<p>hey...I applied for an internship with Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) and I got a call last week that I was accepted. I'm definitely going to do that internship, but it's only 1-5 every day except for Friday.</p>
<p>I also would like to intern somewhere in addition to the Congressman's office. I've secured an internship at the Center for Inquiry - a nonprofit committed to secular humanism. CFI also hosts several debates, coordinates educational programs, and produces two publications that all have to do with promoting a more rational, ethical world. In addition, I've secured an internship at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)'s civil rights legal division.</p>
<p>Here is my debate - I founded the Young Philosophers Society (philosophy club in my school with English department head as supervisor - we've studied various Socratic dialogs as well as The Republic, next year we're studying Guide to the Perplexed). So the CFI would be consistent with that, and my entire motivation to go to Columbia is its intellectual intensity as well as its well known diversity of people and thought. I also intend to major in philosophy.</p>
<p>BUT the NAACP internship is also consistent with how I will present myself because I co-founded the Global Awareness Project (a group that meets weekly in my school to discuss infractions of civil rights worldwide and we have also organized guest speakers to come and make presentations to our entire student body). Also, as a student coming from a private Jewish school, I need to look as "desiring of diversity" as possible. Don't think that I'm exploiting the NAACP, I specifically contacted the NAACP because of the cases it has been involved in throughout U.S. history that I've learned about this year in school.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm equally interested in both of these internships and they are both consistent with what I've been participating in throughout high school....so what do you think????? Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you</p>
<p>Your post is confusing and meandering. I find philosophy writings to be that way, so maybe you're going into the right field. I'm not sure what you're asking, but do what you're most committed to rather than trying to game the system and "show " something.</p>
<p>The problem is that I'm most committed to both of these things (philosophical inquiry and civil rights), as evidenced by my ongoing extra-currics throughout my high school experience.</p>
<p>Both of these things interest me equally, and I would never engage in something that I'm not passionate about...just not me</p>
<p>Statements like.. "I need to look as "desiring of diversity" as possible." raise a hugee red flag in my mind telling me that you're doing this to look good, not becasue you think it'll be fun or an interesting experience. </p>
<p>trust me, i've asked the same questions, made the same posts and realized that i've wasted soo much time that way.</p>
<p>here's a question.. do you really enjoy politics? how about Berman's policies? </p>
<p>what about philosophy? do you enjoy discussing it or do you just enjoy discussing the fact that you "discuss" it? </p>
<p>do you really care about "civil rights infractions around the world"? No, really, do you CARE about it?</p>
<p>don't get me wrong, I did some stuff early in high school to "look good" but I realized that it didn't really MEAN anthing to me. IF you don't get into the school of your dreams, would you still have done the same things? </p>
<p>do what you enjoy, don't worry about this stuff. If you're cut out to be a Columbia student, the activities you choose regardless of what you think some admissions officer will judge you on will say enough. </p>
<p>They're smart enough to see through ******** activities and internships, fake passions, and efforts to "engineer" your image.</p>
<p>right, i got your point. but these are actually my genuine interests...hence my debate</p>
<p>Well, which of these two internships can you get the most out of? I don't mean that in a mercenary way, like what will look good to the adcoms, but I mean, what kind of skills can you acquire?</p>
<p>What skills do you find yourself needing? Which of the internships offers the best opportunity for you to gain said skills? </p>
<p>What kind of opportunities are available at each internship? Will you be able to be "part of the team," or will you be the one fetching coffee? (In all likelihood, your experience will probably fall somewhere in between, but still.) </p>
<p>Also, at all the internship/summer opportunities panels I've attended, networking has been mentioned. What kind of networking opportunities are there at either internship?</p>
<p>Finally, some practical considerations. What hours do you have to work for CFI and NAACP? If you work at one internship in the morning and then do the congressional internship in the afternoon, which of your two choices will allow you to still be on top of your game when your brain has to switch gears at 1? What about transportation? Is one more convenient than the other?</p>