Our Mission

Our mission is to systemically change Congress by empowering a diverse, inclusive, and effective generation of public servants.
We share our passion for sharing knowledge with students from all walks of life. All our courses are planned, recorded and edited based on 3 core principles:
  • A democracy must be truly reflective of the people that it serves--and our impact must align with this vision.
  • Every student should have an equal chance of landing a Hill internship.
  • Equity of access is not a partisan issue. Students of all ideologies are welcome and valued.
Contributors to C2C-U

Acknowledgements

Congressional Management Foundation

CMF works directly with Members of Congress and staff to enhance their operations and interactions with constituents. They also work to educate citizen groups.

University Partners

George Washington University School of Business, Consulting Community of Practice: David Lillia, Colin Medwick, Deanna Pereira
University of South Florida School of General Studies, Information Studies: Jocelyn Burrell, Sinead Carr, Frank Cestone

Program Alumni

DaQuawn Bruce, Abigail Christopher, Kendall Criswell, Jalen Johnson, Abigail Megginson, Dino Nganza, Madison Piel, Ryan Schiesser, Joleen Traynor, Justin Walker

Politics with Purpose

Founder, Domonique James

Content Creators

Brandon Consolvo, James Liska, Kasie Clark, Jonathan Hogue, Rochelle Colburn

Pay Our Interns

Co-Founder and Board Member, Guillermo Creamer

FAQS

What courses should I choose?

We suggest starting with our 101 course, which provides key information on how to perfect your resume, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and nail your interviews. 

After you land your internship, complete our 201 course on everything you need to know before you arrive in the capital, including budgeting best practices, insider information on living in the District, and what to expect during your internship. We also provide workshops on writing for the Hill, drafting communications, dressing professionally, and more!

How can I make the most of this platform?

The C2C Programs Team is heavily involved in every stage of your C2C-U journey and can provide support as questions arise. Our biggest tip for success? Take advantage of our network. Participate actively in discussion forums, join our C2C-U alumni Linkedin group, and be thoughtful about how the information here can better prepare you for your career goals.

What do Congressional offices look for in intern candidates?

There is no cut-and-dry answer to this question. For the most part, House and Senate offices are able to set their own guidelines and requirements for intern selection, just as they are with hiring staffers. However, at the very least, most offices consider whether an applicant:
- is a college or graduate student
- has a certain level of education and demonstrated work experience
- lives in the Member's district or state (or has close ties to the region)

How do Congressional offices recruit interns?

Many Congressional offices post their available internship opportunities, along with application procedures, on their Member's website. Others post them to online bulletin boards, social media pages, or using the House Vacancy Announcement and Placement Service.

The overwhelming majority of internships are filled through word-of-mouth recommendations. This means it can be rare for an office to hire someone who wasn't previously known to the Member, their staff, or someone within the office's network. It's even rarer if that person doesn't already live in DC or the district.

This is where College to Congress University helps. With the completion of C2C-U, you are invited to connect with our C2C-U Alumni Linkedin Group. Here you will get updates about paid internship openings and networking opportunities. 

Is there an age limit on interning in Congress?

There is no minimum or maximum age limit for interning in Congress. That said, the average age of most interns is between 18 and 24.

Must I be a U.S. citizen to intern in Congress?

The short answer is no, but this comes with some caveats.

Members of Congress have fairly broad discretion when it comes to deciding who works in their offices, but various laws and rules apply to non-citizens who work in Congress, particularly when it comes to receiving pay. Non-citizens, including those with DACA status, are not able to be paid by the federal government. However, there are many organizations--like C2C, APAICS, CHCI, and more--that provide funding to their interns that are not able to receive payment directly from their office.

How long does it take to complete C2C-U?

Both our 101 and our 201 course are completely self paced, meaning you can complete them in as little or as much time as you would like. Going through each course typically takes around 2-4 hours, depending on how carefully you are reading the material and to what degree you are engaging with each lesson. Students who are actively engaged and truly take their time going through the course tend to get the most from the coursework! 

C2C-U keeps track of where you are in the course, meaning you can start it one day and come back to it the next! 

Our students love us

C2C-U was very helpful and informational. The budgeting course was the one that has helped the most since the COVID-19 pandemic started. I have been using the apps every day and have been revamping my LinkedIn!
Charlene
I used the skills from C2C-U to network in DC and obtain two internship offers. I attribute great value to the knowledge and skills that I gained from C2C-U, especially as it relates to Congressional norms and preparing resumes.
Alex
I have learned so much from C2C-U, including the importance of working on a campaign. It has also helped so much in neworking--I have developed so many connections with those on the Hill and in Florida, so I have a lot more confidence. 
molly