OCA Internship Program | Application | Placements | Summer Internship | Summer Internship FAQ | Alumni | Contribute

Please read below for Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Are graduate students eligible?
A: Graduate students are NOT eligible.

Q: Are international students eligible?
A: International students are NOT eligible.

Q: I am currently a high school senior and will start college in the fall. Am I eligible?
A: High school seniors who have not started college yet are NOT eligible.

Q: I graduate from an undergraduate program in May, am I eligible?
A: YES, undergraduate seniors graduating in May 2010 ARE eligible and may apply.

Q: I live in New York/California/Ohio/Alabama/etc., am I eligible for the internship?
A: All accepted students must move to Washington, D.C. or be in commuting distance for the program term as they will be placed in an organization or department located in the city.

Q: Does OCA provide housing for interns?
A: OCA will only provide a housing guide for accepted interns. Finding housing is on the student’s own terms.

Q: How much would housing costs and other expenses total up to living in Washington, D.C.?
A: Housing per month will average about $600 depending on where the student chooses to live. With additional living expenses, interns should look into investing anywhere from $2,000 - $4,000 for the entirety of the internship program.

Q: What kinds of experience will I gain through this program?
A: Placements are in the public sector, which include federal agencies, Congressional offices as well as various national non-profit organizations. Thus, interns should expect to experience working full-time in very professional settings.

Q: Am I eligible for the internship if my school runs on a quarter schedule?
A: Unfortunately, because our convention is mid-June this year, students attending a quarter-based institution are ineligible to apply as interns are required to commit to 10 consecutive weeks starting May 24 – August 13. The latest start date is June 7.

Q: Are students who attend community colleges eligible for the internship?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I have my references send in my letters of recommendations separately instead of including them in my application packet?
A: We prefer for you to submit all of your application materials in one package, however, you can have your letters of recommendation sent in separately. They should be mailed to the OCA office at 1322 18^th St NW, Washington, DC, 20036 and must be postmarked by March 1.

For more information on our Summer Internship Program, please check out our internship page . For specific questions not listed, please contact Iimay Ho at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .