Summer Internships - Ideas Welcome

I'm trying to find something to do with my time this summer. I'm currently a junior in the advertising program at the University of Florida. I'm minoring in packaging science so that's a pretty big interest of mine as well. I guess that's pretty far away on the spectrum from the majority of you, but it's worth a shot anyways.

I've been looking at a lot of the standard agency internships out there but none of them seem very appealing to me. I had an incredible internship last summer in Greenville, SC at a mid-sized agency and I'm afraid that any internship I take this summer at an agency would turn out to be a boring, administrative assistant style experience in comparison.

I'm really curious if any of you experienced or have heard about any opportunities for college students that may be a bit more fulfilling than filing and printing emails. I've attached my resume just in case someone wants some really exciting reading material. To be honest I really don't have a preference in regard to what I'd be doing, though something close to my field of study would probably be a little easier to interview about.

I also don't really have any geographic preference. I think it may be a little late to start applying for visas, so I figure I should stay stateside. I've never been to the northwest, so if something looks fun in Portland or Seattle I'd definitely put in an application.

Any input or advice will definitely be appreciated.

Would you or anyone else fancy spending some time in China? I had a fantastic summer last year, interning at the Gateway Language Village English immersion school in Hangzhou. http://www.glvchina.com/job/Internship.php IMO a totally rewarding experience and an opportunity to make some really great friends.

I've actually got a friend that is doing an internship in Shanghai right now for packaging engineering. I'd probably enjoy it, however I don't speak a word of Chinese nor do I know anything about the culture. I'm afraid that there's not much opportunity for an illiterate advertiser over there, haha.

can you go back to the place you went last year?

Well I'll be heading back to Greenville in a month or so for an annual TED-like conference that the agency puts on which will give me a great chance to catch up with those that I haven't kept in touch with otherwise. I've also got an unofficial job offer for when I graduate so if I do make my way back there it would most likely be right after graduation in a year.

I'm really just trying to search for something that will give me a fun and interesting summer outside of just staying at my current job and saving money here in Gainesville. I'm currently waiting to hear the results of an essay competition that one of my profs. entered a term paper in which could potentially win me a 2-week trip to tour the Italian packaging industry in June, but I obviously can't count on that until I hear for sure.

Having political experience on your resume can be risky (unless you're applying to a job in politics obviously). Just an FYI.

Originally Posted by justinsmnz

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I've actually got a friend that is doing an internship in Shanghai right now for packaging engineering. I'd probably enjoy it, however I don't speak a word of Chinese nor do I know anything about the culture.
Actually you don't have to. The number one rule of the GLV immersion school is, no Chinese is allowed to be spoken anywhere while on campus, in dorms and on school outings, 'English Only'.

Originally Posted by justinsmnz

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I'm afraid that there's not much opportunity for an illiterate advertiser over there, haha.
Anyway good luck with your future endeavours Justin.