Can I get into the Peace Corps?

Question

I have a major in psychology and social work.

During high school I volunteered a total of 1750 hours from volunteering at the library,hospital,animal shelter,and church.

In college I volunteered in the hospital and American Red Cross.

I can speak three languages

Answer 1

They have tons of people applying and its said that only 1 in 4 people actually get accepted.  It's very competitive and only people with the experience and the heart will get it.  It seems you have the right experience.  You'll get past the initial application phase.  During the initial interview you'll need to prove to a single person how much you want to be a volunteer.  If you have the heart to do it and you really really want to then I'm sure you'll have no problem getting it!

Answer 2

Anyone may apply to be accepted into the Peace Corps.  It is a foreign country exchange sort of program.  Accept, you're the only exchange.

Because you speak three languages, you stand a very good chance of being accepted.  Also, your volunteer work is wonderful and acts as a person committed to his/her community.

I was a VISTA Volunteer (Volunteers in Service to America) and it was the best experience ever.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

d**n, yes, you are in, for sure.

The PC only requires you be 18 and a citizen. But they highly prefer a college degree, and it always helps to have work and volunteer experience. You have a college degree and obviously have TONS of volunteer experience. If you apply, I would make sure to put down all your volunteer experience, not just college volunteer experience, but your high school volunteer experience too. Some recruiters want to see it, some don't, you never know. Either way, it'll prove that volunteering is something you enjoy doing and are strong at. They will see you as having a really strong commitment, and that is something they need to see in applicants since the Peace Corps is such a big commitment.

The 3 languages is just a major plus for them. I don't know what they are, but if they are spanish or french, all the better.  If you hope to be placed in Latin America, although it isn't officially required, they pretty much only place people with at least intermediate college spanish there. If you have any french background, they often will try to place you an francophone africa. That's because it can be very useful there and fewer people are learning French. Russian is helpful for the European and Central Asia region. Sometimes even Portuguese is helpful.  But keep in mind, just because you are fluent in...let's say Spanish an Russian, it doesn't mean they will place you in a Spanish speaking or Russian speaking area. One guy majored in Spanish and got placed in Thailand! He absolutely loved it.

The application process is long. There is the online application that consists of the personal and health applications, there are also 2 essays and 3 recommendations.  After that, you will be sent a "legal kit" which contains things like background sheet, fingerprint cards (to be done at like...the police station, usually for free), sheets describing possible jobs your recruiter may place you in (and forms to fill out further detailing your experience in those areas), transcript requests.... Next, you'll interview with the recruiter, and that day or a few days later they will nominate you--aka "We expect to send you to ___ region, doing ____ work, during ____ time." ie. my nomination is Youth Development in Latin America in August '08. Then you get a medical kit that you have all sorts of forms to fill out, doctor visits, shots, bloodwork. It seems excessive to us, but if you think about it, they are in charge of your complete health for 27 months, they really do need to know everything. If you send that in, and get clearance, then they will send you an invitation to serve! Now keep in mind, there is LOTS of waiting involved, lots of waiting for medical clearance and to receive an invitation.

As for the numbers you hear, for example, the 1/4 or 1/3 get in. Sorry, they are a little skewed. Not skewed so much, but they don't really explain what that means. Those numbers take into account people who quit the application process on their own terms and people who do not get medically cleared (which only ever happens when there is a health issue so severe that the PC cannot reasonably accommodate it safely abroad.).  However, if you do not drop out, and do get cleared, you will get invited. It is EXTREMELY rare for the Peace Corps to reject you. In fact, I've never heard of someone being rejected because of their experience, major, grades, age, etc. I am a history major with very very very little work and volunteer experience, and I'm pretty much in, waiting on my invitation!  Basically, if you want to do the PC and are willing to stick out the long application process, you'll be accepted. While you do definitely need to take the application process seriously and not think "I'll get accepted no matter what," it is actually extraordinarily rare to finish the process and not get accepted. The only time I've heard of that happening is because someone unexpectedly goes into debt (which prevents you from going bc of the possibility of fleeing to avoid payment).

From what you say, you have excellent experience and I think the Peace Corps would love to have you. I think there is no way you wouldn't ultimately be accepted. ....to me, most likely they'd place you in Health or Community Development I think.....

If the PC really interests you, definitely research it, and apply. Best of luck!

Jenna

Youth/Latin America/Aug '08

Nominee

http://www.jcorps.blogspot.com

Great Links:

http://www.peacecorps.gov

http://www.peacecorpswiki.org

http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peacecorps...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xN1kSo-TbFA

Answer 4

I would say you would be a highly desirable candidate - only your age may work against you if you are a traditional age student.  If you have a BSW you also have your internship - this I would stress as it is more potent than volunteer work.  Also if you have ANY international travel and/or other travel in the US this would help.

DA