Peace Corps

[Magik]

Has anyone here ever considered serving in the Peace Corps? (Sorry, Canadians, feel free to talk about equivalent "volunteer abroad" programs.)

I've wanted to do it since I heard about the program as a teen. For me, the big drawback is time... we're talking about a 2 year commitment to the population you're assigned to serve.

I feel pressure to finish my education and start a career as soon as possible... but I've still got anywhere from four - nine years of school to go. Plus, I think that I'll be less inclined to make the commitment after I'm tasked with building a post-school career.

I think I might take a break in between undergrad and grad/med to do this.

Any thoughts on the Corps? Has anyone here participated/known someone who participated?

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Re: Peace Corps

Wow, crazy coincidence. I just got the phone call a few hours ago telling me that my application has been accepted and they're sending me an invitation to serve as an English teacher in Eastern Europe.

If you're going to apply, I would say that you should do it some time in the year before you graduate -- at least if you want to leave pretty soon after graduation. For me, the process took almost a year (maybe eight months?). I applied right as I was graduating and I've sort of just been hanging around, doing nothing and waiting for them to give me a call.

I might be able to answer questions you have about the application process, but obviously I don't know what the actual service period is like yet.

[highwind]

Re: Peace Corps

i dont like doing things so, no, i never considered it.

[Magus]

Re: Peace Corps

i dont like doing things so, no, i never considered it.

THIS

[Magik]

Re: Peace Corps

Wow, crazy coincidence. I just got the phone call a few hours ago telling me that my application has been accepted and they're sending me an invitation to serve as an English teacher in Eastern Europe.

If you're going to apply, I would say that you should do it some time in the year before you graduate -- at least if you want to leave pretty soon after graduation. For me, the process took almost a year (maybe eight months?). I applied right as I was graduating and I've sort of just been hanging around, doing nothing and waiting for them to give me a call.

I might be able to answer questions you have about the application process, but obviously I don't know what the actual service period is like yet.

Hey, that is a coincidence! Congratulations; they usually have more applicants than positions, so I've heard it can be a bit selective.

- Was Eastern Europe your first choice? How about teaching English? Do you think your preferences had any bearing on selection?

- That's good to know about the length of time the application procedure takes.

- Is there a screening process? If so, what's it like--physical?, drug test?, interview?, etc?

I'm surprised even one person responded positively; I figured this topic was a longshot on a board of youngsters and misanthropes.

[Tintenfisch]

Re: Peace Corps

Nah never really considered it.

Besides. what have those 3rd world starving countries done for ME lately?

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: Peace Corps

I would go just for the hell of it. I have no job and no school and no personal prospects.

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Re: Peace Corps

Teaching English has always been what I wanted to do, but I asked for a position somewhere in Asia. There wasn't anything available any time soon, so I went ahead and applied for Eastern Europe.

The screening process is actually sort of a chore. The medical clearance requires a physical, blood tests, immunizations, and a dental examination, and you'll also need to get a prescription filled out for glasses if you wear them. They do a criminal background check too, which just requires you to get fingerprints done.

The interview was actually not all that bad. My recruiter was a really cool guy, and the interview was pretty simple and laid-back. I don't know if all the interviews are like that, but that was my personal experience.

If I remember correctly, the application requires three references: a work supervisor, a volunteer supervisor, and a friend. I didn't have a volunteer supervisor that I wanted a reference from, so I used one of my college professors and they were fine with that. I mention this because it helps to let your references know well ahead of time that you're going to want them to write on your behalf. You also need to write two short personal essays about your motivations and such.

Honestly, there sort of is a lot of red tape to get through, so you should really be sure that it's what you want to do when you start the application.

By the way, if you don't have any volunteer experience already, it'd be in your best interest to try to get some before or as you're applying. It looks great in your application and it's a good way to put yourself above the rest of the applicant pool.