IOP Internship Apps Spike

The Institute of Politics Director’s Internship Program anticipates that a record 375 students will apply to this year’s program, marking a 50 percent increase over last year. The program—which celebrates its 15th Anniversary this year—has increased the number of internships to 51 from 40 and has also increased the stipend awarded to $4,000 from an average of $3,500.

“This is certainly a record turnout,” said Amy Howell, the internship program administrator at the IOP.

The Director’s Internship Program provides paid six to ten-week summer internships for Harvard undergraduates at domestic and international political or public service organizations.

This year’s expansion amounts roughly to a 40 percent budget increase at a time when other Harvard programs and departments are slashing costs. But IOP officials said that they believed the program would remain at its current size next year due to financial considerations.

“It’s something that provides the opportunities for young people that we are striving to offer: interactions with people and public service,” said Esten Perez, director of communications for the IOP. “It is certainly a priority for us and we will maintain strong funding for it going forward.”

In addition, the stipend increase will apply across the board to all internship locations, while in past years more expensive cities would receive higher than average stipends to compensate for the higher cost of living.

“Regardless of whether you’re in New York, Portsmouth, N.H. or Rome, Italy, everyone will be receiving a $4000 stipend,” said Howell.

Although the decision to increase the stipend amount and the number of internships was made long before the global financial crisis hit its peak this year, the rise in the applicant pool likely reflects student demand for stable, paying internships in a difficult job market.

“A lot of [other] internship opportunities require reaching out to multiple different groups,” said Amy M. Beeson ’10, who applied for an IOP internship at the World Health Organization. “It’s really nice to be able to do it all with one very concise application.”

But the increase in applications also corresponds to the program’s expansion of its internship offerings which included new placements at Google, Facebook, and Politico as well as five new programs in the area of environmental sustainability.

“We’re pleased every year when we receive a strong number of applications,” said Perez. “I think it’s a testament to the great opportunities we’re offering.”

New internships are typically created by reaching out to former IOP fellows as well as other IOP alumni.

“Each year, we review the placements and talk to the students,” said IOP Director Bill P. Purcell. “We tend to add new placements based on student interest and availability.”

—Staff writer Evan T. R. Rosenman can be reached at erosenm@fas.harvard.edu.