“Life is calling, how far will you go?” asks the Peace Corps. Peace Corps is that organization that saw its heyday while Kennedy stilled reigned. When I tell people I did the Peace Corps, they often reply with, “Is that still around?” It is and it has a strong resurgence as the crumbling economy made jobs scarce. There are a million reasons to join Peace Corps, but how do you join? I can promise you that it’s no simple task, and surviving the application process seems more daunting than your twenty-seven months abroad.
The first step is to get onto their website: www.peacecorps.gov. On the website you can read more about the organization from the organization itself. It is also how you begin the process. On the left hand side of the homepage, you will see a link that says “apply now.” The first things it will ask, before even creating an application account is “Are you a US citizen?” and “Are you at least 18 years old?” If you answer no to either of those, then you are not eligible to apply. If you answered yes, then you proceed to the “create an account” portion. This is still the easy part.
You will answer a series of questions and create your application account. A confirmation email will be sent to you, and then the fun begins. The online portion isn’t terribly difficult, but it does require time and effort. Be prepared to write an essay, and talk to references.
After the online application is submitted, you will move onto the interview stage, should you be invited to do you. If the Peace Corps is satisfied with your education/work experience, they will ask you to interview at a location in a nearby city. Generally, the Peace Corps expects at least a Bachelor’s Degree, however relevant work experience can be substituted. For example if you have thirty years of farming experience, you could be considered for a number of the agricultural positions. If you feel you may not qualify, there is no harm in applying. You never know what skill or experience may be useful.
The interview stage is easy in that you just have to answer questions honestly. The challenge is that the questions are often thought-provoking and yet, expected. They will likely ask you some basic questions about your relevant education/work experience. I was also asked about other volunteer work I’ve done, or my experiences in the third world. If you have none of these experiences, answer honestly, and let them know that you plan to do more if it’s required of you. Peace Corps wants to know that they are dealing with a dedicated applicant. You will likely also be asked about your foreign language skills, and willingness to study a language on your own if you were accepted into the Corps.
The more philosophical questions usually follow. Things like “Why do you want to join Peace Corps?” It’s hard at this stage not to sound cliché. After all, there are only so many answers to that question. I found that honesty was well received and appreciated. While saving the world was certainly on my list of reasons to join PC, so was learning a foreign language, traveling and engaging in cross-cultural exchange. It helped that I had read a lot about the Peace Corps beforehand. Read first hand accounts from volunteers and talk to current or returned volunteers if you can. Show the Peace Corps that you are serious and you are aware of what the job entails. You will be asked for a regional preference which is loosely adhered to. Flexibility is a word you will become very acquainted with in PC. They want someone willing to serve where he or she is needed, not someone who wants to serve in Vanuatu to be close to a boyfriend or girlfriend. State your regional preference (the PC website lists each of its regions). I knew I wanted to go to Africa, so that was all the detail I gave them. They will not let you choose a specific country. When you tell them your available departure dates, they will also use this to determine programs that fit your ability to go.
At the end of the interview, your recruiter usually lets you know if he or she plans to proceed with you as an applicant or not. If he or she decides that you are right for the job, you will be nominated for a program. At the end of my interview, I was told that I was being nominated for educational programs in sub-Saharan Africa.
This proves has sounded easy so far, right? Well, here comes the fun part. Medical! Peace Corps gives you a medical packet that will make any large dictionary or bible seem like a pamphlet. The physical exams you must undergo are so detailed that most people do drop out of the application at this point. I had no health insurance and paid dearly. If you have healthcare, this part may seem marginally less daunting. You will need to see a dentist and regular general practitioner, and depending on age and gender possibly also a gynecologist.
If you have no healthcare, these are some tips. The VA clinics will do your Peace Corps physical for free. The negative side is that PC is a low priority, so as someone from New York City, there was a LONG wait to be seen. Like a few months of waiting. If you live near a VA clinic and can get in, this will cut costs. For women, finding organizations like Planned Parenthood work on a sliding scale. I was able to get my physical done cheaper on the sliding scale.
As for the dentist, I went to NYU, and had students at their dental school do the exam/x-rays for a very low cost. Then at the end, the dentist signs off on it. In addition to these basic exams, you will get a very specific set of doctors based on your medical history. For example, I had laser eye surgery to correct my vision, so I had to go to the eye surgeon and have him do an exam to show I am capable to do Peace Corps. Also, if you’ve even gone to counseling for anything, even minor, you will have to get a write up from them as well. Be honest on your medical. Peace Corps can handle many conditions. South Africa, for example, had first world medical care, so many volunteers had medical conditions that may have seemed impossible to work with.
After medical, you will do a background check. This is pretty basic and involved fingerprints and a background check. When that was finally done, I sent in my medical application.
A few weeks later I had an invitation to serve in China. Generally, speaking turning down an opportunity is frowned upon, but I took my chances. I called and said I would prefer to serve in Africa. I was told that this would delay my departure date, and I could have to wait up to a year for a new assignment. I took a huge gamble and decided to wait. A few weeks later I was invited to serve in South Africa, which I subsequently served in for the duration of my service then even extended and served an extra two months.
Peace Corps doesn’t like when applicants turn down an assignment, but you also need to be honest with yourself. My heart was in Africa. I had been to the continent a few years earlier, and was joining Peace Corps to serve in Africa. I don’t like to quit things I commit to, so I knew agreeing to China was risky. Accepting the assignment they give you is a very personal choice. Of course a resounding “YES” is the answer Peace Corps is hoping for, if you know you won’t be happy, or think you will end up quitting, then be honest with Peace Corps. Tell them you would rather wait as long as it takes to get your geographic preference. A lot of prayer went into my decision, and you need to meditate, pray or contemplate the decision in a way that suits you best.
After you accept the assignment, you will be given your exact departure date, in addition to loads of information on your country of service. Service starts with a day or two (or three) or “staging” in the United States. They will fly you to this location. You will meet your fellow volunteers, get all vaccinations needed and off you go on a plane to your new home for the next twenty-seven months!
I hope this helps give you an idea of the process. It’s daunting, and many people drop out of the process, but if you make it, you won’t regret it!
