Summer program not worth putting yourself through - Former PolitiCorps Fellow PolitiCorps Employee Review

Great people and relationships with other workers

No room for growth and not many benefits

The location of Portland, Oregon is fantastic. It seems like a wonderful opportunity for those who want to get their foot in the door of politics, policy, etc. The staff is relatable and progressive. Also, the interview process was very laid back although it was a little shaky because of a change in staff at the end of the process. There are rewarding opportunities for those who do well in the program. It seems as if you are truly recognized for your abilities, potential, and personality instead of prestige which is refreshing.

This fellowship is probably more suitable for students living on the West Coast or Portland more specifically. The financial support is very slim which is an extreme disadvantage to low income and disadvantaged fellows. If you live across the country at least half of your stipend will be spent on your travel to Portland alone. Another important detail is that they do not fund roundtrip travel for their fellows. Also, they do not explicitly explain the extent and details of financial aid and accommodations to you. Currently, I do not know where I will be staying, who I will be staying with, how I will feed myself with $500 for 10 weeks, how I will be commuting to and from work, or how I will be returning home from Portland. Also, there has been no discussion about an orientation, itinerary, or dress code. The dates of the program changed without notice. The website lists the program ending on August 23rd and I had already made plans to return home but now the program is ending on the 25th instead. There also seems to be a high turnover in staff, limited staff, or new staff because I always find myself starting an email thread or conversation with one person and then continuing with a completely different person. They also take a long time to return messages and the office seems a little chaotic. The program has barely started and I am already stressed out. The limitations seem to hinder my ability to focus on the content of the program. Generally, programs of this nature do not provide huge amounts of financial support ex. Americorps programs but I was expecting a lot more support. In order to get through this program you must have a lot of grit. Based on program Alum it seems like those who succeed in the program do incredibly well in the professional setting and get job offers. However there are similar programs that provide more financial support such as IIPP, PPLC, HOPE Institute, and PPIA. I would suggest applying to those if PolitiCorps does not seem like a good fit.