| By Brittany Sims on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 12:37 am: Edit Post |
Hello! My name is Brittany and I'm a seventeen year old senior in high school. I was a foreign exchange student for a year in Austria starting when I was fifteen, and now I'd like to join the Peace Corps for two years before I go to college. Everyone's told me that I need to be older and more experienced to go anywhere with the Peace Corps, but I'm eager to go as soon as I'm finished with high school this summer. I'm concerned that if I decide to wait until after college, I'll be tied down because of my career, or I'll be married or something like that when it wouldn't be a good idea to drop everything and leave the country for two years. Does anyone have advice for me? Do you think I have any chance of being accepted into the Peace Corps? I'll be 18 in February and I would be very flexible as to where I went and what I did. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Sincerely,
Brittany Sims
| By Admin1 (admin) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 1:03 am: Edit Post |
The truth is that you really need to finish college to have the best chance of joining the Peace Corps. Although there is no written requirement that a prospective applicant have to have a college degree, in practice, it is very unusual for someone to be accepted unless they already have some special skills like agriculture, environmental science, forestry, or computer skills for example. If you already have skills like these then the Peace Corps might accept you without a college degree. Otherwise they probably won't.
Why not take a look at the Yahoo Peace Corps Message board at:
Yahoo Peace Corps Message board
which is oriented towards people who are thinking about joining the Peace Corps and people who have already applied and ask them the same question you have asked here and see what they say. I am sure they will give you an honest answer.
Don't let what we have said discourage you. Many people "know" they were meant to join the Peace Corps at a very young age and work towards getting the education and skills to reach that goal. The people on the message board will be able to tell you the kind of skills you need to go about acquiring during the next few years to reach your goal.
Good luck and best regards,
Admin1
| By Nina Chavez on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 7:03 pm: Edit Post |
I'm very interested in this subject as well: however, the link you provided does not seem to be working. Could you possibly post it again or give me a keyword I could search for on google or somesuch that might lead me to that board? Thank you!
| By Admin1 (admin) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 9:06 pm: Edit Post |
The link is good to Yahoo Peace Corps Group.
If it doesn't work for you, do a Google search on the following three keywords:
yahoo groups peacecorps2
Best Regards,
Admin1
| By Lisa Simpson on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 12:44 pm: Edit Post |
what happens if i want to join the peace corps? im in the UK and am not sure of the procedure. please help or e-mail me at PeaseblossomLS@aol.com
thank u.
Lisa.x
| By Admin1 (admin) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 1:53 pm: Edit Post |
You can request a Brochure and Application kit from the Peace Corps at:
Brochure and Application Kit.
| By linda gerra on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 6:25 pm: Edit Post |
Dear Brittany,
I am a bit older than you, Upper Volta 1 (67-69) but I felt the same when I was finishing my freshman year at college. There was a Peace Corps Training Group at my university that summer, and I became very excited. Everyone told me the same thing - too young. In fact I did apply, but was not accepted. My situation was a bit different -I had never lived away from home. I still knew I would reapply, so I set some goals for myself. I moved into a Boarding House, then an apt. to get experience living on my own. I also majored in French and minored in African studies with a focus on African religions. I wanted to go to Africa and hoped I could go to a French-speaking country. I couldn't really prepare myself for the difference in cultures that I finally encountered. But certainly being a little more mature couldn't have hurt. I was lucky that at the end of my junior year my university had an arrangement with the Peace Corps to give credit for some of the training. So I went that summer. Then I finished up my credits with independent studies (in African Religion, of course) while I was in UV. Most of my papers consisted of original research. This worked out great because when I came home, I had completed all of my credits and was able to graduate. Universities these days are pretty flexible. Maybe you could do your junior year abroad in your senior year and finish up that way or take the 2 years off during your junior year and arrange to get some credits for your experience. Oh, and I did leave a boyfriend behind. It was tough. But I knew that if I stayed because of that I would be sorry. Anyway, I would encourage you to keep the Peace Corps as a realistic goal, even after college. My experience was one of the best things in my life (don't mean to sound corny). I hope was helpful.
| By Ben Davis (cache-ra07.proxy.aol.com - 152.163.252.7) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 10:29 pm: Edit Post |
I was thinking about joining the peace corp. I haven't had any college, but I am A+ certified and have a little job experience with an isp. And have traveled abroad a good bit and even visited Korea a few years ago. My computer skills are very good and believe I could teach others. In your guys opinion is there a chance of me being excepted.
| By Kelly M Cole (24.98.147.235) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 3:48 pm: Edit Post |
I am currently enrolled in a Associates Degree program for Respiratory Therapy at a local technical college in Atlanta, Ga. When I finish I am interested in joining the Peace Corps it isn't a four year degree but a college degree none the less with specific medical training. Do you think I will have a good chance of being accepted? Thanks Kelly
| By Kelly M Cole (24.98.147.235) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 3:54 pm: Edit Post |
I am currently enrolled in a Associates Degree program for Respiratory Therapy at a local technical college in Atlanta, Ga. When I finish I am interested in joining the Peace Corps it isn't a four year degree but a college degree none the less with specific medical training. Do you think I will have a good chance of being accepted? Thanks Kelly
| By BlaineBen (fb.bellinghampubliclibrary.org - 216.57.213.194) on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 4:55 pm: Edit Post |
Dear Sir or Madam:
I have a question about joining the Peace Corps. I am 19 years old now. A friend if mine who is 26, is going to Mongolia on June 2, 2005. I was wondering if I can join at my age as I have been intersted in and have had a desire to join for a LONG time and now this friend leaving has refreshed it again. Thank You for any help. Please email me at my address as I may not find this page again. THANKS.
Benjamin Ditzel
bditzel04@sprintpcs.com
Blaine, Washington.
| By Miguel (66-50-174-125.prtc.net - 66.50.174.125) on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 7:01 am: Edit Post |
PLS SEND INF-AND APLICATION BY MAIL TO ATT: MIGUEL SANCHEZ. HC-57 B-10074, AGUADA, PTO RICO-OO602. and will like to get other tel nom. to get in touch with peace co. toll free is always busy........
| By Anonymous 71.237.178.177 (70.240.138.129) on Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 12:23 am: Edit Post |
I just got nominated...and now my fiance who is finishing up his bachelors wants to apply, but doesn't have very much volunteer experience... Do you think we can still serve together as a married couple?
| By brittanygriesi (71.236.255.112) on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 8:35 am: Edit Post |
Hey my name is Brittany. I am 19 years old and I am wanting to join the Peace Corp, but I don't have the schooling to join. I was wondering what classes I would have to take at my community college to join.