Fellow Government/Public Policy Majors - Advice Requested

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

Hi guys,

I’m a second-year undergrad at a B1G studying Public Policy Analysis, Econ. I plan on doing a semester internship in DC for Spring 2017.

I have an offer from an important U.S. Senator’s office, but as you might know most Hill internships are largely constituent services than they are legislative anlaysis.

I also have an offer from the Department of Defense in the Legislative Affairs office at the Pentagon, with my direct assignment to Public Information/Constituent Inquiries. Pretty much the same work as the Senate, but the environment there is considerably less rigid and I have opportunities to do some side work in the deep policy/research side.

Which do you guys regard to be I suppose “better”? I’m interested in both, I think both have their respective opportuntities for learning and personal enrichment, but am unsure of which would be better for making connections with people in both private and public sector fields. I am interested in management consulting as of right now after graduation, but that is certainly subject to change…

Thanks!

2

I doubt one or the other is objectively “better” for connections and networking - they probably both have their strengths and weaknesses. So I would just go with whatever you think is going to be more interesting.

3

I would likely go with the Pentagon internship. I interned at a U.S. Senator’s office (in state, not D.C.) and it was honestly a bit disappointing. I feel like you’re more likely to get a more interesting and worthwhile experience at the Pentagon which would likely be more useful down the road than taking calls from constituents at the Senator’s office.