<p>This summer i have two options</p>
<p>1) Legischool Internship through Sacramento State for the State Capitol</p>
<p>2) Take assorted community college courses in political science and international relations</p>
<p>*2 community college courses (intro to international relations/ comparative politics)
1 sac state course (chinese studies)</p>
<p>-I'm a currently a junior in highschool trying my best to become viable for a spot in USC's or NYU's International Relations program. What would they like to see me do better?</p>
<p>I googled the internship and it looks like a glorified field trip. All your doing is watching congress do stuff, sitting through a trial. It’s all observing, you’re not actually doing something (substantial). I think a better internship would be working for your local (CA) congressmen/ (US) representative/senator. My friends who have interned for our representative are responding to constituents, doing research, answering phones etc. At least they’re doing something useful. </p>
<p>If I had to pick only between the 2 choices, I would go with the CC courses.</p>
<p>Most of the strong applicants to selective schools take enough courses during their high school career, so adding more courses is a benefit if those courses are the driver for a passion, and they are complemented by results other than grades.</p>
<p>Summer programs – including internships, summer jobs, and the like can significantly help your college application, especially if they help you in understanding the real world, and perhaps help you develop a passion. They can often be a part of your application essay – people you’ve met, and how they helped you grow.</p>
<p>The program that you’re considering puts you in direct touch with legislators, with leaders, with people who drive the political process. Do more than observe. Become engaged. Compete with an essay … and so on … Sounds exciting to me.</p>