What to expect
June 15th, 2006 by davenelhoward.Hello,
My name is David Howard, I am planning on applying to the Peace Corps within the next 4 to 6 months. I am planning on leaving in approximately one year. I would love to hear any advice that any of you might have on what to do to prepare for the Peace Corps, how to apply and what is needed to make an attractive application. What should I focus on in the next year so that the application process followed by my service in the Peace Corps are both successful?
On the subject of physical and material preperations; what did you do to prepare, and what did you take with you? Did you find that you needed more or less than you took with you?
Any response will be greatly appreciated. I am very excited about becoming involved in the Peace Corps, and I want to make the experience as wonderful, fuylfilling and successful as it can possibly be; both for me and those who I interact with along the way.
-David Howard
June 15th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Regarding the application - it’s not as exclusive a club as we were led to believe. You’ll be accepted. I’m older and owned a home so I had to pay off bills, get rid of nonessentials - put the rest in storage and let a property manager lease the house to cover the mortgage.
My only regret is that I didn’t have more money in savings to get back on my feet when I returned. When you’re 24 you can go home and stay with mom and dad for a few months. I didn’t have that luxury so the last 2 years have been very tough getting started again. It’s doable just not as easy as I had envisioned.
Also the world changes - I was in South Africa when America went to war in Iraq - that was an interesting experience and the temperment of the nation had changed by the time I returned - talk about a ’stranger in a strange land’ !!
June 22nd, 2006 at 4:14 pm
David, I would say do research. I am currently under medical review so I can offer any advice about what it may be like but I can tell you that research has been very helpful for me. googles blog searches have been helpful in finding current volunteers blogs and with that email address so I’ve been emailing peace corps volunteers that I find who have a blog that peaks my interests, just asking lots of questions.
Here are a couple sites I have found helpful:
http://claremajor.net/pcpacklist.html
http://jsbigadventure.blogspot.com/
Even, the peace corps site itself with its country descriptions, work areas, etc. Once you’ve been nominated that will most likely be more helpful. At least it was for me because I’ll be working in IT and I know that I’ll probably be limited to where I go, so this helped me in figuring out the most likely places I’ll go.
I did my application online, so it was pretty simple. It did take a while to gather the right information, but its not that hard, but be organized. I treated it like a real job application, same goes for my in person interview. Just be honest and get ready to be patient because this process takes about a year. I waited like you to apply because I knew that I would be ready a year from the time I applied knowing it takes about a year for the whole process. It hasn’t taken quite that long for me I applied Jan. 3 of this year and I’ve been nominated to leave in Oct. if all goes well with my medical review!!
Good Luck.
June 25th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
As Cynthia mentioned above, it’s not tough to get into Peace Corps. As long as you’ve got a BA/BS, are in good health more or less and have volunteer or practical experience pertinent to the area in which you’d like to volunteer in, you’re good to go.
My partner and I have been in El Salvador for a bit over 2 weeks. We applied in May 2005 and departed June 2006. We were living in Australia throughout the application process so packing was a bit easier. We got rid of anything that we knew we wouldn’t use upon finishing our service and saved only things that were new or were too dear to get rid of - not very much. We brought only the essentials: clothes, toiletries, some books, camera, laptop, a few snacks for training and other foods for when we have our own place such as soy products and spices, and other small things that make us happy when we’re sad or bored like photos, music, stationary and a journal.
I recommend contacting blog writers about their experience to get a better idea of what you’re getting into. Contact returned volunteers too. Read a few books about volunteer experiences and if you plan on wanting to serve somewhere that has a language requirement, such as Spanish or French, START STUDYING! Language training is good, but it makes your adjustment period that much easier if you have good language skills. Some people don’t have the option if they’re going to say, Africa or Asia. Read up all you can about your region of nomination and when you’re invited, read all you can about your country.
Right now I’m wishing I’d have packed more snacks and candies to eat in the privacy of my room when dinner sucks or when I need some comfort and more bug spray. Other than that we’re quite happy with our packing job! Perhaps I could have brought more money for travelling, but we’ll do just fine with what Peace Corps give us montly.
good luck!
August 14th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Hi David, as I’m just at the point where I have jumped through all the hoops to actually get into a placement, and am getting ready to leave I can’t give much pertinent advice on what goes on in service, but I can say a bit about the application process…..key advice, be patient, I know I heard that a thousand times, but it is really true, and as far as making yourself the best applicant you can be, I’d say just dedicate your time to trying to put yourself in positions that challenge you and would better prepare you for the area that you would like to work in….for instance, I was looking at a teaching position, so I volunteered during my last semester of college at a cultural center where kids came to get after school help from college science tutors- but for the most part, if you have the desire, are persistent, and go in with open eyes and an open heart, you’ll sail through……it’s long, the time between sending in that application, and hearing if, when, and where you’ll be leaving, and even then it could all change, so another necessity is flexibility….but really, it’s worth it, all of it, and it’s exciting to meet others who have similar passions, desires, and drives….anyway, I hope some of this helped, let me know if I can help in any other way! Good luck:)
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:47 am
Hey, I’m thinking about joining but I just noticed something that disturbed me. Is it required that you have a BA or BS to join? Could someone please email me back and let me know? Thanks so much! Mystic underscore Muse thirteen at yahoo dot com
January 15th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
i am in the process of applying (just had my interview). i am also looking for material and stories to prepare me for what to expect. so far, the best thing i found was the book “so you want to join the peace corps: what to know before you go” by dillon banerjee. anyone else know of any resources like this?
January 20th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Hi Aly,
I found a good list of books to look into on the Peace Corps website in their resources section and if you just do a general search on Amazon.com a lot of books come up, too. One book I’m reading right now and recommend is “Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle by Mortiz Thomsen”… there seem to be a lot of books out there…. hope this helps.
Megan
July 15th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Moritz Thomsen was an incredibly good writer. Check out his other three books. And, he did not have a college degree.