Taking a year off from college. Any advice for volunteer/internship opportunities?

<p>I'm taking a year off from college with the hopes of transferring somewhere else next year. I've completed two years and will probably apply sometime in February or March to another school.</p>

<p>I'm about to begin an internship at a banking corporation. Next "semester" I'd like to do something a little more significant, but I don't know where to start. I'd like to do something significant either by volunteering or interning - ideally abroad. Most of the programs I looked at seem like scams, </p>

<p>Bump. I’d appreciate any advice!</p>

<p>U.S. Department of State summer internship application is due next Friday! (long application so start now if interested)
[Programs</a> - U.S. Department of State](<a href=“http://careers.state.gov/students/programs]Programs”>Internships/Fellowships - Careers)</p>

<p>I interned for two summers at the US Embassy in Rome. Two amazing summers and I had the opportunity to practice my Italian every day, as well as to travel the region on weekends. You can intern at most embassies worldwide, as well as at Main State in DC.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in DC, there’s always the Hill. Internships with Members of Congress and Senators are usually pretty easy to come by, especially if you’re a constituent and even more so if you’re a member of their same party. Only big drawback is that most Hill internship program terms are only a month-long, especially during the summer.</p>

<p>Summer White House Internship Program application will come out in January, typically. I did that last summer and while it doesn’t get much better than working in Italy, my three months in the East Wing were among the best in my life.</p>