<p>I have another offer that expires tomorrow and without any idea about the prospects from the WH I think I have to withdraw my application. Does anyone know what the procedure for doing this is? Are you just supposed to reply back once you hear officially or does that then put you on some list where you cannot apply again?</p>
<p>Just a quick update – I got the ambush interview call this afternoon. Fingers crossed now…</p>
<p>@Joshua
I’d urge you not to withdraw…just accept your other internship, and then if the WH takes you, back out. This isn’t bad form, it’s standard operating procedure. The White House notifies last because it can afford to, and other institutions understand that.</p>
<p>joshuawp, I agree with ZoomZoomZoom. Take the offer, and if you get the WH internship, I’m sure the program will understand if you withdraw later.</p>
<p>WHMBA10 & ZoomZoomZoom, I like how you two refer to it as “the ambush interview call.” Anywho, if you two got interviews, that can only be a good thing. Which departments did you two interview for?</p>
<p>DCSPORTSFAN, I don’t know. No one has discussed it on this thread. I guess it’s less prestigious, but you’ll still be working at the White House.</p>
<p>
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<p>Interns have their b**** work disguised as real work, whereas volunteers are straight out given b**** work (do things like work the mail room). </p>
<p>Neither get paid or get housing. </p>
<p>Interns however get perks such as being able to attend luncheons and dinners that are designed for the interns, along with getting to work more personally with official administrators in the office that they’re working in.</p>
<p>What does the vitals email ask about?</p>
<p>If we didn’t get it, does that mean we’re out for good?</p>
<p>I applied for an internship this summer. As has been alluded to in prior posts, I am aware of, and did receive, the “vitals” message that was sent out last Tuesday. I called the internship office today with regard to the “vitals” document and they responded that they had, in fact, been able to view it. However, I have not been interviewed - yet. While there are still two more days during which I could be interviewed it would seem my chances are quite slim, seeing as I have not already heard from the WH. </p>
<p>The notification date, as we all know, is next week. Therefore, have I been eliminated from the process because I was not granted an interview? Also, why would I be asked to fill out the “vitals” document if I were not going to be offered an interview? My impression, based largely on this chat room, has been that those individuals who were sent the “vitals” email have been subsequently interviewed…</p>
<p>All insight and advice as to what I have discussed above is much-appreciated!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much. You may get a spot, you may not, but it looks like a bunch of people from last time got spots without interviews, and a bunch of people got interviews without spots.</p>
<p>Unless you spelled your name wrong on your vitals sheet, it seems unlikely that it lessened their obvious interest in your application :)</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten an email or an interview 
I guess I didn’t get it???</p>
<p>Arrose0008: Who knows? The entire process is hardly transparent. It’s possible you may receive an offer and it’s possible you may not. The goods news is that we all find out soon meaning that the waiting is nearly over - if that’s any consolation.</p>
<p>Gandalf486: From what I’ve gathered, it seems like they send out vitals to perform preliminary background checks, and once candidates have been cleared, it’s up to the departments to decide on who they want to interview. I completely agree with you though. I don’t see the point in asking someone for their vitals if departments aren’t interested in interviewing them. But, again, you never know with the White House Internship program. Several people have been accepted without interviews, so you’re still in the running. </p>
<p>Also, I think status updates are being released next week. I don’t necessarily think decisions are coming out next week, so there could be a few more weeks of interviews.</p>
<p>I also received a “vitals” email and have not yet been interviewed…I kind of want to call OPM to find out what this vitals email exactly was for.</p>
<p>From looking over the thread, only one person got the internship without an interview. That’s including Summer 09, Fall 09, and Spring 10.</p>
<p>From a Summer 09 intern: “I am currently a WH intern. I work in a specific office but I think the general idea is people of interest get phone interviews. If those phone interviews aren’t as promising, they will move to interview more people.”</p>
<p>WH2010: It would seem you are implicitly suggesting I have been rejected. While that may be the case, I remain quite curious as to why they would send out the vitals document if they had no intention of interviewing you. To merely send out this vitals document seems a waste of time for both the program and its applicants.</p>
<p>I recently spoke with the internship office about two things:</p>
<p>1) Lack of receipts for my recommendations - When I applied before the first deadline, I only received two receipts, although I entered all three in a row. I resent them in reverse order because I was worried that they didn’t all go through; and again only received two verification emails. The internship office said this was a common error and had prompted several calls, however the volume of applicants made it difficult to track.</p>
<p>2) “Vitals email” - I did not receive the follow-up email. When I asked about what it might have represented the internship office was reluctant to say if it had significance. I did not press the issue but it would seem it is a good indicator for those who got it.</p>
<p>I’m somewhat disappointed with the process given I will never know if all my recommendations were received. Like everyone else, I spent a good deal of time working on the application and who knows if it even made it through. From here I guess I need to cross my fingers and just hope for the best. There is always the fall.</p>
<p>JW2, I also had the same problem with my recommendations, having only gotten 2 confirmations. I e-mailed the office when this was happening, and they said there had been a glitch in the system that prohibited the sending of confirmation e-mails, which doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t receive them. They said, “as long as your name, e-mail, and applicant ID are correct, we should have received them.”</p>
<p>To those of you who have gotten interviews, have you worked/volunteered in the past for a political office or campaign? I’m curious to know if there’s a pattern in the type of experience they look for.</p>
<p>I did not get an interview but I can share my work history and education.</p>
<p>I’ve been serving in local government as a civil engineer since 2001. During that time I also earned a Masters in Civil Engineering. I’m currently in my second year of a Masters in Public Administration program. In my spare time I train for half-Ironman triathlons. I thought I’d be a strong candidate.</p>
<p>Gandalf486, I didn’t mean to imply that you’ve been rejected. I’m in the same position as you, so I was merely thinking out loud. I think they create a “short list” and interview from the top to the bottom. They’re still interviewing, so there’s still a chance! And I have a feeling “week of the 5th” means the 9th. 2/3 terms they’ve sent out decisions on Friday.</p>
<p>Just had a second interview – this time with the Office of the First Lady!!! This one went much better than my interview with the Office of Political Affairs.</p>
<p>WOW. They really want you, LW. Clearly that first one didn’t go as badly as you thought. That said did they say anything else to you? Last time they told you that you had made it to the final round. Anything like that?</p>