Next Generation Students talk about their internships

The Alaska Wilderness League

“Last semester I worked at the Alaska Wilderness League. It was a terrific learning and advocacy experience – I was interning with a group and a cause that I believed in. I got a behind-the-scenes taste of what it is like to lobby Congress as well as developing a grassroots campaign. My internship there helped me get my summer job and has provided me with a wonderful and educational experience to look back upon.”
James Skoufis
George Washington University

APCO Worldwide

“My internship at APCO Worldwide, a global public relations firm allowed me to gain hands-on experience in the public affairs world. I hope to pursue a career in public relations when I graduate. I was lucky to find an internship that had minimal administrative tasks and was very learning-oriented. We had brown-bag lunches with senior staff which included former U.S. Senators, Congressmen and government officials. Among the many things I got to do during my internship, I participated in client brainstorm sessions, worked with an intern team to develop mock business pitched delivered to high-level management, drafted press releases, monitored prominent bloggers, media outlets and academic studies relating to client issues and client visibility, and made follow-up calls for press events.”
Elaine Kourourpas
Vanderbilt University

BNP Paribas, Paris, France

“This summer I had the opportunity to intern at BNP Paribas in Paris, one of the largest banks in France. Interning is an invaluable resource that provides not only experience and insight into a particular field of work, but also aids in developing interpersonal skills on a professional level. Internships give students an edge in interviewing for jobs and boost confidence through experience.”
Peter Hadjigeorgiou
Georgetown University

The China Institute 

“This summer I am interning with China Institute in New York, a non-profit organization geared towards the education of Chinese culture, art, and language. My responsibilities include organizing a art exhibition of Chinese calligraphy and painting, and assisting other departments with various educational projects. Aside from gaining the valuable experience of working at an NGO and putting together a cultural art exhibition, simply observing and speaking to the diverse staff has both narrowed and clarified my future career goals, which are working for an NGO or as a political or cultural journalist writing about Modern China.”
Vasiliki Paloympis
New York University

Citigroup and Goldman Sachs

“My freshman and sophomore years at Georgetown University I had summer internships at Citibank North America. My main project was coordinating Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and financial disclosure for Citibank North America marketplaces. During my sophomore spring semester and junior fall semester, I interned at Citigroup’s Global Government Affairs office in Washington, DC, where I worked with the senior vice president and worked on international and federal government issues, focusing on initiatives within the Banking and Finance Committees. In the summer of my Junior year, I interned in the Portfolio Control and Analysis Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where I worked with the Quantitative Equity and Strategy desks monitoring firm and client accounts related to cash management and trading, including issue resolution requiring research and risk analysis on a daily basis. My main project was exploring the development of automated trade processes, for such instruments as variance swaps. I was offered a full-time position and accepted their offer in the fall of my senior year at Georgetown. I worked at Goldman Sachs from July 2008 to August 2011, when I left the firm to begin graduate school at Columbia University, where I am currently working toward an MA in History and an advanced certificate in Conflict Resolution. Next fall, I will be applying to business schools to pursue an MBA.” 
Cassandra Ellen Virgin
Columbia University

Department of the Interior

“The two years I spent interning at the U.S. Department of the Interior provided me with many of the skills needed to succeed in my professional career. While attending The George Washington University, I gained valuable knowledge from my professors. It was, however, the experience I gained during my internship that helped me develop my organizational and problem-solving abilities. I learned how to think critically about complex situations and manage my time while working with others to complete multiple projects. I loved seeing the tangible outcomes of my efforts and feeling like part of a team of skilled professionals. Most importantly, I was able to observe so many effective and motivating people and learn from them the essential qualities and mindsets needed to succeed at my career.”
Nicole Chames
George Washington University

Department of Justice

“Interning at the Department of Justice has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done throughout college. It has allowed me to gain an invaluable insight as to the daily lives and practices of prominent attorneys in Washington, DC. Being able to experience law in its raw form has made me more confident in my decision to attend law school and has further invigorated my interest on the subject.”
Pete Georgis
George Washington University

Department of Transportation

“My first direct involvement with a U.S. government agency was through my internship at the U.S Department of Transportation where I worked for the Office of the Secretary. Dealing with strategic long-term policy planning and understanding the diverse aspects and layers of complexity that a seemingly simple system – intercity freight transportation – presented was a perfect real-world complement to my Technology and Policy education. The potential for interactions with experts inside and outside the agency as well as networking in the Washington D.C. MIT alumni network was impressive given my status as a non-U.S. citizen intern. That experience helped shape a different view of how government agencies can be effective and current with contemporary research. I hope I can put these lessons in good use as my career evolves.”
Sgouris Sgouridis
Engineering Systems Division, PhD Candidate
Lean Aerospace Initiative, Research Assistant, MIT

HCA Architects, Toronto, Canada

“As a graduate student at the University of Toronto, my summer internship at HCA Architects offered me the opportunity to explore and work on varying elements of architecture at the professional level.  The plethora of duties placed upon me not only provided for a strong foundation in the varying areas of architecture, but will also serve as beneficial in my future academic and professional career as an architect. I greatly appreciate the time my co-workers and managers spent training and guiding me, and it was particularly rewarding when that training allowed for an increased skill level on firm projects. The experience gained from this position will be unforgettable and extremely valuable in my future career.”
Peter Darmos
University of Toronto

Los Angeles Times

“While interning at the Los Angeles Times in its Washington, DC, bureau, I wrote my own stories on religion, homeland security and federal government initiatives combating local crime. I also composed an eclectic mix of feature stories on topics ranging from space-based solar energy to poker player lobbyists on Capitol Hill. I even had the opportunity to report from a dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as part of my coverage of the annual Kennedy Center Honors and cover a briefing at the White House Press Office. By reporting on stories that would otherwise remain untold, I have seen firsthand how valuable journalism and the search for truth can be in illuminating otherwise sterile policy debates by telling a more human story.”
Theo Milonopoulos
Stanford University

Office of Senator Barack Obama, Washington, DC

“My experience interning at Senator Barack Obama’s office in Washington, D.C., expanded the knowledge and competitive drive to excel in this very fast paced and complicated world.  Along side many brilliant legislative assistants and head chiefs in the office, researching and helping constituents, I also discovered that it is vital to have positive attitudes and forward moving ideas for long term goals.  One of the highlights of the internship was meeting Senator Obama and actually being able to discuss current and future issues the United States faces.  One could say my experiences are a once in a lifetime opportunity; I find that the more I educate my self through internships, jobs, and organizations, my experiences grow to become a lifetime of opportunity.”
Chris Stavrou
George Washington University

Rabobank, New York, NY

“Working in New York at Rabobank was a wonderful experience. Being on the trading floor, I saw firsthand how deals in structured finance were conceived, planned, and executed. I left with a profound understanding of banking and finance, and am now much more financially literate, having worked side-by-side with professionals with decades of experience. In addition, interning at a medium-sized bank allowed me to interact with a wide range of people on the corporate ladder, something that I might not have been able to do at a larger institution. Finally, my time away from home in New York was great fun and taught me life skills that will help me after graduation.”
Tom Mourmouras
Claremont McKenna College

Senate Judiciary Committee

“Internships are a great way to ‘test-drive’ an occupation and start thinking about possible careers. During my summer internship with the Senate Judiciary Committee for Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio I became immersed in the political culture and energy of Capitol Hill. It was thrilling! Not only did I have the chance to meet and work with the Senator and his impressive staff, but also I was able to attend hearings and witness the action at its center. Thanks to my internship on the Hill, I have gained valuable work experience as well as some unforgettable memories.”
Nicholas G. Jameson
Harvard University

PricewaterhouseCoopers, London, England

“My internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers provided me a fantastic opportunity to work with a variety of people and clients. To have the chance as an intern to sit in on meetings with high level executives and participate in discussions with partners of the firm was a priceless experience. I also was assigned the responsibility of completing different tasks that are typical assignments for full-time staff. To be able to bridge the gap between the classroom and the reality of the business world is an important step for a student hoping to make an immediate impact post-graduation.”
Tim Stefanou
Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business

TD Garden, Boston, MA

“By working with executives and assisting in coordinating events, I acquired valuable skills and made great connections that will be sure to help me in the future. I was able to fine tune my interests and gear my future job and internship searches towards the sports marketing field. This internship also opened doors for me: I was hired by the Boston Red Sox this past summer, and hope to continue working for that organization.”
Anastasia Zervos 
Boston University 
School of Management

UBS Financial Services

“Working for UBS Financial Services afforded me hands-on experience in wealth management. I was able to work closely with a senior wealth manager who mentored me and inspired me to further pursue my passion in finance. The summer experience provided valuable experience for my on-campus involvement with the Georgetown University Student Investment Fund, as well as for my future finance career. This real- world experience undoubtedly aided understanding of finance beyond the classroom teaching, offering exposure to clients and the corporate environment.”
Alexander Paranicas
Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business

United Nations Headquarters

“My internship at the United Nations provided me with an insider’s view of the world of international affairs. As a journalist for the UN’s quarterly publication, the UN Chronicle, I explored humanitarian and development issues that the UN was currently involved in. While at the UN I also had the opportunity to meet with the diplomats working on the issues I was exploring and sit it on conferences that would determine the outcome of these matters. Seeing the theories learned in the classroom work in the real world has shown the true value of education.”
John Katsigeorgis
Georgetown University
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

U.S. State Department, Vienna, Austria

“I applied for an international internship with the State Department, requesting a German-speaking country so that I could finally test out the German I’ve been studying the past eight years.  After a grueling application process and security clearance I won the internship and was assigned to the Vienna post.

“In the café and waltzing capital of the world I witnessed firsthand the inner workings of an Embassy abroad and was placed right in the middle of this international intersection.  In the Consular Section I worked alongside a great group of co-workers, whose responsibilities ranged from the more mundane duties of passport and visa processing to the exciting tasks of U.S. citizen repatriation and refugee handling.  I worked closest with the legal liaison, drafting congressional memos and putting my German skills to work translating for visa interviews.  My most daunting case arrived when an old lady, a U.S. citizen was lost in Vienna and I, alongside the Consul General, spent an entire week calling banks, writing power of attorneys and running to hostels, train stations and airports, trying to get her back home.

“Outside of the Consular Section I also helped the Office of Public Affairs at a 60th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan Conference, Climate Change Conference at the Diplomatic Academy and the grand 4th of July Party at the Ambassador’s mansion.  In addition to the main U.S. Embassy in Vienna, there are two other missions that I visited and whose Ambassadors I spoke to – the U.S. Embassy to the United Nations and the U.S. Embassy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.”
John Pappas
University of Virginia