<p>Nope, contact now. Many will accept applications now. I’m applying to 4 different offices hopefully by the mid-end of next week (recommendations are kinda taking a lil long)</p>
<p>can you apply to any Representative in your state, or just the one that represents your district?</p>
<p>I’m not sure about that. I’m applying to both senators and then my local congressman only + the senator in a state where my parents own another house…but I think what I’ve heard is you have a much better chance getting sponsored by a congressman in your own district.</p>
<p>What if your congressman is being replaced in January? Do you wait for the new one or do it now?</p>
<p>I have no idea, I’d wait if I were you–he/she is a lame duck and your new one probably won’t be able to nominate anyway, but call after they assume office.</p>
<p>I also found out today that my congressman will NOT be able to sponsor kids this summer–really sucks. Check into that if you are going to apply.</p>
<p>I’d appreciate some help with this process as well. I’m going into a panic right now, hoping applications aren’t closed! I’m highly doubtful I’ll be accepted into this, although I’m very interested in it…</p>
<p>Does anyone know if they are still accepting applications?
Also, should one go straight to contacting their representative if they are interested in applying?</p>
<p>I think they are! And yes, you go straight to your representative. However, that’s the blurry part for me. Most of them aren’t too clear on their websites how exactly to apply.</p>
<p>Whew, I just called most of my congressmen; some of them won’t be able to sponsor a page and the rest simply took my contact information. Please private message me with information/tips! I am very interested in this program!</p>
<p>I am finished with calculus, US history and both political AP topics, so any idea what I’ll do instead? is there much flexibility in the education and what is the story with their special political program? (I know everything that one can learn from the sites, need additional info)</p>
<p>Hi guys, hope this thread is still going through!</p>
<p>I am a sophomore and I’m going to turn 16 this may. Am I eligible for the summer program? The instructions are a bit hazy on this subject.
And just clarifying, it’s a good experience, right?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This means that after your summer this year, you must be in your junior or senior year.</p>
<p>As someone who interned in the Senate, I’d suggest that over paging. It really gives you a much mroe complete view of the actual legislative process, following the actions of a single office, than simply being in the Senate chamber itself. I know this is about the House, but still, I would strongly, strongly urge people to consider interning in lieu of paging because it really provides an excellent, first-hand experience with how the political process works, from the ground up to passing the and writing about the bills themselves. </p>
<p>I mean, I know I personally had a lot of respect for pages (as a rising high school senior), but many of my colleagues looked down upon them as the epitome of lackeys in the Senate food chain. Also, being an intern builds you many valuable connections with staffers and other Senators and Representatives, which will undoubtedly be useful later in life. They won’t remember who got them a soda, but they will remember whoever writes their speeches. </p>
<p>Furthermore, interns get a heck of a lot more freedom with their time, which is much better for exploring DC.</p>
<p>However, any political work is better than none at all.</p>
<p>^Indeed!! But would they want a kid interning? what state did you intern for? and did you do it voluntarily? Any stipends, housing arrangements?</p>
<p>Don’t place any weight in what the intern poster above said. The House Page Program is far better than being an intern, house or senate. Interns say they look down on Pages because they are jealous of the privileges Pages have as well as their pay. Most interns are not paid and have to provide their own housing, meals, etcetera. Pages are paid, provided with housing, and given an additional stipend for food. They have nearly unrestricted access to the capitol-including the House floor and cloakrooms, which is something interns can only access in their dreams. Pages also get to attend events such as the State of the Union Address and other exclusive speeches/ceremonies. Contrary to popular belief, Pages are not even allowed to do the “grunt” work that interns are required to do. The Page bosses get very angry if a Page has to transport anything other than an official document. You will never see a Page fetch a cup of coffee, sort the mail, or any other menial task that interns are constantly required to do. Interns sit in offices most of the day, while Pages get to go all over the complex. Also, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of interns on Capitol Hill. Being a Page is much more exclusive. Whether it be pay or privileges you seek, both will be found in the Page Program and not in any internship on the hill.</p>
<p>“They won’t remember who got them a soda, but they will remember whoever writes their speeches.”</p>
<p>I’m sorry bpsbgs, but as a former page, that’s a comment that I view with disgust. It shows the jealousy of interns, since they are not even allowed CLOSE to the floor of either the Senate or House. Pages get to view the process up close and personal. Some Pages that work in the cloakroom or are documentarians even get to be a critical part of it, and often assist members in their legislative duties. Pages get to see all the Members in one chamber and often converse with some of the friendlier ones.</p>
<p>While I have respect for Congressional Interns, having been one myself in a district office, I cannot even express how great the Page Program was to my life. Interns truly look down upon Pages in jealousy, since not many people ever get to experience what Pages do. Pages get to attend the State of the Union, be in the midst of the passing of sometimes historic legislation, and receive a SALARY. Interns don’t :/</p>
<p>Being a Page was seriously the best thing that ever happened to me. While I didn’t make connections with hundreds of Congressmen, (I’m sure Interns get to do that…) I made more important connections with students my age who were as driven and politically focused as I was. Also, the Program was significant in helping me gain acceptance into some of the top schools in the nation. If I was ever offered both the opportunities to be an Intern or a Page again, I would choose to be a Page over Intern without thinking twice.</p>
<p>Although this isn’t about pages, it’s kind of relevant.</p>
<p>Is it possible for a current junior to become an intern for a Congressman (at a district office even), and would it be too late to apply?</p>
<p>Slon02, if you are basing wanting to be an intern on the intern’s poster further up, read the responses below it.</p>
<p>If you actually do want to be an intern, call the Member’s office. I’m sure they all have different schedules/guidelines for interns.</p>
<p>I’m interested in this, but I have two questions:
- Does anybody know the deadline to apply?
- How do you go about getting a nomination from your local Senator?</p>
<p>These are two totally different positions and different ways to get there. My D is a US Senate Page and my friend’s daughter is an intern for a US Senator. They are both good positions but involve different work. The intern does a lot of secretarial work and running errands. While my daughter as a Page does deliver documents to various senators’ offices and government offices, she is able to interact directly with various Senators. The pages are often in the cloakroom with the senators and are permitted to enter the ‘Marble Room’ which is reserved only for Senators. It is much more difficult to become a page because there are only 30 at a time. Not all senators can appoint, depends on their seniority. Any senator can have an intern. Interestingly enough, I used to think that many pages got their appointments because they knew someone. However, most of them went through an application process and were selected based on their credentials. I’m sure some pages were appointed based on their familiarity with a senator. I’m surprised that anyone would think that interns ‘look down’ on pages. None of the pages I know feel that way about interns. They don’t have the time to think in those terms. And my friend’s daughter has never heard of that either. They are both really good positions and anyone should feel lucky to have either.</p>