U.S. Senate Page

SP0136
Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:51:52 +0000

Hardworker-
I was selected as a Senate Page for the upcoming semester, and while I can’t offer experience, I was quite persistent in the application process. I can’t be completely unbiased in the issue, because my family has been involved in Montana politics for many years. However, we are nowhere in the ranks of many people or have very high ‘connections.’ Whether or not it helped me, I will never know.

Nonetheless, every state and every Senator’s office has a different application process. Mine included an application to fill out, and five short response questions. About four months following my application, I was granted an interview in April of sophomore (last) year. It’s a long process, I applied for second semester this year, starting January 29th, however, I submitted my application freshman year (2009). After the interview, I was ‘recommended’ to do some time volunteering as an intern in the Senator’s office I was applying through. In all honesty, the experience of working in the Senators field office in MT was incredible. I met four sitting Senators and two US Cabinet members, all in my home city. I would recommend an internship (2-4 hours per week) to raise your chances.

I didn’t receive word that I had been chosen until December 7th of 2010 for a semester that begins January 29th. Like many political things, a lot happens to rely on chance. Only 30 pages are selected for the Senate per semester, this number is always the same and never fluctuates. Sixteen seats are reserved for the majority party (presently, the Democrats, and fourteen for the minority. Like it has been said before, senior Senators are offered page slots first, so applicants must hope they live in a state with a senior Senator. However, I know a girl appointed by our first-term Senator, so the unexpected happens. Also, the number of boys and girls varies. A senator is only allowed EITHER a boy OR a girl, so the applicant must hope they are of the selected gender.

In general, the application process is a long road, but by no means get discouraged. This is an incredible opportunity worth fighting for! Good luck with your application, any questions just post on this thread. (I don’t know what “PMing” is.)