<p>Hi! I'm a current sophomore from Utah. I am interested in applying for the spring 2015 session or summer 2015. I've already contacted my senator (Hatch) and he will be sponsoring a page. But I'm worried that I don't have enough extra-curriculars (most of mine are from previous years and I haven't done anything to display my interest in government because I didn't hear about this program until recently).
I have straight A's (4.0 GPA) and I'm in Pre Calculus, honors US history and honors English. What are my chances? And would another senator accept me if I applied to a different state?
Also for any previous pages. What is the residence hall like? Like what's the atmosphere and what do you do in free time and on weekends. And what is the school like?
Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi! I’ll take a stab at this. My DS was a senate page and I am relatively familiar with the selection process. First, congrats on your decision to apply! I think it’s a great program, and I wish the House had not discontinued their page program. Because there is no longer a House program, very few teens get the opportunity to serve as pages in DC. There are many suitable applicants and, as you have probably read on other threads already, pages are not always chosen based solely on application. While I have known many pages and all were decent, if not stellar, students, pages are frequently chosen as much by who they know as who they are. With so few spots open, and so many students applying, the pages are frequently somehow connected to their senator–friends or family of a senator or staff members, child of a donor, volunteered on either the senator’s campaign or for the party, etc.</p>
<p>If you do not fit into any of the above categories, don’t despair! There are occasionally pages who are chosen who have no connection to the senate at all. However, if my child were applying for page and had no connections to the senator, I would suggest that she/he make some. Volunteer on a congressional or senate campaign, or volunteer for the state party. This sort of involvement serves myriad purposes. It helps you find out if you do, indeed, have an interest in government/political service. It helps you understand current events and issues, which will help if you have an interview. It helps your community by helping the public become more informed re: your party’s platform/position on issues. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Most applicants will have decent enough grades and curriculum (a student only needs a 3.0 to qualify), but you can set yourself apart by showing interest and initiative through volunteer work.</p>
<p>My next suggestion would be to do as you are doing and apply to serve during the school year. There are fewer applicants for the school year slots than the summer slots.</p>
<p>Senators from other states will occasionally take nonresident pages, but most who do so know the student. Not always, but most of the time.</p>
<p>My son was a summer page, but I am vaguely familiar with what the atmosphere during the school year. There are some very detailed descriptions in some older threads, too. But the residence hall is pretty much like a nice boarding school dorm. There are beds and desks in the rooms that you share with other pages, and communal lounging areas and kitchens. They have planned activities most weekends, and a good bit of down time. Since you attend school for a very limited amount of time every day (1-2 hours, I think) you might have a bit more homework/reading than you are used to having each night. I have heard around 3 hours per night, including weekends. The school is not an “easy A”, but is very well respected by colleges.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the help!</p>