics provided by the Northern Ireland government. In completing day to day research on Northern Ireland, I have also come across a lot of information on the society and the economy.
The Washington Center's International Affairs program has given me the opportunity to visit various embassies in Washington D.C. I visited the embassies of Colombia, France, Poland, Israel, Pakistan and Costa Rica. Such visits broadened my understanding of diplomacy because I was able to ask questions of embassy representatives and engage them in discussions regarding world politics.
As an International Studies major, my experiences over the course of the semester have been invaluable. My most useful learning environment has been at the Northern Ireland Bureau. My education at Washington College has proven itself to extremely useful as I have taken many of the skills and knowledge that I have learned in the classroom and applied them to an office environment.
Paul Franklin
Major: Business Management
Internship site: Judicial Watch
Internship term: Summer 2004
The entire TWC experience, first and foremost, allowed me to mature not only academically but in terms of how I worked with others. The Washington Center did not treat me as a student as much as I thought [it] would. I felt like I was an employee in their organization representing them as my respective internship and at all the social events they held. I would also say that since my TWC experience I have become a politics junkie. I grew up with it in my household but since my internship I really understand how things work in D.C. a lot better.
TWC allowed me to pursue the internship that I did last summer. Being an alum of TWC and being able to put where I worked on my resume allowed me to be hired elsewhere. I interned as a consultant for New York Life in NYC this past summer and they were quite impressed with my resume only being a rising senior. The course I took at GMU (Global Markets) and the verbal and communication skills that I learned at my internship every day allowed me to interview with a few employers last spring with a sense of confidence. The most important thing that I gathered from my TWC experience was that I was able to focus in on my strengths of communications both through writing and [through speaking].
I appllied to GMU, AU and GW in the field of Public Policy. I did the whole NYC thing last summer and I realized that D.C. is the place for me. I was accepted at GMU and will be taking classes at the same building at which I took my TWC classes!
Other than that, I do have to say that my TWC experience enabled me to get another internship last summer. That is two solid internships in big cities in two completely different concentrations that I can put on my resume. Having solid references and internships on your resume will get you a lot farther than some people might think. I am really proud of how my resume is right now and I am confident that I will pursue something I want to do.
Genevieve Trego
Major: Economics
Program: Law and Criminal Justice
Internship site: US State Attorney General's Office
Internship term: Spring 2005
The internship enriched my life in many ways. I did my internship for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Community Prosecution Section. The work experience that you can gain from an internship is invaluable. In addition to the internship I also was able to hear many interesting speeches, I volunteered for a small business convention in D.C. and I volunteered for the USO to put together care packages for US soldiers. By living with other students in the Washington Center I believe this also enriched my experience. I was able to meet many students from all over the country, we spent a majority of our time together and it was helpful to have other students around you that were also doing internships and that lived close by. Without the Maryland Scholarship I am not sure if I would have been able to afford to do this internship program.
As a result of this internship I have applied to law school and plan to attend this coming fall. I love the Washington, D.C. area and while there I was able to visit law schools in the area and the internship helped me to decide if law was the right field for me.
I received great letters of recommendation from my supervisors and a job offer for when I graduate from law school. These are connections that I would never have formed without this internship.
Ambika Vishwanath
Major: Political Science
Internship Site/Program: Inside Washington Academic Seminar: Politics and Media
Internship Term: January 2005
I graduated from Washington College, Maryland in May of 2005 and am currently living in New Delhi, India, working with an International NGO. As an international student at WC, I have had some amazing and stimulating experiences during my time both at college and in America. Living close to Washington DC, I had every opportunity to experience one of the most powerful capital cities in the world, and being a student of Political Science it made everything doubly fascinating.
During my time at WC I attended a two week Media internship with TWC, and I honestly have to say it was one of the best experiences I have had. Listening to people such as Ann Compton, Ted Koppell (including his Hell Freezes Over story), Clarence Thomas and others, made the media and its role n society that much more real. The internship was a few months after the presidential elections and everyone had an opinion, opinions that were backed by years of experience, fact and conviction. Though I am a student of politics, I believe that media, in all its forms, is firmly entwined with politics. The internship gave me the opportunity to see the other face of politics, and for an me as an international student it gave me a broader perspective on the role that people play in power circles.
I also had the opportunity to network with some extremely talented fellow students, with whom I am still in touch with, and I know that this network will greatly benefit me in my future involvement with politics.
I sincerely hope that other will have the opportunity to avail all these experiences, for I feel that the next generation of incoming college students will greatly loose out on an important aspect of college life, if they cannot be a part of such internships and events.
Lauren Leffler
Major: International Studies
Internship site: Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Internship term: Spring 2005
Internship
Lauren's internship focused on Eastern Europe and Human Rights. Her experience helped her focus in her studies in areas that later became the topic of her Senior Thesis: Gypsies and Human Rights. Through her internship she made connections in the field. Lauren worked 35 hours per week and found that she was treated in a professional manner and given substantive work assignments that could be accomplished within the time of her internship.
Lauren also volunteered in the campaign of Congressman Ben Cardin ( MD) and through this work met people who connected her with potential job networks which she is now using to look for full time post-graduate employment.
Lauren lived in a high rise at Grosvenor (Chevy Chase/Rockville area) and commuted in on the metro to Capitol Hill: When her initial living situation was not working, TWC housing staff responded quickly and relocated her by the next weekend.
Academic Seminar
International Communication course—"This course reinforced what I knew" from my studies at Washington College. She received funding from Goldstein program as an IS major but also worked a part-time wait-staff job to have extra spending money. However, Lauren, feels that although she did not have much free time between her internship, course, and job, it was good for her and helped her establish a "good work ethic" that is now shown on her resume. She is proud of herself for staying on top of all these responsibilities.
Budget Tips
Take into account how much you will use for metro; food etc., create a budget, and then you can be comfortable using the rest for entertainment. Be sure to stick to your budget.
Lauren toured the Mall museums, went out with colleagues from her internship site, and went home on several weekends since she was living near her family again for the first time in three years.
Would you do it again?
Definitely YES!
Karri Bragg '07
Major: Political Science
Program: Congressional Leaders
Internship site: Americans for Tax Reform
Internship term: Spring 2006
In a telephone interview from her office in Washington, DC, Karri Bragg reported that her internship at Americans for Tax Reform has been very valuable. Hers' was one of the few paid internships through TWC. Her work was substantive and allowed her to expand her interest in politics through writing and research for this non-profit lobbying organization. In her work, Karri interacted with think tanks, legislators, and local constituencies. Among the many tasks Karri completed during the term, one she found most rewarding was creating a series of press releases for the national media and web called "Facts of the Data". She also created posters directed at legislators on tax reform issues. Kerri admits to having gotten into the DC work ethic of feeling guilt when leaving the office early to attend TWC events or classes. At Americans for Tax Reform, she felt treated as an essential and responsible member of the team and as such dedicated herself to going beyond what was asked of her.
In her Seminar Course on Presidents, Congressional and Economic Challenges, Karri found the interaction and discussion among class members most valuable. Students coming from a wide variety of disciplines and experiences broadened her own thinking. She gained deepened perspectives through this interactive class discussion.
In her free time, Karri volunteered for NRA and spent time seeing the sites of Washington DC. She and another WC intern, shared an apartment in Bethesda. However, they did not find this distance confining. The two saved on costs by fixing breakfast at home and bringing lunch to work each day. They also used the metro or walked as much as possible. While in DC, Karri visited the National Gallery, the National Zoo, and Adams Morgan clubs.
What effect did this internship experience have on Karri? Karri says that completing the internship has challenged her to make the transition from student to professional. Doing this internship was extremely important for "seeing yourself with a different vision" of who you are and what you can become.
Alana Daly
Major: Economics
Program: Business and Information Technology
Internship site: US Dept of Treasury: Office of Performance and Budget
Internship term: Spring 2006
Alana's internship was through the US Department of the Treasury in the Office of Performance and Budget. This office oversees the "corporate management of the Treasury" and as such, Alana was involved in writing a new Strategic Plan for the US Treasury. During her internship, she researched information from other US government organizations as well as peer institutions from other countries. This information was used to write the Treasury Department's own strategic plan. In the course of this discovery process she and her group conducted interviews with senior staff and the reviewed the mission, vision, and values of the organization before working to set new goals and strategies.
At the end of her internship, she and her team met with the Secretary of the Treasury and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury to present the new Strategic Plan. Alana feels that her work experience, in which she was expected to excel, will prepare her well for future work with the US Government after finishing an MBA or MA in Economics.
Alana found her class on Business and Information Technology fascinating with the interaction of students from all over the US and countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe. When the discussion revolved around globalization issues, there was much relevant discussion from which to learn. She found the group presentation and class rewarding and although less formal, similar to a WC classes.
Her living quarters with another WC intern in Bethesda was "amazing". Seven minutes from the Metro station and with many amenities, she never thought of the location as an inconvenience. Alana's normal day started with arriving at work around 8:45 AM and continuing until 5:00 or 5:30 PM. One afternoon she attended TWC lectures and on Thursday evenings, she participated in her seminar class.
Although Alana was paid a stipend for her internship, she admits to a bit of sticker-shock when receiving her tuition bill at the beginning of her internship term. "It was a lot of money up-front." However, Alana feels the extra cost for housing and off-campus study fees were well worth the experience she had in DC. To save money, she and her roommate cooked at home frequently, used the Metro, and visited free sites in DC like the Smithsonian. Her internship site also provided a Metro stipend that defrayed travel expenses. Through a colleague who was a free-lance restaurant reviewer, she has visited several wonderful eateries not on the normal intern budget!
In addition, close proximity to WC meant the two roommates were able to return to campus several times for events such as the Birthday Ball. All in all this semester was "definitely worth my time".
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