Will my internship at the Department of State will be worth the cost?

Question

I may have an opportunity to intern at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels for 10 weeks. The cost to me, however, will be high since it is unpaid and I will pay for travel, lodging, and food by myself. Does anyone have experience with this or any other Federal internship? Will the return for this opportunity be worth the high expense?

Answer 1

Absolutely it pays; although the return on such an endeavor will not be immediate. The ability to add contacts, add to your resume, and getting a great experience cannot be measured in dollars  alone.

The real question should be "can you afford not to...