How hard is it to get accepted into the Peace Corps?

Question

Right now I'm in my sophomore year of college, and I'm majoring in education. I want to join the Peace Corps right after I graduate college and get my degree! I have plenty of volunteer experience- anywhere from tutoring to coaching basketball. And there's nothing more I would love then joining, but I'm very worried I won't be accepted!! What are the chances? And is there anything I could do during the next two years to increase my chances of being accepted??

Answer 1

The hardest part about the application process is actually the length, not getting accepted. Little secret no one finds out until they are pretty far into it.  

First, you complete an online application about your personal stuff and then health, also must do 2 essays and have 3 people submit recommendations. Then you are mailed what I call a "legal kit" which includes finger print cards, background check form, transcript request, and usually description of 2-3 possible work areas and worksheets that accompany each of them....and if either of these apply to you, a vegetarian worksheet and romantic involvement worksheet. Then your are contacted by your recruiter and interviewed, then nominated (which means "we may send you here to do this work in this month/year--but it could change"). Next you receive your medical packet which requires a physical & dental exam, eye exam if it applies to you, and usually some specialist sheets (I had 3!). Always do that as quick as you and send it back, because sometimes they have to get back to you about medical stuff and that can take time. Then you wait, wait, wait and get dentally, legally, and medically cleared--some people get "medical restrictions" which just means there are certain countries you can and cannot go to. Then you wait wait wait again for an official invitation.

Seems insane right? That's why I say the length of the process is the hardest part.

Almost everyone who applies gets accepted if they stay with the process. If you do not drop out on your own accord, then getting accepted is easy.

Many people without a lot of work experience or volunteer experience get accepted--like me! And it sounds like you already have a good deal of experience, so I am sure you'll be fine. If you want to get some more experience in your next 2 years, I would look on the PC website at the type of work areas they do.  Looking at those can give you an idea of what you would really like to do in the PC--maybe you want to work in Youth Development or TEFL (teaching english).....then I would suggest volunteering or working with stuff that is specifically geared towards that. If you prefer Youth, do something with Boys & Girls Club, Big Bro Big Sis, YWCA, at-risk youth, summer camps, day cares, etc. If you want TEFL, for example, do stuff like tutoring other college students, teaching campus classes or community or library classes, tutor kids/at-risk youth, tutor foreign students in English.....etc. See how you can gear your work and volunteering towards what you most want to do? That'll help a lot.

Also, if you are interested in a particular region you could always take some language classes. ie. Spanish for Latin America, French for francophone Africa, Portuguese for certain African Countries, Arabic for N. Africa/Middle East, Russian for some Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

Them seeing you have volunteer and work experience shows that you are committed and driven.

So, I guess that's my answer, things like that are what you could do to improve your "resume" for the PC. But really, to be honest, if you apply and stick with it, being accepted ("invited") is easy, the only hard part is the length and wait!

GL

Jenna