Hello hello I need a little help making a decision. So I was offered an internship at a political consulting firm that is paid, but also an internship with a senator from my home state in her home state office. Consulting internship is near my college campus, not in my home state. I want to move to DC and go into politics when I graduate from next year. What’s the move? Is it feasible to ask to do the Congressional internship remotely? Are Congressional internships that important? Thank you in advance :))
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I would think that if you want to go into politics (run for office) that it would be good to do the congressional internship.
How easy are these to get? Will you have another chance? I think you would have another chance at the political consulting firm.
But you have to decide based on how much you need money or housing or whatever as well.
In my opinion, either would be just as beneficial as the other. The only way I’d lean one way vs the other is if you thought one might more reasonably lead to employment after graduation via networking. It’s totally possible that working as an intern for your Senator would result in getting a job as one of their staffers upon your arrival to D.C., so that could be an ‘in.’ Other than that, the biggest benefit from either would be the experience in a field that many places in D.C. could relate to.
One other factor that has less to do with you getting a job in D.C.: how would you support yourself if you stayed near your college campus for the consulting firm? Would it pay well-enough to have a place to stay and food to eat? If not, going with the free option of living at home (I’m assuming) might be better in the long run as to not incur too much debt.
My kid found an internship on the hill to be very educational. It ultimately helped her decide to NOT work in politics. Sometimes that is the most useful outcome of an internships
Figure out what you want to do career wise. Think about which one makes more financial sense. Is the work going to be equally interesting at both? Which can you do more at? Do you wanna be closer to home? Etc… just think all the aspects of it through.