Joining the Peace Corps is a big decision – you spend 27 months living in a country of deprivation, without the comforts you're used to on a daily basis. However, this is a very valuable experience and you will never forget; You'll touch people's lives, make the world a little better, and have a record-breaking work history. The application process takes about 6 months – if you are patient, this could be the best decision you will ever make.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Eligible
Step 1. Graduate college first
In order for your application to be taken seriously and make it easier for you to be accepted into the program, it is a good idea to get a bachelor's degree first. In fact, 90% of vacant positions require this. A Diploma-3 degree may be sufficient if you also have the requisite work experience.
- If you can and are interested, choose a major in agriculture, forestry, or the environment. Having a background in all of these areas makes you a potential candidate for areas of shortage.
- All positions require a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Step 2. Take a Spanish or French class
Your application will be very strong if you have taken French or Spanish classes. About 35% of these countries require two years of high school or one year of studying French (or another Romance language), or four years of high school or two years of studying Spanish.
If you are assigned to a country where Spanish or French skills are required and you do not know the language, the Peace Corps will offer language training at the start of your assignment. This training is paid for and included in a 27 month agreement
Step 3. Gain a lot of volunteering experience
Peace Corps is looking for people who have experience helping others. If you have one – whether volunteering in a hospital, soup kitchen, or teaching children – you have demonstrated that you meet the requirements. Your experience shows that you have the right character for the job.
It doesn't matter what volunteer experience you have! Being involved in the community not only proves your work ethic and character, it also helps prepare you for the fundamentals of the work you will do with the Peace Corps. Helping others is what's important to get you used to volunteer work, whatever it may be
Step 4. Look for leadership opportunities
While on duty, you will work alongside locals, and often work independently. Joining the Peace Corps once you have leadership experience will make your appeal much stronger. So whether it's leading a group of volunteers, leading a sorority or fraternity, or leading your school's band, include that on your application.
Also list any work you also did independently. Demonstrating independence and being able to take care of themselves are two important qualities that the Peace Corps need from their volunteers
Part 2 of 3: Completing the Application Process
Step 1. Complete the application on the Peace Corps website
The online application is easy to understand and takes less than an hour to complete. Before doing so, you can take a little look at the Q&A page, personal bio, and get a feel for the program. You're better off spending a little time in the beginning than wasting an hour applying for something you're not really interested in.
If you do not wish to complete an online application, or have further questions, you can call their toll-free hotline at (1)855-855-1961
Step 2. Complete the medical history form
This can take 10 or 15 minutes, and is immediately available once you hit the submit button in your online application. This comprehensive form asks about your medical history.
It is important to fill out this form as accurately as possible, as it will affect the form that is sent to you during your full medical review
Step 3. Browse websites and available positions
The Peace Corps website will briefly show several pages of position vacancies. You can also filter them by region and job category. The Peace Corps has six departments – you will be placed in one of the following areas:
- Education
- Youth Development
- Health
- Community Economic Development
- Agriculture
- Environment
Step 4. Conduct an interview with the placement officer
Simultaneously with the medical kit process, you will be contacted by a Peace Corps officer to confirm your interview date. This is to find out which department and which countries are best for you. The officer will later suggest the best placement location for you and submit your documents.
Don't worry about this. All recruiters are ex-volunteers and very kind. So, if you really want to join the Peace Corps, it's fine to have an hour or two of discussion about the possibility of you being accepted and volunteering
Step 5. Accept and respond to your invitation
Your recruiter will nominate you for a program. But this is still a secret. At this point, your file and everything you do will be forwarded to the National Peace Corps Office in Washington, D. C. It will take a long time to hear further news (usually around 6 months), but it sure will! Once you have your proposed assignment, contact your local office to accept it.
If you don't like the assignment, you can reapply. However, you will have to repeat this process again and wait another 6 months
Step 6. Complete the medical requirements
This is the only part of the process you will have to pay for, from the initial application to the flight to your destination. Once you are nominated, you will be sent a complete medical package. Make an appointment with a doctor, or several doctors if possible. You will have several blood tests, physical examination, pap test for women, and various other tests for men and applicants over 50 years of age.
Make sure the entire package is filled out and signed. If something is left unanswered, the medical officer will ask for additional documents as needed, and this can lengthen the application process, maybe even push back your departure date
Part 3 of 3: Having a Positive Experience
Step 1. Find out your motive for joining
Joining the Peace Corps is no small decision. Many people join for the wrong reasons and end up leaving months later. Here are some things you should consider.
- Don't join the Peace Corps because you want to travel. You are there to work. You may even find yourself in locations that are difficult to travel to. What's more, money for traveling is not included in the cost of living.
- Don't join the Peace Corps because you want to change the world. You won't be able to. You will certainly change the world a bit, but not completely.
- Don't join the Peace Corps because you don't know what you want to do. The Peace Corps needs very specific people. Not knowing what you want to do does not mean you are ready and successful in living in a third world country.
Step 2. Identify the basis of your task
There are some basic Peace Corps duties that apply to each program. Everyone will create a different experience, but some things remain the same. Here's how it works:
- The duration of each assignment is 27 months. It's shorter than that (part of the Peace Corps Response program), but generally applies to experienced Corps professionals and/or volunteers.
- You will earn money after completing 27 months of assignments (approximately 100 million rupiah before tax). This sounds like a lot, but the money will run out quickly, especially if you're traveling after your job is done.
- If you have student loans, your money can be deferred while you are away. Federal Perkins loans can be waived for up to 15% per year of service.
Step 3. Talk to someone who has done it before
The best way to get real information about what you're about to do is to talk to other people who have done it. You can read volunteer bios or blogs online, ask former volunteers directly, or contact volunteers via your website or through your recruiter.
Some volunteers will tell you about the greatest thing they have ever done. Some other volunteers will share their painful experiences and only count the days until they can go home. Each volunteer's experience will be different – keep this in mind when you talk to one of them
Step 4. Realize that you are not going to change the world
Peace Corps volunteers make a difference at the local level, not the world level. This is something most volunteers don't realize – to find the difference you make, you have to really look. The difference could be in the children's English skills, or the farming skills of a small village. Remember: all of these things are important, especially to them.
Many people tend to think that joining the Peace Corps means traveling a lot or will change the economic prospects of a country. In fact it's smaller than that on an individual level, but that's okay. By simply volunteering, you are already doing what you can
Step 5. Understand that you can be very lonely
At first you don't know anyone. When you hear someone speaking English, you'll be thrilled and want to join them right away. You will miss hanging out with friends, eating, drinking, and all the things you used to do at home. You will slowly adapt, but many also experience extreme homesickness. Peace Corps is only for those who can overcome this.
You will make a lot of friends. This will take time, and you may not have a lot of friends to choose from, but you will make a lot of friends. There will be other volunteers working with you. You will also have free time to spend with them. They may be the best friends ever to you
Step 6. Understand that this can be very psychologically difficult
While working somewhere, you are more likely to be perceived as a foreigner, and perhaps even harassed. You will be alone and can often feel uncomfortable. This is hard to accept, and some volunteers just can't handle it. It takes a strong individual to face this condition. If you can handle it, you are perfect for the Peace Corps.
This is especially true for women. You are very likely to be in a country that still underestimates the issue of gender equality. You may be the subject of frequent jokes and harassment. And unfortunately, this is common in certain areas. And sadly again, you have to deal with this
Step 7. Be prepared to have a lot of free time
Especially in the beginning, when you are learning a language. Take your hobbies with you everywhere, like playing the guitar or knitting. Even if you don't know how to play the guitar or knit, you'll have time to learn.
This doesn't mean you have to travel, although you can. However, keep in mind that "traveling" can mean you'll be living in a dirty shack and going there on a banana boat
Step 8. Understand that your life will be very different from your ordinary life
We're not saying that you should shop at a different store, but rather about water or electricity issues. You may not be doing anything on the weekends, and you may not have any friends to hang out with. Your body will get used to being dirty until you don't even realize it. You may not be used to the weather there, and you will feel like an outcast. However, these are all wonderful experiences. And the hard thing is remembering that these are all wonderful experiences!
Volunteers today generally have a different experience than volunteers in the past. Only about 1 in 4 volunteers experience water or electricity scarcity. As time goes on, things will get easier
Tips
- Be patient. Everything will come true according to your wishes.
- Keep in mind that you can change your decision at any time, but it's much better if you do it before boarding the plane!
- Be flexible. If your reason for joining is because you "want to do something in this place," your chances of joining the Peace Corps will drop dramatically. And who knows, you might be accepted to join and do the things you want.
Warning
- The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the Peace Corps or the United States Government.
- The Peace Corps is a large and constantly changing government organization. Keep this in mind when they don't seem to WANT you to join (due to one or more obstacles).