<p>.......?.......</p>
<p>Best- working on the Hill....just a personal opinion :)</p>
<p>college or high school?</p>
<p>i've heard that the white house internships are incredibly competitive. not sure how good they are. </p>
<p>many senators/reps/congressmen have internships options.</p>
<p>Not a quick and easy answer. The qualitative experience of interns on the Hill varies widely by office and significantly within an office depending on what section the intern is in and to whom they report. One of our state's senators offices has a great reputation as a place to work, the other not so much. </p>
<p>My D interned on the Senate side in DC, interned in an in-state House district office, and is currently working for an NGO off, but deeply involved with, the Hill. Some fluke circumstances there resulted in an intern, someone who had just graduated from college, being promoted into a regular paid position. </p>
<p>On the Hill, because House offices are smaller, an intern may get a broader exposure and deal with some things in more depth than many Senate interns. Otoh, the orientation of Senate offices is a lot more "global" in scope and if you're in a good spot the opportunities are outstanding.</p>
<p>Free advice: if you get an internship in DC, don't treat it as a way to spend a few months in a cool place. Unlike college, don't expect a lot of praise...you're <em>expected</em> to work hard and do well and the interns who are more interested in resume building and socializing wind up, oddly enough, getting the less interesting assignments after a while. </p>
<p>And for Google's sake, if you're having lunch in the Senate cafeteria with other interns, do not discuss which supervisors you don't like, etc...you have <em>no</em> idea who is within earshot and who knows whom. In fact, be circumspect to the degree that you wouldn't mind anything you say being printed on the front page of the Washington Post.</p>
<p>Some colleges have a good DC program coordinator who can fill applicants in, others take pot luck.</p>