Published on: September 9th, 2025

Five Things You Might Not Know About WHIP

The Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP) is a “study abroad” program, in which Hillsdale undergraduate students spend an entire semester in Washington, D.C. interning in serious organizations during the day, taking intensive academic classes at night, and exploring the capital’s rich history on the weekends. It is a rigorous program, but a rewarding one. WHIP gives students the opportunity to put into practice what they learn in the classroom and forms future leaders. Here are 5 things you might not know about it.

  1. Students on WHIP get to take classes with the Van Andel Graduate School of Government professors, all with very active and interesting backgrounds in their fields. Here is a list of all Hillsdale in D.C. faculty.
  2. Students are assigned a Hillsdale graduate mentor who lives in the DMV and is succeeding in their field. Students can ask their mentors for advice and develop meaningful relationships with them. Some even become friends!
  3. Students can intern at a myriad of organizations! From working on Capitol Hill, to non-profits, government agencies, and even museums, D.C. offers every kind of opportunity. Here is a sample list of internships.
  4. Students live in townhouse apartments, not dormitories, enabling students to rise to self-governance. This is the first taste many students have of living on their own before graduation. Here are photos of the Hillsdale House.
  5. Every semester has events, shows, and outings free to the WHIP students to show them what the city has to offer! Follow Hillsdale in D.C. on Instagram for updates on student outings.

Learn about the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program.

Apply for the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program.

Sign up for Hillsdale in D.C.’s monthly e-newsletter for more on events, programming, and the latest news.

Sign up for the WHIP newsletter with application deadlines, upcoming events, and more.

About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.