All applicants must meet with the UNH TWC Liaison, Paula DiNardo, in advance of applying, to review all aspects of the application process, including reviewing drafts of your resume, essay, and interest statement, and to review costs, credits, and the placement process.
Typically, students meet with the Liaison 2-3 times before the application is approved and submitted to TWC! Please carefully review the information below AND read the TWC Application Resources website for help with your application and documents.
Applications will not be approved without a thorough review of all supporting documents by the UNH TWC Liaison.
Create a Profile on UNH-Via
- This portal will primarily be used to keep track of UNH documents.
- Use your UNH username and password to create an account in UNH-Via (click the blue box marked "Go To Portal" to get started).
- Search programs and select The Washington Center at UNH.
- Your College's Dean's Office will be contacted to confirm that you meet the UNH Study Away Eligibility requirement.
Online Application for TWC Internships
- Start your online application for The Washington Center (Academic Internship Program) and click on Apply Now.
- You don't have to complete the application in one sitting. You can start, save, and continue to work on it later.
- Do NOT upload any documents, until they've been reviewed and approved by the UNH TWC Liaison, Paula M. DiNardo.
Resume
- A 1-2 page professional resume is required. Students are encouraged to use the resources and templates provided by the UNH Career and Professional Success team to create or customize their resume.
- We highly recommend you use the UNH VMock service to get feedback on your draft--it's FREE when you login with your UNH username and password.
- Subsequent drafts will be reviewed with the UNH TWC Liaison until approval to upload is granted.
Statement of Professional Interest
- The Statement of Interest is a 100-word, no-frills statement of the skills and experiences you wish to gain through your internship.
- Think of it as an extended objective statement, or a very short, not-very-sweet cover letter.
- The audience is your future internship site supervisor; they want to know right away if they have what you are looking for. A rough outline should be:
- I would like an internship in the field of...
- Specifically, I'd like to be exposed to/learn more about/gain skills in...
- This would assist me in reaching my career goal of...
- Be direct, concise, and as specific as possible. Talk about the skills and experiences you want from your internship and why. This is not the place to address skills you already have or how excited you are to do anything they ask of you.
- Do not name any specific agencies, so that you are not limiting who considers your application.
Writing Sample
- Use any academic writing--research, reflection, or analysis piece--between 450 and 750 words. Something that has been graded or reviewed is preferred. Make sure your writing and grammar are perfect. List your full name & school clearly at the top. Double-spaced with 1" margins. Discuss your options with your UNH TWC Liaison.
- The essay serves two functions for TWC's hiring agencies:
- Primarily, it serves as a writing sample, for employers to see the quality of your professional writing skills.
- It is a way of indicating to any hiring agency what you are interested in or where you stand on a topic or issue, so that you are matched with an employer that is a good fit for you.
Unofficial Transcript
- Unofficial transcripts can be printed from WebCat by logging in and going to Student Records >> Transcript >> View Academic Transcript. Then select print and Print to PDF and save this to your own computer to upload it to TWC's portal.
- TWC does not accept mailed, paper transcripts.
Letters of Recommendation
- A letter of recommendation is only required for applicants whose UNH GPA falls between 2.5 and 2.75.
- Applicants in need of a letter of recommendation should work with the UNH TWC Liaison to select the most appropriate writer and review the process and timeline for making a request.
Payment
- There is a $60 TWC application fee, assessed and collected by The Washington Center. A coupon code may be available for eligible UNH students, to have the fee waived; contact your TWC Liaison to learn more.
- TWC Applications cannot be submitted without payment or code.
- Outside funding sources to pay for other expenses like housing or transportation may be available for qualifying students (such as The New Hampshire State Society, the National Collegiate Honors Society, and the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Scholarship). Students may also utilize NHEAF loans and other educational resources to pay for TWC.
UNH Eligibility Check
UNH will contact your College Dean's Office to confirm that you meet the Study Away Eligibility Requirements--that you are in good academic, financial, and judicial standing, and that you will represent UNH in a positive light. Interning with TWC is a privilege, and students with prior judicial or arrest records may not be eligible to attend.
Application Deadlines
- Plan early! All applicants must meet with the UNH TWC Liaison in advance of filling out the application to review all aspects of the application process, including reviewing drafts of your resume, writing sample, and statement.
- Early Application is encouraged for placements that require security clearances, and other sites. Some examples are the U.S. Departments. of Justice, Homeland Security, and State and Federal law enforcement agencies.
