In May, I was offered a intern position on a gubernatorial campaign within my state. I accepted the position and have already started working. However, I left my involvement with the campaign off of my primary application. Calling the position nascent at this point in time would be a gross understatement, but I my internship will progress well into the fall (the election is in November). I was just wondering if it would be wise to talk about said internship on the interview trail? Would there be place on some secondary applications to elaborate upon it? I am interested in healthcare policy. Will the internship shed some positive light on my prospects as a "future" drafter of said policy? Thanks for your time!
Working on a Gubernatorial Campaign During Application Cycle?
- Thread starter rahul0774
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I've heard a lot of dissent against involving politics in your application to medical school on these boards. Sounds like playing with fire to me as well.
Thanks for the reply, @Nysor_bttw. I haven't done much research on the topic as it pertains to the application process, per se, but I am well aware how polarizing it is.
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If theres a way you can remove yourself from the actual politics of the situation and sell it as a test in leadership and professional communication, I imagine it could look quite good in an interview. However, I wouldn't advise putting it down anywhere in words. It's too easy for someone to make assumptions from your written words and form an impression of you in their head when you are not there to clarify and defend yourself.
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Don't mention it! Hope all turns out for the best!
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Working a campaign doesn't mean jack **** about your future "potential" to be a policymaker. Let's face it – you're probably canvassing, field directing, marketing, fundraising, or social media. (Am I wrong?) These things can add to your app as @Nysor_bttw mentioned, but not in the way you want to pitch it. Two followup questions by any adult would show that you're not actually doing anything policy-related.
Now, if you're on a policy team doing research or debate prep, that's different. You could certainly pitch it as a policy gig if your actual role is policy. Super bonus points if you're on the health care team, but that's not normally a position some premed could land.
I don't think writing about the experience on paper is bad. I'm politically involved as well and my primary is filled with these experiences. Don't mention specific policies or viewpoints or parties or politicians' names that could piss people off. Focus on what it is that you've been doing there, your contributions, and what you're learning. That would be unique stuff, especially if you could talk about it knowledgeably during interviews.
Just don't say "Yeah I pick up phones to cold-call people and knock on doors, I know a lot about policy now" because...no.
Now, if you're on a policy team doing research or debate prep, that's different. You could certainly pitch it as a policy gig if your actual role is policy. Super bonus points if you're on the health care team, but that's not normally a position some premed could land.
I don't think writing about the experience on paper is bad. I'm politically involved as well and my primary is filled with these experiences. Don't mention specific policies or viewpoints or parties or politicians' names that could piss people off. Focus on what it is that you've been doing there, your contributions, and what you're learning. That would be unique stuff, especially if you could talk about it knowledgeably during interviews.
Just don't say "Yeah I pick up phones to cold-call people and knock on doors, I know a lot about policy now" because...no.
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See my post above. There's nothing to "assume" if you don't write anything about the actual politics. Rather, focus on the process and experience themselves.
Thanks a lot, @The Real SVB. Would there be a place to elaborate on the experience in secondaries?
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Depends if they ask. If they don't, don't force it because you'll look like a square. You should've put it on the primary. I just started a new job in May and I put it on there because it's for the majority of the year.
So what's your role on the campaign?
As of right now, I a am campus liason. I've been acquiring data on student-run organizations on my campus. We will tailor a message of our policy points towards them and, hopefully, start a grassroots movement in the late summer/fall. Again, I left it off of my primary because I hadn't really started the internship at the time.
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Are you in charge of anyone? Will you be doing much public speaking? If not, I don't think you're going to get much out of it from an application standpoint.
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Yeah, just like I thought. You're reaching out to students. That's great. Just don't make that a policy pitch because you run the risk of being asked questions about the policy research or agenda-setting process that you might fall flat on your face on. Make it a communications/organization/community service pitch instead. I don't see how doing this helps to advance your interest in a specific area of policy (health care as you said), so unless you can find a way to do that, I'm already n=2 who's not convinced of the relevance.
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That being said, I've had a good deal of experience trying to pitch similar work to medical people and explain its relevance (including doing it in my own primary), so if you are so inclined, we can strategize about how you want to write about this over PM if you still write about it at all. Always up for helping premeds interested in this sort of thing, even if you're a direct competitor in the same cycle. 
I am always down for a collaboration. I already submitted my primary, but I will jot down the internship on any secondary applications that give me the chance. I'd be happy to strategize with you! Thanks for the offer!
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One more thing to add: Politics =/= Policy. What you're "delivering" to voters is extremely cut down and cheesy policy soundbites.
Why does everybody get so mad about mah boy Rick Perry?
Really great thing about it is that you learn how to connect with people in < 30 secs. Which is a good skill for a physician (presumably) to have.
Now I know who you're campaigning for 😛
That being said, I've had a good deal of experience trying to pitch similar work to medical people and explain its relevance (including doing it in my own primary), so if you are so inclined, we can strategize about how you want to write about this over PM if you still write about it at all. Always up for helping premeds interested in this sort of thing, even if you're a direct competitor in the same cycle.
By which The Real SVB means that he wants to steal your PS for himself 😉
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