Discover D.C.

The Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP) provides Hillsdale College undergraduates the opportunity to participate in academically intensive, semester-long internships or teaching apprenticeships in Washington, D.C., while continuing their Hillsdale education. WHIP is open to Hillsdale juniors and seniors of all majors.  All WHIP students must have completed Politics 101, “The U.S. Constitution, prior to leaving for D.C. as well as participated in “Pathway to Professionalism” with Career Services.

Apply to WHIP

Early Decision Applications for the Fall 2024 WHIP semester open on December 31, 2023 and close on January 26, 2024. Regular Decision Applications are due by March 1, 2024.

With questions or for more information, please contact Mary Wheeler, Undergraduate Program Coordinator.

Internships

Ryan Kelly Murphy.

Work On The Hill

WHIP students have the opportunity to intern for the White House, Congressional offices and committees, various think-tanks, media and news outlets, national security agencies, museums, lobbying firms, international trade organizations, charter and private schools in the D.C. area, or private sector companies.

Classes

Dr. Matthew Spalding teaching a class at the Kirby Center.

Continue Your Education

In addition to their internships or apprenticeships, WHIP students select two or three academic courses. Offerings might include “American National Security Studies,” “The US and the World Since 1945,” and “Statesmanship and Public Policy.”

Living Arrangements

WHIP residential building exterior in Washington D.C.

Live With Fellow Students

Students live in either the Hillsdale House (a renovated townhouse on Capitol Hill) or in other College-arranged housing on Capitol Hill.

Activities

Students at Gettysburg listening to tour guide next to a cannon.

Explore The Area

WHIP students also participate in a variety of activities sponsored by the Kirby Center. Opportunities might include visits to the Civil War battlefield at Antietam and George Washington’s historic estate at Mount Vernon or tours of the Pentagon and the FBI Headquarters.

Networking

Alumni conversing in front of the White House.

Build Your Network

Being part of WHIP offers undergraduates the opportunity to build their professional and networking skills by connecting with Hillsdale alumni in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Living in D.C.

Alumni walking around Washington D.C.

Experience D.C.

Living in Washington, D.C. gives Hillsdale students the chance to live on their own, explore the capitol’s rich history and culture, and pursue personal and professional growth in a challenging environment.

"My Hillsdale experience was a terrific blend of personal growth and the discovery of my unique place in an ever-changing marketplace of ideas and skills. In addition, my participation in WHIP proved invaluable as lessons from campus gained real-world clarity in the capital. Blessed to work with both the Heritage Foundation and Republican Study Committee, I was greatly enriched by the internship program."

— Alex Miller, '19