Peace corps?

Question

Has anyone here ever joined the peace corp or something similar? I'm thinking of doing it but want to hear from actual people who've done it and if you liked it what you did etc. Would colleges like it? I might do it in my gap year before college but after high school. Or I may wait until later.

Answer 1

I have.

http://www.tedpack.org/pchead.html

has LOTS more about my experiences.

92% of all PCV's have a degree. The other 8% have 10 - 50 years of experience in a skill that  a host country has asked for.

I search for both "Peace Corp" and "Peace Corps" (and, when I'm bored, "Piece Core") every once in a while. The most common mis-conception young, well-meaning Americans on Y!A have is that the Peace Corps will take young, well-meaning Americans who don't have a particular skill.

How it works is that developing countries ask for nurses, teachers, engineers, accountants, farm advisors . . .

and the Peace Corps looks for applicants who have those skills, plus the willingness to share them in difficult surroundings. If they find someone, he/she gets an invitation.

Go to college. Major in something you'd like to do for the rest of your life. Take a couple of courses in something the developing world wants to learn about as well. TESL/TEFL is always good.

There are hundreds of volunteer organizations that will take HS graduates but you pay your own way.

Answer 2

I have not done it, but those who have seem to have life-altering experiences, mostly for the good.

One thing for sure; it looks great on a resume and I don't think you can compare it to any life experience.