<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I was recently accepted into the US State Dept Summer Program and I was wondering if anyone had done it or known someone who'd done it. I'll either be in DC in the Bureau of Economic Affairs or somewhere in Asia w/ the Bureau of East Asian Affairs (probably the former). </p>
<p>I'm also interested in ibanking/consulting, so I'm not sure if I should jump on this acceptance and agree immediately to it. Btw, it's unpaid.</p>
<p>Congratulations! State internships are hard to get. Your acceptance email or letter should say where the location of your internship will be. Did you get two offers?</p>
<p>I've interned for State and currently work there. It's a perfect fit for me as State is my ideal employer. I think you'll be getting interesting exposure as it relates to your career goals. The internship program mandates that offices provide student interns with work that is comparable to an entry-level professional.</p>
<p>You'll be hard-pressed to find a nice-paying internship in the summer in DC. The city practically runs on interns as government and non-government organizations deal with professional turnover and vacation times.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the biggest advantage of the State internship is the ability to network. You don't know who you'll run into and you don't know who your boss knows. Being in the Economic Affairs Bureau might expose you to people who might connect you with private sector ibanking/consulting firms as they interact frequently.</p>
<p>If you're going abroad for the internship, the experience gets more amazing. You get international experience. International experience is always a plus on any resume.</p>
<p>The unpaid thing gets rough, but there are ways around it. Save, save, save is my first piece of advice. If you're in DC, Craigslist.org is a great way of finding an apartment for the summer. Try to find an apartment rather than requesting housing from a university - it's cheaper. </p>
<p>If you end up going through with this experience, feel free to contact me with any questions!</p>
<p>thanks a bunch. what kind of work did you do as an intern? I think I selected the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs as my first choice (I haven't gotten my actual assignment in the mail yet).</p>
<p>hey I have a question for you guys, as you have both been accepted as interns, how competitive do you think it is? I was thinking of applying for an internship for next winter. Is there anything in particular they are looking for / any advice you would have for me about the process? Thanks again, and congrats on your success!</p>