Political Internships for High School Students

Political internships are a great way to learn more about how the government works, how policies are made, and give students access to impactful federal agencies and institutions. If you’re interested in a career in politics or want a better understanding of how to make an impact through the public sector, a politics internship is a perfect opportunity for you. In this article, we’ll dive into our list of the top political internships for high school students. For more on other social science internships, check out our blog article on the Top Social Science Internships for High School Students.

Top Political Internships

1. U.S. Senate Page Program

This internship gives students (or “pages” as the program calls them) the opportunity to play an important role in the day-to-day operations of the U.S. Senate. Responsibilities include delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and working on the Senate floor, where they provide assistance during roll call votes, support senators and staff during debates, and carry bills and amendments to the desk. 

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with U.S. government activities and can be a great experience if you have aspirations to get into politics in the future. Based on the program’s website, this is a very time-intensive role, but it comes with a lot of responsibility too! To be considered for the position, students must write to their state senator. 

Location: Washington, D.C.

Pay: Pages are paid on an annual salary basis of $37,238

Program Dates: Summer sessions are for two weeks, Fall and Spring sessions for 4-5 months

Eligibility: 16 or 17-year-old juniors in high school, must be U.S. citizen. 18-year-olds are not allowed. 3.0+ GPA required.

Application Deadline: Depends on the Senator you apply for, check out the Find my Senator page

2. NYC Mayor’s Office Internship

In this NYC-based internship program, interns apply to the mayoral unit that interests them most, and, if selected, will work within that department for the duration of their internship. Units include administrative services, chief counsel to the mayor, deputy mayor for public safety, and many more. There are a ton of divisions so be sure to read through all of them thoroughly before applying!

Intern projects may include conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, assisting with outreach, and supporting special projects. Interns will also attend bi-weekly Speaker Series to learn more about the inner workings of the city government. Moreover, interns will work together to develop a service project that will impact NYC communities in need. Previous projects have included Little League Ball Field Restoration, NYC Parks clean-up, and tree planting and beach clean-up. Overall this internship is very well-rounded and gives you firsthand insight into how city governments operate.

Location: New York City

Pay: $16 / hr

Program Dates: The Summer Terms run from June – August. The Fall/Spring Terms run from September – April.

Eligibility: NYC high school students who are 16 years of age or older

Application Deadline: March 31 for Summer Term. Check the website for the Fall Term deadline

3. U.S. Department of the Treasury Internship

Interested in economics and how to ensure financial security of the U.S.? The U.S. Department of the Treasury internship is a semester-long, unpaid program where students gain direct exposure to federal careers.

Students can choose to intern at one of many offices, such as the Office of International Affairs, the Office of Domestic Finance, and the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Responsibilities vary by office but some common duties are collecting, analyzing, and presenting data in support of policy priorities and researching and summarizing academic literature and news that are relevant to mission areas. The internship website mentions that the program seeks out students from a variety of studies, so no worries if you don’t have any prior experience in politics.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Pay: Unpaid

Program Dates: Spring Internship Period (January-May)

Summer Internship Period (May-August)

Fall Internship Period (September-December)

Eligibility: High school students who are already accepted into college

Application Deadline: Apply in June for Fall Period

4. U.S. Department of Education Internships

This ED Student Volunteer Unpaid Internship Program, is eight to ten week program allows students to gain valuable work experience in government and federal education and policy. Students can work in various areas, including Human Resources Management, Education Policies, Data Analytics, and many more. 

The Department of Education also ensures interns' future careers by hosting professional development and resume writing workshops. The great part about this internship is that it’s open to international students as well! Check out the program website for more details on eligibility requirements.

Location: Washington, D.C

Pay: Not specified.

Program Dates: Fall Dates: September through December

Winter/Spring Dates: January through May 

Summer Dates: May/June through July/August

Eligibility: High school students, must be 16 years old

Application Deadline: Fall program deadline is July 31

5. Washington State House Page Program

This House Page Program gives students the opportunity to assist the House of Representatives in the state of Washington with duties including serving on the chamber floor, making deliveries throughout campus, supporting member offices, and attending Page School. Page School is more of a classroom environment that allows students to learn more about the legislative process. 

If you are interested in learning more about this hands-on experience, check out this informational video! Further, if program costs are a concern for you, you can apply for the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Legislative Page Scholarship Program, which covers the cost of travel expenses for Pages.

Location: Capitol Campus, Olympia, Washington

Pay: $65 per day plus 20 hours of community service

Program Dates: One week sessions (40 hrs/wk) from January 8 - March 4

Eligibility: 14-17 years old and receive recommendation from teacher or principal

Application Deadline: Applications open November 1

6. Bureau of Land Management Internship Program

The Bureau of Land Management offers the Pathways Internship Program, where you can combine your interest in policy with helping to protect and maintain public lands for natural and cultural resources. Within the Bureau you can explore different internship opportunities in different academic fields and in different states. 

There are two types of interns at the Bureau of Land Management. One is an Indefinite Intern who is assigned a mentor and, upon completion of the internship program, may be converted to a permanent role. The other type of intern is an Intern Not-To-Exceed, who is expected to complete short-term projects and is not eligible for conversion into a permanent role. Regardless, either opportunity is a great chance to dive into the intersection of policy, environmental science, and history.

Location: Internships available in the following states

Pay: Depends on department

Program Dates: Depending on internship type, you’ll complete a minimum of 640 work hours or 12 weeks

Eligibility: Current students age 16 or older

Application Deadline: Rolling

7. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internships

FPRI offers internships for students during the Summer, Fall, and Spring terms. Interns have the opportunity to connect with members of the foreign relations community and gain experience working for a prestigious think tank. Each intern is paired with a scholar or professional in the field and will have the opportunity to attend weekly foreign policy and career-focused seminars with guest speakers. Students also can work on a research paper to be considered for publication in FPRI’s Intern Corner.

There are several types of internship opportunities available. Research Interns work under the direct supervision of an FPRI staffer and alongside scholars in one of the following research areas: Middle East, Eurasia, Africa, or Asia. Special Events/Development Interns work in Philadelphia with the Development Director and Event Manager on events that FPRI hosts or co-hosts. Communications Interns assist the Assistant Director of Communications on content creation for social media platforms cognizant of content trends. This position requires familiarity with International Relations/Global Affairs/US Foreign Policy. Operations Interns will assist FPRI’s management staff with a variety of projects related to the internship program. 

Location: In-person in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or remote

Pay: Stipend awards are available, the amount depends on financial need

Program Dates: Fall: September - December. Spring: February - May. Summer: June - August

Eligibility: All students (do not need to be U.S. citizens)

Application Deadline: Fall deadline: August 18. Spring deadline: November 1

8. Pasquines Internship

Pasquines is a nonprofit news organization, run by volunteers, dedicated to helping the United States territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa become more represented in national conversations involving politics, policy, design, and innovation. Pasquines is looking for interns who have a passion for politics or political affairs and they offer a variety of intern positions.

Location: Virtual

Pay: Unpaid, but can help with getting college credit

Program Dates: Flexible, looking for interns for indefinite terms

Eligibility: All high school students

Application Deadline: Rolling

9. U.S. Department of State Pathways Internship Program

The Pathways Internship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore Federal careers while also being paid for their work. There are two internship programs available. The Internship Experience Program (IEP) is expected to last for the duration of the academic program in which the student is enrolled. Interns are also eligible for noncompetitive promotions while in the program. The Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) allows students to work in seasonal positions and during holiday breaks, and these students are not eligible for promotions. 

Internship vacancies can vary year-round, so be sure to consistently check the USAJobs internship board throughout the year for open positions.

Location: Different locations available

Pay: Internships are paid but vary, learn more about pay here

Program Dates: Varies by location

Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 16 years of age

Application Deadline: Varies by location

10. USC Center for the Political Future Internship

The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF), offers high school students a prestigious summer internship program that is held entirely online. Students will be able to attend one of USC Dornsife’s premier annual events, the “Climate Forward Conference.” Students will then write two essays about the conference panelists’ viewpoints which will help build their understanding of key environmental policies. Interns will have access to USC staff and faculty throughout the internship. Keep in mind that this internship is essay-based, so be prepared to do a lot of writing!

Location: Virtual

Pay: Unpaid

Program Dates: June 1 - August 1

Eligibility: Must be a high school student, cannot be a graduating senior

Application Deadline: May 24

11. Democracy Maine Youth Council Internship

This internship is organized by the League of Women Voters of Maine (LWVME), a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The goal of the internship is to help high school students explore the ways they can make an impact in their local communities. Students will be able to learn about how state laws are passed and have a lot of flexibility to take their internship in whatever direction they’d like. 

LWVME looks for interns with experience and/or interest in one or more of the following areas: Community Organizing and Education, Communications (including content production and social media), Youth Organizing, and creating a more equitable and just society. Things interns have done in the past include hosting events to raise awareness and creating public service announcements to be shown in classrooms across Maine. 

If you’re interested in promoting political equity and increased voter participation, this is a great internship program for you. You can learn more about past intern experiences here.

Location: Maine

Pay: $15/hr

Program Dates: Internship offers Fall Semester program, Spring semester, and Summer. Interns work 5 hours per week. 

Eligibility: Must be a high school student, if under 15 years of age, you will need to fill out a work permit application with the state of Maine

Application Deadline: Fall semester deadline: September 21. Spring semester deadline: January 17. Summer deadline: May 16

How to Apply for Political Internships

Preparing Your Application

In the application process, internship programs typically ask you to submit written or video essays explaining your interest in politics. Technical skills are usually not a requirement for political internships. Pro tip: make sure you know exactly what you need to gain internship credit from your school!

Writing a Stand-Out Essay

In the essay portion of the application, it’s critical that you express your curiosity for politics and your desire to learn. Applicants can stand out from the rest by having clear reasons for why they’re interested in the internship or the specific federal agency hosting the internship, and how they’ll make the most of the experience. Do your own research by exploring the internship program website, watching the informational videos, identifying the responsibilities of the program that you’re especially excited about, and mentioning those in your essays! Highlighting your leadership skills and interest in political campaigns can also make your essay more compelling.

Letters of Recommendation and Interviews

Many internships require letters of recommendation, so if you know ahead of time that you’d like to apply for a political internship, try to build relationships with your history or government teachers in school.  These relationships can be a valuable student resource.

A smaller portion of internships conduct interviews. For these, we recommend that you review your essays a few days before the interview and memorize your reasons for why you’re interested in the internship. Other than that, just relax!

Maximizing Your Internship Experience

Networking and Professional Development

We encourage you to also learn as much as you can from your managers and peers. The great thing about political internships is that they’re often hosted by actual federal agencies, so you’ll have the opportunity to learn from actual professionals in the politics field. They can be great resources for helping you navigate politics in the future and may even have insights into which colleges have the best programs! 

Turning Your Internship into a Career Opportunity

The benefits from your internship don’t stop after your internship opportunity ends! The mentors you meet during your internship can be lifelong mentors as you continue to navigate politics. In the final weeks of your internship, tell your managers that you’d like to stay in touch. Get their contact info and follow up with them consistently in the future so that they can connect you with opportunities.

Opportunities at Polygence

While internships offer valuable hands-on experience, they're not the only way to explore your passion for politics. If you're interested in conducting independent political science research, consider Polygence’s Research Mentorship Program, where you can explore a political topic of your choice and work with an expert mentor to help your goals come to life. If you’re stuck on finding the right internship, you can also check out our social science internships and opportunities, and Carly Taylor’s Op-Ed on Youth Voter Turnout for inspiration. 

For example, Polygence alumna Anna Webb worked with her political science mentor, Amanda, to write an excellent article about Russia's political future that was published in the Redaction Report. Anna explored how older generations of Russian people were forced to adapt to the government’s actions, and how younger generations are bringing a new perspective to law, police, and the judicial system. 

Embarking on Your Political Journey

Whether through internships or research projects, stepping into the world of politics can be a transformative experience for aspiring young leaders. By carefully crafting your applications, leveraging networking opportunities, and maximizing your experiences, you'll build a solid foundation for a future career in politics.

Remember, the connections you make and the skills you develop can open doors long after your initial experience ends. Whether your interests lie in government, policy-making, or political research, programs like Polygence's Research Mentorship Program offer additional avenues to explore your passions and build expertise.

As you take your first steps into the political arena, stay curious and open to learning. Don't hesitate to reach out to mentors and professionals in the field. Your journey in politics begins with these internships and projects – seize every opportunity to grow, learn, and make a difference. The future of politics is in your hands, so make the most of these formative experiences.