Tyler Welch
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Role
Merton C. Bernstein Intern on Social Insurance (research intern) placed at the Congressional Research Service
Location
Washington, DC
When did you work there?
Summer 2019
Please list your major(s) and minor(s).
RMI; minor: Economics
Provide a general description of the work at your internship.
In this position, I spent my days researching, preparing, writing, and editing a full CRS report for members of the US Congress. When I wasn't reading or writing, I was visiting hearings on Capitol Hill, research seminars throughout DC, or wandering the halls of Congress.
Did you have a mentor?
Yes
If so, how did he/she help you during your internship?
My mentor at my placement (CRS) was infinitely important to my success by grounding my work and contextualizing it as a step in the search for a graduate school program. My mentor had also taken the same path - undergraduate, intern, full-time researcher - as I was considering.
Did you feel your RMI/AS classes better prepared you for the internship?
Yes, very much so. My working knowledge of moral hazard, social insurance, and other general insurance principles helped me with my research and is evident throughout my published report.
Interviewing/Hiring Process Comments:
I interviewed and hired outside of GIS but with the direction of Dr. Drennan. It was a lot like the Graduate School application process.
Were you assigned any special projects?
I am now the author of the CRS report on the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test.
What were the supplemental benefits besides the pay?
Internship lunches, travel subsidies for the metro, coffee trips, and seminar registrations.
Describe the company's internship program.
The work load was really manageable and was much like working under a deadline near the end, which was to be expected. My boss gave me great freedom around Capitol Hill to use my security badge as I pleased when it came to visiting hearings, etc. The program also had weekly speakers, research seminars, and social security games.
Was the internship what you expected after the interviewing/hiring process?
Yes, exactly what I expected and much more.
Were you provided time off besides the weekend?
I was given PTO and sick leave, which I used most and some of. They also allowed me to take leave without pay for a research conference paid for by Temple RMI over the summer.
Merton C. Bernstein Intern on Social Insurance (research intern) placed at the Congressional Research Service
Location
Washington, DC
When did you work there?
Summer 2019
Please list your major(s) and minor(s).
RMI; minor: Economics
Provide a general description of the work at your internship.
In this position, I spent my days researching, preparing, writing, and editing a full CRS report for members of the US Congress. When I wasn't reading or writing, I was visiting hearings on Capitol Hill, research seminars throughout DC, or wandering the halls of Congress.
Did you have a mentor?
Yes
If so, how did he/she help you during your internship?
My mentor at my placement (CRS) was infinitely important to my success by grounding my work and contextualizing it as a step in the search for a graduate school program. My mentor had also taken the same path - undergraduate, intern, full-time researcher - as I was considering.
Did you feel your RMI/AS classes better prepared you for the internship?
Yes, very much so. My working knowledge of moral hazard, social insurance, and other general insurance principles helped me with my research and is evident throughout my published report.
Interviewing/Hiring Process Comments:
I interviewed and hired outside of GIS but with the direction of Dr. Drennan. It was a lot like the Graduate School application process.
Were you assigned any special projects?
I am now the author of the CRS report on the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test.
What were the supplemental benefits besides the pay?
Internship lunches, travel subsidies for the metro, coffee trips, and seminar registrations.
Describe the company's internship program.
The work load was really manageable and was much like working under a deadline near the end, which was to be expected. My boss gave me great freedom around Capitol Hill to use my security badge as I pleased when it came to visiting hearings, etc. The program also had weekly speakers, research seminars, and social security games.
Was the internship what you expected after the interviewing/hiring process?
Yes, exactly what I expected and much more.
Were you provided time off besides the weekend?
I was given PTO and sick leave, which I used most and some of. They also allowed me to take leave without pay for a research conference paid for by Temple RMI over the summer.