This story originally appeared in the Winter 2024 Schar School the Pulse Magazine.
The tradition of internships dates to the Middle Ages, when young workers learned a trade under the supervision of a master of the craft. The relationship could last for years, depending on the complexity of the skill and the agreement with the student’s family. No doubt, the master valued the assistance as much as the apprentice appreciated the experience.
Fast forward 1,500 years and the medieval concept of apprenticeships has morphed into the institution of college internships. Opportunities abound for students to spend significant time in professional settings, learning vital proficiencies and gaining experienced insights firsthand, as well as making contributions to the goals of the organization.
Given George Mason University’s proximity to Washington, D.C., students in degree programs at the Schar School of Policy and Government have an unusually vast number of potential internships in fields that are relevant to their academic interests. Some of those opportunities become future livelihoods. No promises, but it happens.
The Schar School has forged productive relationships with those in key positions in important institutions over decades, from the White House and Congress to nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, and private firms. Each semester, those organizations and the people running them count on Schar School students to assist them in successfully fulfilling their missions by performing tasks large and small. In fact, George Mason ranks No. 1 in Virginia for internships, according to U.S. News & World Report.
After graduating in 2022 from the Schar School’s bachelor of arts program in government and international politics, Helena Somerday enrolled in the Schar School’s highly ranked international security master’s program. As a master’s student she landed a competitive internship at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), a unit in the Department of Transportation.
As a communications intern at FRA, she gathered information from key personnel, including senior executives and subject experts, and wrote stories about various developments that included sophisticated data analysis. The position also required her to learn other skills that proved valuable in her master’s degree studies.
“I gained a comprehensive understanding of federal workings, solidified my commitment to a federal career, and advanced several skills crucial for success in this dynamic professional sphere,” she said. “Working in a federal agency for the first time helped me gain perspective on what I want from a federal position, while understanding each department and each office within it have varying goals and visions. I could not think of a better way to grow during the semester.”
In short, the internship led to the fulltime job.
When to Apply
It used to be accepted practice to intern off campus in your last year as an undergraduate, said Ann Ludwick, who, as assistant dean of undergraduate academic affairs since 2014, has helped countless students navigate internships. That delay makes sense because by your senior year you have, with hope, successfully balanced your schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
“Nowadays, I encourage students to intern as early as sophomore year,” she said. “That way, an internship can lead to another internship—and why not build your professional portfolio earlier rather than later?”
The Schar School and George Mason are ideally situated for multiple internships, she said. The Fairfax and Arlington Campuses are mere miles away from the White House, Capitol Hill, and the innumerable nonprofits, associations, and advocacy agencies located in Washington, D.C. The most distant Northern Virginia campus, located in Manassas, is only 30 miles from Washington.
“We have so many opportunities,” Ludwick said. “I tell students to take advantage of these experiences for their own career readiness.”
But some students can’t wait. Sreelakshmi Veettil, a junior government and international politics major, is one of those. She came to the United States from her home in India to attend college, settling on George Mason “after looking at about 20 universities on the East Coast,” she said, “because it was so close to D.C. and seemed to be the perfect fit for my future aspirations.”
Veettil, who is slated to graduate in 2026, is determined to make the most of her college career, and she wasted no time in becoming involved in the university’s opportunities. The Honors College student is a residence hall assistant and vice president of the Democrats at Mason club and previously was a student senator and chair of the University Life Committee. It was at a Democrats club meeting where she discovered her first internship possibility.
“That’s where I met Congressman Gerry Connolly’s campaign manager at the time,” she said. Connolly, a Democrat, has represented the district where the university’s Fairfax Campus is located since 2009.
“I spent my first semester at George Mason as a campaign intern for my district's congressman,” Veettil said. “I met multiple impressive candidates and current representatives at large-scale events and campaign launches and these connections brought me to my first office internship last spring semester [2024] during my sophomore year.”
It was a thrill to land a position in a congressman’s office and bear the official title of District Office Intern, she said. “I never imagined that I'd meet or even have the opportunity to work for a congressman at all, let alone during my first couple of months in the United States,” she said.
The work was compelling and important to the function of the office.
“I had regular conversations with constituents about federal services and issues that they cared about, while also keeping up with casework for many individuals,” she said. “I learned so much about constituent services and casework throughout my time as an intern, as I dealt with cases regarding Social Security, immigration, healthcare,” and other issues.
Finding the Best Fit
Many students find their internships by networking with friends who have had experience with interning, or through family with connections, or like Veettil, having direct contact with those in a position to hire. Some students find their internship positions by exploring websites of agencies they have an interest in working with. Schar School students are likely to find intriguing internship possibilities via the USAJOBS website, the federal government’s official Pathways portal for students and recent graduates.
Schar School senior Jake Kornfeld found his summer 2024 position at the Department of the Treasury via USAJOBS, applying for the internship despite not having a background in economics.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it, so when I did, I was really excited about it,” the Seattle native said about the position. His duties included handling travel logistics for Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and her delegation as well as helping advance events in the Washington area.
“I provided briefing materials for the secretary and escorted her to in-town events,” he said. “I also escorted stakeholders who came to meet with her. I’ve escorted economists, ambassadors, and prime ministers as well as facilitated Treasury events with these stakeholders.”
Nearly a quarter of students find internships by means of faculty and staff referrals, a reflection of the Schar School’s presence in the region. Adjunct instructors in particular are good sources of information about internships as many of them are active practitioners working at key institutions and have knowledge about departments looking for assistance.
But no matter the source of the internship, there is always guidance from advisors and faculty members.
The frequent Schar School newsletters—yes, you should open them—also have information about opportunities. Grant Smith, a 2023 graduate of the Master of Public Administration program, found a game-changing internship on the university’s Handshake employment portal (handshake.gmu.edu), another popular option.
In Smith’s case, he had a very specific curiosity he wanted to fulfill: “I wanted to learn about operations and revenue allocation at nonprofits,” he said.
The Rockville, Maryland, native applied to intern with the development team at the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan nonprofit located in the District, in his second year of his MPA program. Being accepted, he said, “was a really accomplishing feeling, but”—spoiler alert—"it was an even better experience gaining fulltime employment when I was finishing up my internship.”
He initially served in development, researching prospective funders and foundations. “Even as an intern, I felt that my opinion was valued and taken seriously on that team,” he said. “As I continued my internship, I developed connections with other lines of business at the organization and occasionally worked on projects outside of my team.”
He now is a fulltime employee as an associate with the Partnership’s Federal Workforce Team, which requires him to employ different skills.
“Fortunately, I connected with my current colleagues during my internship and discussed a lot of my interests from coursework at the Schar School related to public sector employee engagement,” he said. “I work on projects with federal agencies that want to increase their Federal Employment Viewpoint Survey scores.”
He also represents the Call to Serve Network team which provides guidance and resources to students who want to pursue a career in the federal civil service. In other words, he may be a good contact to keep in mind.
Another student found internship success by means of the Partnership for Public Service (see ourpublicservice.org), but in a different capacity. Minh-Dy Pham, a senior in the bachelor of science public administration program with a Spanish minor, was one of two Schar School undergraduates to win a Future Leaders in Public Service (FLIPS) internship with the Department of Transportation. She was assigned as an Internal Equity Support Intern at the Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights for the Federal Highway Administration, where she assisted the anti-harassment and equity coordinator. She helped develop factfinding reports for casework related to workplace harassment allegations.
She notes that this opportunity would not have been possible without the help of Schar School associate professor Lucas Núñez, who recommended her to the program, and Director of Career Development Duane Bradshaw, who she says has provided “immense support throughout the application process and internship experience.”
Through personalized guidance and important resources, the Schar School ensures students are well-prepared to traverse the competitive internship landscape. The school's career services team offers workshops on resume building, interview skills, and networking strategies, ensuring that students present themselves as strong candidates.
Following the completion of her internship at DOT, Pham began her fourth internship as a Pathways intern at the General Services Administration Public Buildings Service, which manages 190 federally owned buildings in the Washington region.
Taking advantage of the Schar School’s proximity to Washington and “the plethora of opportunities for involvement in public service,” she has “kickstarted my career in public service,” she said.
Zooming Into Internships
During the pandemic, virtual internships became commonplace, and they continue for positions that don’t necessarily require in-person contact. But is there value in an internship that doesn’t require direct interaction with colleagues?
“Yes, of course,” said Livija Kaktaite, who interned with the NATO Science and Technology Organization as a Master of International Security student. “The virtual internship can be as valuable as in-person internship because you can still get to know people during Zoom calls and later you can schedule individual Zoom meetings to get to know them better, which is similar to getting coffee with someone.”
There’s another advantage: “You are able to do other activities at the same time,” she said.
In her case, “I was able to play basketball professionally, do school, and do an internship at the same time because I didn’t need to sit in an office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s more convenient when you don’t have to be in the same location as other people who you are working with, so it broadens the possibilities. It saves travel time which you can use elsewhere and it helps you to build good planning and time management skills.”
Bottom line: “You improve your discipline because there is no one there to enforce anything or put your schedule together, so you have to learn how to deliver and build your own structure,” she said.
Unexpected Opportunities
Gabriella Grabovska, a rising government and international politics junior, arrived at George Mason from Ukraine shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of her home country. In a whirlwind of an early college career she’s experienced several internships since arriving, the first of which took her to Capitol Hill where she worked with members of congress for the Committee on House Administration (CHA), the body that manages the House of Representatives’ daily operations.
“After tons of rejections from different offices on the Hill, I met the staff director for the committee during one of the dinners hosted by the [Schar School’s] Jurisprudence Learning Community,” she said. “It was an incredible opportunity to speak with one of the people who was on the House floor during the January 6 attack. But it was just unbelievable to end up working with him at the committee.”
As if that was not thrill enough, “the best day at CHA was when I got a chance to see—and even have a quick interaction with—President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, who came to speak to Congress in December,” she said.
In short time, she said, “the Schar School gave me a chance to network with the successful people from the Department of Justice, the White House, and Capitol Hill. One of those connections led to one of the best experiences of my life—my congressional internship at CHA.”
Those initial “tons of rejections” she mentioned did not stop her from continuing to apply for coveted positions.
“Be ready to hear ‘no’ or not hear back at all,” she said. “I know how it feels when you’re applying for an internship and already imagining yourself there—but don’t set your expectations high. It’s much nicer to get a surprise offer letter and be super excited than be disappointed because it didn’t turn out the way you expected.”
The secret to success? “Be passionate about the internships you’re applying for. Be passionate when talking about the projects you worked on during the interviews. Be passionate about the field you’re working in,” Grabovska said. “At the end of the day, employers seeing your passion instead of your experience on your resumé will still give you an opportunity because they see your motivation.”
More Resources
- It is highly recommended for future interns to attend George Mason’s career fair hosted by University Career Services each fall and spring. Hundreds of recruiters and representatives from regional institutions and agencies attend the campuswide, two-day event, each of them eager to connect with motivated students.
- University Career Services also hosts the website Handshake, which is the university’s job search portal.
- The Schar School's extensive alumni network plays a pivotal role in connecting current students with internship opportunities. Alumni working in influential positions are often eager to mentor and support new interns, creating a supportive and dynamic environment for professional growth.
- While some internships are not paid positions, the Schar School and the Partnership for Public Service offer internship opportunities with various federal agencies for qualified students through the Federal Workforce Initiative.
- Students may earn academic credit by interning. The courses GOVT 480 for undergraduates and POGO 794 for graduate students automatically count toward all of Schar School majors. Students may intern any time during spring, summer, and fall semesters. Details on the "How do I find an Internship?" page.