If you are interested in interning in Congress or with some other government agency, you should know that such internships are highly sought after, so it is important to strengthen your own credentials. It addition to maintaining a respectable average, you should make contact with important people outside of the classroom. Faithful involvement in politically-relevant student organizations is a great way to meet influential people who can help you later on. Some of the most helpful student organizations on campus are: College Republicans, Young Democrats, College Conservatives, MSU Libertarians, the Pre-Law Society, and the Model Security Council. They sometimes advertise when they meet in the Reflector under club news. Or call Student Life, ask who the faculty advisor is, and they can put you in touch with the student Presidents. Or visit the organizations' websites by clicking here.
Students who have interned themselves are very helpful to rely on to learn how you should go about seeking an internship. They themselves often know important people who can help you, and can give you inside information about the internship process. Our department's Stennis, Barbour, and Collins Scholars intern frequently. View a picture of these students, and when you see them in class just ask them about their experiences and advice. To see the picture and names of the Stennis Scholars, click here. Information about our Barbour and Collins Scholars, who also intern frequently, can be obtained by clicking on Students on our departmental homepage. An excellent networking opportunity is the Stennis-Montgomery Association, an MSU organization advised by Dr. Marty Wiseman in the Stennis Institute which sends students to intern in Washington every semester. Become active in this Association.
To intern with a Congressman during the summer, you should contact
their office no later than November. They make decisions usually
in January. Just ask to be connected to the person handling internships,
and they will send you the application form. It also requires letters of
recommendation, which should provide detailed and positive information
about you. To learn how to contact your U.S. House member, click
here. We suggest you also apply to
both of the state's U.S. Senators. To get
contact information for them, click
here. To learn more about your
congress member, your district, and your senators, check the Politics
in America reference book in the library.
To learn about other internships in Washington D.C., click the listings below:
You are also encouraged to seek out internships and jobs (after graduation) with other federal governmental agencies. To learn about the numerous federal agencies that exist, and to access their websites, click on the following entries:
Don't dismiss the internship and job opportunities that exist closer to home. There are numberous state agencies in Mississippi that offer internships, both paid and volunteer. First, go to the websites of the agencies, and find the agency that best fits your interests. Then contact the agency by phone to ask about internship possibilities. The state legislature also has some job opportunities that can be pursued after graduation. Check out their website.
You can also learn about internships in particular areas that interest you by doing a search on the internet. We suggest a broader search that includes numerous search engines, such as Metacrawler. To search using Metacrawler, click here.
Don't forget. The more you know about an internship, the stronger your credentials for the position, and the more connections you have, the greater your chance of obtaining a desirable internship. Take advantage of out-of-class experiences to meet influential people, as indicated earlier. Learn about the agency or office you wish to work with by studying their website and talking to people who have worked there. Engage in "networking" by attending departmental activities, being active in student organizations, and meeting influential people at events off campus. Also, seek the advice of your professors, who have often helped other students obtain desirable internships.