Summer 2020 Virtual Internship Program
Don't put a hold on planning your career. Intern virtually this summer.
With The Washington Center, you’ll gain real-world professional experience, learn how to thrive in the modern workplace and prepare to land your first job out of college - all from the comfort of your home.
It was a big change from interning for three weeks in D.C., to then doing it in my parents’ house. However, there’s still a lot to be gained and I feel like I’m learning every day what it’s like to be in the workplace, including thinking outside the box and being flexible about doing my work differently.
Kelsey Ballard, Spring 2020 Education and Communication Intern, Washington Performing Arts
Program Benefits
You only get a few summer breaks during college. Make the most of this summer by building towards your future career. With our virtual internship program, you’ll gain:
- Real-world professional experience in your chosen field
- Access to TWC's professional network of internship sites
- Career development training, mentoring and one-on-one career advising, without ever leaving your home
- Skills that will help you thrive in a virtual work environment, which is quickly becoming the new norm
Program Components
What does a virtual summer term look like? Here's how you'll be spending most of your time:
Remote Internship
You'll intern a minimum of 20-25 hours per week with one of our vetted internship sites, with a dedicated supervisor who will work closely with you over the course of the summer. Throughout your virtual internship, you’ll have:
- Substantive assignments and projects from your organization
- A virtual mid-semester check-in with your Career Advisor and supervisor
- Regular check-ins with your supervisor
- An end-of-semester evaluation completed by your supervisor
Your site will make sure to provide you with access to any necessary technology platforms they use to help you work effectively in a remote capacity such as email, Zoom, Slack, etc.
Career Readiness Programming
Take part in virtual career readiness sessions, individual career coaching and discussion boards with Washington, D.C. professionals that will help you get ready to launch your career and stand out from other candidates.
You’ll choose from at least 8 events and sessions throughout the summer, in addition to an orientation session at the beginning of the term:
Professional Development and Career Readiness Sessions
- Resources for launching a career in the age of COVID-19 (e.g. job search, virtual interviews)
- Career marketing sessions (e.g. resume, LinkedIn)
- Job search sessions (e.g. mock interviews, salary negotiations)
- Personal & professional branding (e.g. mission statements, telling your story, building your online presence)
Virtual Career Exploration
- Panel discussions with professionals working in your field
- Virtual Simulations
Networking Events
- Connect with alumni, donors, and other members of TWC’s vast global network of professionals and industry leaders
Throughout the summer, you will have the opportunity to connect these sessions with your own personal and professional goals by working 1:1 with a dedicated Career Advisor.
Academic Course
One night a week, you’ll take part in one of our courses designed to help you step back and reflect through an academic lens on a broader topic. You could fulfill a requirement for your major, delve deep into something you’ve always been interested in or take a course from an industry leader who will also be a great addition to your learning and your network.
Courses will be administered through our Learning Management System, and our professors will provide virtual office hours.
Program Dates
The virtual summer program will run for 9 weeks, from June 1 - July 31.
- Virtual orientation: Monday, June 1, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Internship start date: Monday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m.*
- Mid-semester check-ins with your Career Advisor and supervisor: June 22 - July 17
- Internship end date: July 31
* Some sites may begin their internships later in the week. Please confirm your official start date with your supervisor.
Program Requirements
To participate in the virtual summer program, you'll need:
- A computer
- Stable internet access
- Weekly availability of 20 - 30 hours
Program Cost
Your cost will depend on funding from your state and TWC's arrangements with your school. If you attend an eligible school in one of our funded states, your costs are likely covered, or significantly reduced. If you attend an affiliated school that is not supported by state funding, you should speak to your admissions counselor or campus liaison about the arrangements we have in place for the Virtual Internship Program.
How to Apply
Start and submit the online application by clicking the button below. Throughout the process, you can save your application and return to it at a later time. You must include the application documents listed in the section below to complete the application process.
If you're not quite ready to apply or are interested in learning more about our programs, please submit a Request For Information below.
Application Documents
You need to submit the following documents along with your application:
- One-page Resumé: Outline your educational background, honors or recognitions, work experience, activities, special skills, etc. Please include any computer-related expertise or foreign language skills, as well as prior internships and community service activities. For tips on how to write an effective resume, read our resume guide. You can also view some sample resumes here.
- Statement of Professional Interest (approx. 100 words): Broadly describe your internship interests, future career goals, skills you're hoping to gain and ways in which you will contribute to your placement site. Please do not specify the name(s) of any particular organization in this statement. If you need help, read our statement of professional interest guide.
- Issues Essay (approx. 500 words): Reflect on a key issue related to your professional field of interest and demonstrate your written communication skills to TWC and prospective internship site supervisors. If you need more help, here are some sample issues essays for you to refer to.
- Official Transcript: Upload your official transcript directly into your application or request that it be sent to TWC.
- Letter of Recommendation: Your letter must be from a faculty member or professional supervisor. If you have a GPA below 2.75, you’ll need to submit two letters of recommendation. Your recommender will submit their letter directly to TWC through the application.
If you are attending school outside the U.S., you must also submit:
- Your TOEFL score
- Copy of your valid passport ID page
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FAQs
Am I still guaranteed an internship for the virtual summer program?
TWC is committed to placing all students in an internship, but placements are contingent on a site’s availability to offer a quality remote experience and your desire to participate in the internship offered to you.
With so much financial uncertainty right now, I’m not sure I can justify the cost of this program.
We understand your concerns; however we offer various scholarship awards that will make the virtual summer experience either completely free or more affordable to you. To find out (or confirm) your scholarship options, please use this form to request that we contact you.
If I want to defer my admission to a different semester, how do I do that?
Let your Pre-Arrival Advisor know about your plans and they will guide you through the process. If you choose to participate in our Fall 2020 semester, TWC will honor the Summer 2020 program and housing fees.
I have more questions. Who should I contact?
If you know the direct contact information of your Admissions Counselor or Pre-Arrival Advisor, you can email them directly. Otherwise, please use this form to submit your questions.