Services
Students
Internships and Opportunities
For students looking to expand their education outside of the classroom, Sen. Cornyn’s office provides opportunities to gain real-world experience and insight into the legislative process.
High school students interested in government can apply to the Senate Page program for a chance to work and study in our nation’s capital.
College students are encouraged to apply to our Senate internship program. Fall, Spring, and Summer internships are available in five of our state offices and in Washington, D.C.
Law students looking to serve as law clerks on the Judiciary Committee can apply for a clerkship in our Washington, D.C office.
Application Requirements: All students who apply must have graduated from high school, completed at least one semester of college classes, or have at least one semester of course work remaining before they obtain their undergraduate degree. Graduates and Graduate students may not apply. In addition to a completed Internship Application Form, students must submit:
- Resume
- Official college transcript
- Two letters of Recommendation
- Essays: Typed, doubled spaced 12-point font, minimum of 800 words.
- Why do you want to intern for Senator Cornyn?
- Which of Senator Cornyn's policy stances do you most appreciate and why?
Spring 2019: January 28 - June 7, 2019
Deadline to Apply: Friday, November 16, 2018
Application Requirements:
- Official High School Transcript
- Completed Page Application
- 2 Letters of Recommendation - one from a teacher or other school official and one from anyone who knows you well and is not a relative
- One brief 300-500 word essay describing your desire to serve as a Senate Page
Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator. Pages must be citizens of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a social security number. Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. Summer Page eligibility is limited to students who have completed the sophomore year and have not begun the senior year of high school and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment.
Pages must verify a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a home school transcript and a certification of immunization to qualify for attendance at the school. A general health assessment completed by a licensed physician is required, in addition to certification of immunization. Pages play an important role in the day-to-day operation of the Senate. Their schedule can be long and tedious, and requires tremendous endurance; good health and stamina are requirements which can not be waived. Pages are required to be covered by health insurance. If not covered, they will be required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Federal Student Loans
If you are experiencing problems repaying your student loan, Sen. Cornyn’s office may be able to help. Please fill out the privacy release and return it to the Dallas office.
If you are not eligible for federal aid, you may be eligible for financial aid from the state. Contact your State Senator or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board via their website or the contact methods below.
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788
- Phone: 512-427-6101
- Toll-Free: 1-800-242-3062
- Fax: 512-427-6127
- Email: TXFinAidInfo@tgslc.org or grantinfo@thecb.state.tx.us
Service Academies
Service Academy Nominations
As the son of a B-17 World War II Air Force pilot, Sen. Cornyn holds members of the United States Armed Forces in the highest esteem. For this reason, he considers it an honor and a privilege to nominate outstanding young Texans to the United States Service Academies. Because nominations are one of his most important responsibilities, Sen. Cornyn assembled an Academy Selection Board to review the applications. They weigh each decision very carefully and take many factors into consideration when selecting the talented young men and women who represent our great state.
To assist with this process, candidates submit an extensive application that documents their academic, athletic and leadership abilities as well as their commitment to military service. Senator Cornyn will begin accepting applications starting April 2, 2018 and will continue to accept them postmarked until Oct. 5, 2018, with the intent to give candidates ample time to collect the necessary transcripts, begin the recommendation forms, and plan to take the SAT or ACT tests well in advance of the application deadline.
Submitting Your Application
As a candidate for Sen. Cornyn’s nomination, you will be responsible for submitting a complete application packet in one single mailing* to his Washington, D.C. office. Incomplete applications will not be considered for nomination.
The application document is a PDF file with required forms that must be submitted. The document may be downloaded from this page. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Senator’s Austin office for assistance at 512-469-6034.
Click here to download Senator Cornyn’s 2018-2019 Service Academy Nomination Application.
A complete application packet must include:
- Application form with attached wallet size (2”x3”) photo
- Resume (2 page maximum)
- Personal questionnaire and essay
- Three personal recommendation forms
- Official copy of high school transcript
- Official copy of college transcript (if applicable)
- Official copy of SAT and/or ACT scores – An official copy of your scores must be included in the application packet OR applicants can ensure the testing centers send scores directly to Sen. Cornyn’s office using score report codes (ACT: 7185, SAT: 6263) by the deadline. Scores printed by an applicant from a testing center’s website will not be accepted.
The deadline for postmarking a completed application packet is Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.
Mail to:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Attention: Academy Nominations Coordinator
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4305
*Some items may be mailed to the Senator’s office separately from the application packet, if needed. See application packet checklist for more information.
Information for Candidates
At the start of the process, be sure that you have contacted the academies to which you wish to apply. Once you have informed the admissions office of your interest, officials there will establish a candidate file to keep track of your application materials. Please keep in mind that a nomination is only one part of the admissions process. You will also need to submit application materials directly to the academies and report for physical and medical evaluations. For more information about the academy of your choice, visit the links below.
Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point
Coast Guard Academy, New London
Military and Veterans Educational Benefits & Resources For Service Members
Loan Repayment Programs: Loan repayment programs are funded and administered by the individual service branches. The Army, Navy, and Air Force offer loan repayment programs that help personnel pay off college loans accrued prior to service.
Servicemember Opportunity Colleges (SOC): SOC, created in 1972, provides educational opportunities to service members who have had trouble completing college degrees due to frequent moves. This program does not provide tuition assistance for service members. Rather, it facilitates obtaining degrees by allowing service members to begin their studies at one school and then transfer to another within the SOC network without losing any credits. The SOC program also allows service members to obtain college credit for military experience and accredited military training courses.
Community College of the Air Force (CCAF): CCAF is an accredited two-year college open to enlisted Air Force members. It offers nearly 70 different associate degrees in many scientific and technical fields. Air Force members can accumulate credits while on active duty at Air Force technical training schools and when they enroll in colleges near their duty stations that offer accredited courses. Enlisted members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve are also eligible. Combat wounded, ill, and injured Airmen who commenced but did not complete a CCAF degree program may complete their degree after separation or retirement.
National Call to Service Program: The National Call to Service Program from the Department of Defense requires participants to perform a three-tiered service requirement to qualify for a choice of incentives which include cash bonuses, repayment of qualifying student loans, or entitlement to educational benefits.
Troops to Teachers Program: The Troops to Teachers program provides funds to recruit, prepare, and support veterans who teach in high-poverty schools. Under this program, assistance is provided to eligible members of the armed forces to obtain certification or licensing as teachers.
Texas National Guard Tuition Assistance Program: This benefit from the state of Texas pays for tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate studies at any public college or university in Texas. It is limited to 12 credits per semester and to five academic years or 10 semesters.
For Service Members and Veterans
Post-9/11 GI Bill: The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001 or those discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. More information regarding eligibility requirements and benefits is available on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Yellow Ribbon Program: Tuition and fees may exceed Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit amounts if individuals choose to attend a private university or a public school out-of-state. Institutions may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available to veterans utilizing their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Institutions that enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with the VA choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed, and the VA matches that amount. There are currently over 100 colleges and universities in Texas participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Montgomery GI Bill: The Montgomery GI Bill is available as an alternative to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Although the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a better solution for many eligible participants, the decision about which program to elect depends on several factors, including the type of education or training the individual plans to take and the amount of benefits the veteran is eligible to receive under each program. Benefit comparison tools are provided on the VA’s website.
Active Duty (MGIB-AD): MGIB-AD provides a monthly allowance to veterans and service members who entered active duty after June 30, 1985.
Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR): MGIB-SR provides a monthly allowance to reservists who enlisted or re-enlisted after June 30, 1985.
College Fund Programs (GI Bill “kickers”): Military service branches may provide various incentives to recruit and retain high-quality individuals. The Army and Navy offer supplemental assistance for additional years of service and for critical skills. The expected benefit amount is deposited into the DoD Educational Benefits Trust Fund until the individuals take advantage of the benefit, at which time the benefit amount is transferred to the VA for payment. Additional information regarding these incentives is available at:
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP): REAP is aimed at providing educational assistance to reservists called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress. This program is available to reservists activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001.
For Veterans
Hazlewood Act: The Hazlewood Act is a benefit provided by the state of Texas to qualified veterans, spouses, and dependent children. The Act requires Texas public higher education institutions to waive the tuition and fees for eligible students and is funded out of the school’s operating budget. This exemption does not apply to the cost of books and supplies, living expenses, and student service fees.
Non-Resident Tuition Waivers: The state of Texas waives out-of-state tuition fees at Texas public colleges/universities for eligible veterans and their dependents who move to Texas upon separation from the military.
