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Interning at the White House may seem like a pipe dream, but for some lucky college students it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Here you can learn about the different internship opportunities available at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Internship Details

White House interns work in one of eighteen different departments. Some of them include Communications, Energy and Climate Change, Health Reform, or the Offices of the First Lady, Chief of Staff, or Vice President.

An anonymous communications intern was quoted on the White House internship web site: “It is a fun fast-paced office that overlaps with every office in the White House. I have loved my time here in the media affairs office; even though it’s long hours!”

Other interns who left their positive feedback on the site echo that comment.  In addition to their individual duties, all White House interns engage in a semester-long service project in the D.C. area.  Interns attend a weekly speaker series presented by members of the White House senior staff and participate in field trips, gaining a complete Washington experience.

How to Apply

So, how do you become a White House intern and who is eligible?

• The program is open to U.S. citizens over age eighteen who are enrolled in college or grad school or who have graduated in the past two years.
• Veterans with high school diplomas and active duty service in the past two years can also apply.

Application Deadline

According to this timeline,  applications for the next internship cycle–Fall 2010–are due June 6, 2010. Selected interns would begin September 7, 2010.  The selection process is intense and applications include essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes.  See the FAQs for more info on applications.

Washington Center Internship

The Washington Center provides another opportunity for a White House internship. TWC combines internships and academic classes and is open to current juniors, seniors, and grad students.

Interns apply to one of twelve programmatic areas such as Business and Management, International Affairs, and  Science, Technology, and Society.

Washington Center applicants rank their intern preferences. The program will place them in one of the locations they rank but there’s no guarantee they get their #1 choice.  If you are interested in interning with the federal government in general, this could be an option.  As a bonus, the Washington Center helps interns find housing and offers financial aid.

The deadlines for the Fall 2010 semester are May 3, 2010 for competitive programs like the White House internship, and June 18 for all other programs.

By Danielle Bullen. Danielle is a writer and a resident of the Philadelphia area. Danielle can be reached at Daniellebullen@comcast.net.