Since 1967 Phillips Exeter Academy of New Hampshire, a highly ranked high school, has been sending a group of 12 seniors to serve as interns in Congressional offices.
Candidates are chosen through a rigorous screening process. The 2025 interns were recommended by teachers and advisors, and then interviewed and screened by a faculty committee; 12 were chosen from a field of 24.
The school provides interns with housing within walking distance of House and Senate offices and a per diem stipend to cover living expenses.
While in DC, the interns are supervised by a faculty director, Mr. Willam Jordan, who makes sure the interns are satisfying their workplace obligations and living up to the program's high standards.
The program has acquired a stellar reputation over its 55 years. Offices that employ Exeter interns are usually eager to take them again.
Exeter interns are known for superior writing and research skills. Our school's curriculum emphasizes the teaching of those skills.
In 2024, our interns worked in the offices of Sens. Thom Tillis, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen; and Reps. Salud Carbajal, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jake Auchincloss, Vincente Gonzales, Kevin Mullin, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chris Pappas, and Annie Kuster. In 2023, Exeter interns served in seven of those offices and also for Nancy Pelosi, Juan Cisomani, Jamaal Bowman, and Colin Allred. Feel free to contact any of those offices for an assessment of our program.
In the evenings and on weekends, students attend seminars arranged by the resident director, with professionals from Congressional offices, the Washington press corps, national security agencies, political parties, federal law enforcement, think tanks, foreign service, the White House staff, and various executive agencies. On the very rare occasion when one of these sessions requires some time out of the work day, we will encourage the interns to notify supervisors well in advance.
The program runs from March 24 to May 30 in 2025. Our interns often fill a gap between the winter and summer interns in the offices they serve.