Maggie Ralston ’26 | A Semester in Washington, D.C.

Last September, I had just transferred into Hood’s political science program after graduating from community college. One day, I was walking through Tatem, and I saw a poster for the Washington Semester Program at American University. The poster immediately appealed to me because of the possibility of having an internship in D.C. I decided to make a phone call to one of the representatives from the program and ask a few questions. A day or so later, I immediately applied for the fall 2025 term. I’ve always been interested in politics and hope to one day live in D.C. It’s actually one of the reasons I decided to come to Hood, because of it’s close proximity to Washington. Really, there’s no better place for a political science major to be than D.C., and I knew American had a reputation of having a great program with lots of networking opportunities. It was a no-brainer, even though I knew it would take some work to get there.

Throughout my time in D.C., I tried my best to take up every opportunity possible, whether on the Hill, networking events, classes or even social settings. On the Hill, my favorite memory took place within my first few weeks of being there. I worked for a Senator who was on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP). Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testified in front of the committee. This was highly publicized, and I got to be there. I even ended up on Fox News! I got to attend so many receptions, sit in on meetings with staffers, go to conferences with some notable figures and walk the halls of Congress alongside people I normally would just see in the news. Nearing Christmas time, my office surprised my fellow interns and I with tickets to the White House Christmas Tree Lighting, where I got to hear the president speak along with many other members of his cabinet. In my personal life as well, I became accustomed to living in a brand-new city for the first time, and I’ve made friends from literally every nook of the country and the world.

My biggest takeaway would be to not close yourself off from learning about things that you may not have had an interest in before. For example, the member that I worked for was in the medical field prior to being in Congress, so my office was highly healthcare focused, particularly during the government shutdown. I got to sit in on cool meetings with healthcare professionals, insurance providers and even folks who’d been personally affected by certain issues and get a firsthand perspective from the healthcare staffers in the office who were actively putting together healthcare portfolios. I now have a new appreciation for this legislative area and could see myself potentially going into it.

I picked Hood because I really appreciate being close with my professors and learning in a small, personalized environment. I feel like I’ve learned so much at Hood about the theoretical side of law and politics. During my time at American, however, I got to exercise the practical side of things. I took U.S. Presidency, Public Policy with a former congressional chief of staff, Applied Political Writing, and a corresponding internship and professional development course. My classes were paired with field trips and guest speakers. I got to go to a news outlet in Washington, the Embassy of Kosovo and the Supreme Court, and I heard from people in all different areas of the political field. Likewise, I had productive conversations with these people and got to ask lots of different questions. I think that the practical application of the theoretical side of politics and law that I’ve learned at Hood speaks to the complementary nature of the program. It gave me an opportunity to show D.C. everything that I’ve gotten from Hood and apply it to my work.

Being that having an internship is core to the program, the opportunity to work on the Hill showed me firsthand how politics actually work. Having experience in a congressional office is a major plus to a resume and shows any potential employer, in politics or not, that you are capable of working in the busiest and most professional environment possible. Knowing my way around the Capitol alone is such a bonus, and it is the best place to be a fly on the wall (which some would call an intern). The staff of the Washington Semester Program did a wonderful job of connecting me with different folks in D.C. and at American who have become great resources in my professional development.

Any ambitious Hood student would benefit greatly from the Washington Semester Program. Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, which I didn’t going in, you will learn what you do and don’t like. You will have access to not only the center of American politics, but also a culturally diverse place and a network of people who are looking to help you succeed. You’ll gain different perspectives on how people live, especially if you’re a Jersey girl working in a midwestern office! For students specifically looking to go into politics, it may be a better career strategy than taking a semester abroad in Europe. There are also benefits to being an American alum (which you will be). I will say ultimately, it is what you make of it. You really have to push your boundaries to talk to successful individuals and get yourself into rooms that you want to be in. There are so many experiences I got from this program I haven’t mentioned, but I’d love to connect with anyone interested, especially fellow Hood students. I’m truly grateful for my time at American and proud of the work I did toward my future.

Learn more about the political science major and the Washington Semester Program.