Anyone here anything or is it all quiet like Georgia? PC won't answer my requests for status.

be sure to check it out on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRpeLU825mg

I created this video the week after I left the island of Grenada where I was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer (why I waited so long to post it I don't know). My experience was incredible and this video hardly touches how big of an adventure it was. If you want to learn more, go to jordanspeacecorpsadventure.com. Thank you to all my friends in Hope, Marquis, Soubise and Grenville for the many adventures, memories and friendships! I miss and love you all! (side note: ummm I know I sound all "epic" with my narrating, but I made it late at night when the family was sleeping and didn't want to wake them, lol)

Hey there folks.

I'm a 25 year old law school grad. I've been giving some significant thought to applying to the Peace Corps, because I feel like this would be my last opportunity to volunteer for something like that before getting weighed down by goofy things like a mortgage and a family.

I understand that the timing (or specifically the delay between application and sealing the deal) is, or may be, a problem. That's cool; I can play it by ear.

Here's my question: do any of you know how seriously one's educational background would limit their chances of being accepted into the Peace Corps? Like I said, I did law school, and before that I was basically liberal studies, meaning basically a lack of specific qualification. I do have a decent faculty for the English language at this point, I'm good with stress, and have no problem with public speaking. I do have familiarity with things like business organization, trade, and finance via my legal education; though I doubt it would be directly relevant to any Peace Corps assignment, I feel like it would provide a platform for quickly assimilating more relevant information.

So, to boil it down, how prejudicial is the content of a person's educational background to acceptance into the program?

I want to get a new camera before my service--preferably one that's durable, portable, and not hugely expensive, but still takes some gorgeous pictures. Can anyone recommend anything based on your experience overseas (or just on personal preference)?

I just mailed my fingerprints Monday, so I'm a LONG long way off from worrying about this in earnestness, but I still wonder ...

How many people REALLY get deferred, for medical clearance reasons or otherwise? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those among you who had this experience ... why were you deferred? What were the terms of your deferral? Did you, or do you know of folks who gave up? What about appeals?

I guess I'm just a little spooked at the idea you could go through all that medical rigmarole and have them go "Ehh ... not yet, no."

I am struggling to decide on a date of availability. I graduate in May 2010 and my current date of availability is August 1, giving myself the summer to get myself totally ready for PC. I've been thinking about it and have questions before I either leave it as is or ask to move up the date (I've already applied/interviewed and am waiting for the nomination - I've been told she will start looking for a position August 1, because of my Date of Av, and will be nominated soon after).

1. For any of you who entered Peace Corps upon graduating college, how much time did you need to take care of everything and be completely ready to go? A month? The whole summer?

1a. Would this have been different if you had spent your last semester of college abroad?

2. For those of you who have worked in the education sector (specifically Primary Teacher Training), is there any specific time of year that most programs start? For example, if school starts in the fall, would it not be beneficial for the volunteer to arrive for training in the early summer, so as to be ready for the new year? Or would it not matter if I arrived in August and was finished with training and ready to teach in November?

3. I swear I had another question but now I can't think of it...

Thanks for any insight!

Hello! I have a question about when to apply. I am planning on getting CELTA (a teaching English as a foreign language certificate) certified this September or October abroad and then hopefully getting a year long teaching contract somewhere in Europe. Ideally, I would like to leave for Peace Corps service soon after my contract expired.

The issue is I would like to be able to get the medical stuff done before I leave. Do you think 2 months is adequate time to apply and do this? I'm thinking probably not because I have had a history of mental illness (3 years ago) and I have asthma but I'd like to at least make some headway while in the US/when I know I have insurance. And is there a way to notate on the application that I am getting this certification/will hopefully have a year of teaching experience down? I, obviously, am hoping to get placed teaching English somewhere.

Thanks for your help!

Got my invite! Secondary school teacher in Kazakhstan, leaving in August. Anyone else headed to the world's largest landlocked country?

Hi everyone!

I just joined because I recently decided I want to start the application process for the Peace Corps. I want to serve next summer, 2010, so I should be applying nowish, am I right? Anyway I just have a few questions...

LOR from a volunteer supervisor - I have volunteer experience, but nothing long-term. I'm in a sorority though and most of my volunteering is through that so could I maybe ask my sorority president or volunteer chair for a letter?

I'm also worried that not having a constant volunteer position will hurt my chances, but I have a lot of work experience, specifically in business and education - how will that affect my chances?

Finally, and I apologize for the long post, how much weight do the essays carry in the application?

Any input you all have would be wonderful! Thanks!

PeaceCorpsJournals now has a link next to each entry so you can share your favorite entries with your friends on Facebook. Try it out!

The Wiki has a similar link, located on the left sidebar, which also includes a link to share with Twitter. It shares the current page you are looking at.

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So I got medically cleared yesterday and talked to my placement officer today--apparently my invite will be in the mail within the next couple of days! My nomination was to teach English in Central Asia in mid-August, and from the sounds of it that's also where my invitation will be--I'm guessing that means Kazakhstan. Anyone else heading over there/served there?

Hello All, I'm getting ready to leave for Morocco in about 2 months and people like my parents and grandparents are becoming increasingly anxious/proud or whatever. I was wondering if any of you knew a good website for something like a bumper sticker that  claimed "My son/daughter is a Peace Corps Volunteer". I think that would just make their day if they had something like that you know? 

Sorry if this is off topic, please delete if not relevant enough. 

Thanks in advance for any comments. :)

I'm probably fretting over nothing, but I just want to put together a good application and be accepted...you know?

I read at the Peace Corps website that I can use a recommendation letter from a professor in my college dept in lieu of a volunteer supervisor. Its not that I don't have a volunteer experience, I've been able to shoehorn some into my schedule, but so far I've done "piecemeal" volunteer work with a number of organizations, so I haven't really been able to forge any kind of relationship with any one supervisor. So what I'm asking is: it is better that I wait and try to get a recommendation from a volunteer supervisor, or should I go with one from my university?

I had to call a few times to get someone in person, but I finally found out what that eligibility phone call was about. Apparently, they just needed to know if I had a middle name. Lol. Just goes to show that worrying about things you can't control is not worth the energy.

Otherwise, I also accepted my invitation to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Khazahkstan, August 2009. Anyone else going there?


P.S. Thanks for all the kind words. :)

I got my invite, Philippines in August anyone else?

I just got a tentative job offer on Wednesday for an agriculture specialist for a federal agency, pending a background investigation, drug testing, and a video-based interview. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the Peace Corps at this point. On one hand, I REALLY want to serve. On the other, this is federal employment, with all the benefits and security that comes with it. Supposedly, it's going to take at least 4-5 months to get everything finished with the BI, interview, and testing, but once it is, I get to move across the country, from Kentucky to Washington state.

What I'm thinking about doing is this.... I'll still go through with my Peace Corps interview, just in case something DOES go wrong with the BI (I don't know why it would, though, to be honest). I'll take the job in Washington state for a few years, to get up to a GS-11 (should be able to spend one year as a GS-7, one year as a GS-9, and then get promoted to GS-11) and get all my debt paid off, which was a major concern for me. At that point, I should be free to join the Peace Corps, and when I get back, I'll have federal experience up through GS-11 and non-competitive eligibility.

I really think I would kick myself if I turned down this job. It's a good, permanent job, making more money than I thought I'd be able to make at this point (I've got more than enough education for a GS-7, but I do lack a lot of hands-on experience in my field). It would be very, very difficult to turn down a federal job, because the hardest part is always getting your foot in the door.

Hi everyone. I received medical clearance a few weeks ago and was recently invited to serve as a volunteer in Central Asia. I received my packet and invitation in the mail on the 6th, and I am planning to call Monday the 15th to accept (at the end of my ten days).

However, today I received a voicemail from someone in the eligigibility office asking me to call her back. She did not tell me why. Since it is Friday, I wont be able to give her a call back until Monday morning (although I left a message), and it's killing me to know why she called.

Can they suddenly claim that I am ineligible after they've already invited me (sent out the packet)? I'm worried because it's been a hard won battle to get medically cleared and I finally thought I was on my way and done with the application process.

Why on earth would the eligigibility office need to contact me now?


Thanks for any advice or possible reasons on why I received the call.

Calling all PC people who are on Facebook!!!
I received this message today and wanted to pass it along/share it with those who might not have seen it If this is not allowed mods please feel free to delete!


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Subject: Peace Corps Applicant or Invitee? We Need Your Help!

As our MorePeaceCorps campaign continues to make the case for additional funds to support the Peace Corps, we continue to face a very uphill battle. But you can help, and it only takes a couple of paragraphs.

We are collecting brief testimonies from those who are applying to Peace Corps, thinking about applying or awaiting assignment. We want to provide lawmakers and other leaders with profiles of some of the people who want to serve our nation as Peace Corps volunteers.

If you are willing, please craft a one or two or three paragraph update sharing your status and your situation and why more support for Peace Corps is critical. If you are thinking about joining, but have not applied, a brief statement on why Peace Corps is important and your desire to someday serve. If you are in the application process or are an invitee, please share your status and how additional funding might help you fulfill your goal. Let your passion flow!

Please send these testimonies to jonathan@http://www.facebook.com/l/;peacecorpsconnect.org Include your current residence with your message.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THOSE IN DC, VA OR MD: We are seeking some of you in the metro DC area to help with possible speaking and/or advocacy activities. If interested, please contact us immediately by the email above, or by calling 202-293-7728, x-21

Thank you so much for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Pearson
National Peace Corps Association

I'm trying to get my application done ASAP so I can get the ball rolling. I just need to wrangle out one more recommendation letter.

But here's the thing: I'm going to be pharmacy tech certified soon, but it'll probably take a month or two. Is that worth postponing my application for? Can it help my chances?