<p>I'm looking to apply for the Congressional or Senatorial Page programs for the second session this Summer. However, the information provided for both is ambiguous at best.</p>
<p>The Congressional Page Program does make an effort to note that applicants may be entering or finishing their junior year; this applies to me as I am currently a Sophomore. However, the Senatorial Page Program is a bit more vague: it only states that the applicant must be a junior. Does this mean that incoming juniors are not accepted? Note that I will be 16 at time.</p>
<p>Also, for the Congressional Page Program, does the Congressman need to be in my district? If he does, will it matter at all if my political views tend to differ from his? He's ran as a (albeit moderate) Republican, whilst I pretty much worship Rachel Maddow and Arianna Huffington. Do not get me wrong; I would love the opportunity to become a page for him regardless. I just wish to know if it would create any issue. </p>
<p>And is there any specific deadline for the Summer sessions? I couldn't find one at all. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I recommend calling your congressman right now. Try to set up a meeting with one of his staff members about a page slot. It is more likely you’d get the house spot since there are less senate spots and you’d be competing statewide. Your political views won’t matter if it differs from his. Prior political experiences are a plus, eg: an intern/volunteer for a campaign as well as student government or another activity in high school, good grades, etc.</p>
<p>I believe house page slots get awarded to congressmen based on seniority and if they are in the majority or not. If I remember correctly, majority congressmen account for nearly 2/3 of the slots, but I’m not 100% sure. Nevertheless, if you can prove you’re a good candidate, there’s a chance your congressman can make some phone calls and grab a slot from somewhere…</p>
<p>The page program is a very prestigious experience and it’s looked at very highly by colleges and something you can keep your resume for a long time.</p>
<p>you can be a summer page before or after your jr. year, as long as you are at least 16. to be a page during the school year, you have to be a jr. call your congressman/senators offices to find details. there is not one area on the internet that has all the info - you need to make the calls.
you don’t have to have the same political views as the person who hires you. you’ll work for their party but don’t have to belong - you are too young to have registered anyway. (if a dem. hires you, you’ll work for the democrates / rep. hires work for the republicans)
there are a lot of threads on the page program in cc. search around and you should find them.</p>
<p>No offense, Zack, but not all of what you said is true…</p>
<p>I just applied last month for the Congressional Page Program (summer session). Although it is too late now to apply, there is an application process, that more often than not involves students NOT meeting with the Congressperson. You fill out an application, get letters of rec, and have your guidance councilor fill out a few pages, then it is sent to the Congressperson’s office, where it is reviewed and compared with the others who submitted to him/her.</p>
<p>I believe that there is a similar application process for Senate pages, too. </p>
<p>But it couldn’t hurt to meet with your Congressperson if you feel you need it/it will enhance your chances.</p>
<p>The Congressperson picks a student, if they (Congressperson) are eligible to do so. The number of applicants picked from the Congressperson’s party depends on the majority in the house this year. This year (2010) the majority is Democrats, which means more Democrat Congresspeople will nominate Pages than Republicans will.</p>
<p>Again, I know it’s late, but I hope this helps someone…</p>
<p>Sorry, tennis, but Zack IS right (I would know, I’m a former page). Your Congressman actually doesn’t have a guaranteed spot; he/she can nominate one or two people, and then those applications get forwarded to the Speaker’s office (if he/she’s a Dem) or the minority leader’s office (if he/she’s a Republican). The pages get chosen from there, and patronage is a huge factor. I was one of the only pages in my class who was not at all politically connected to my rep. Also, the Democrats get about 2/3 of the slots, and the Republicans the rest. Senior Representatives are more likely to “get” a page than junior ones.</p>