Greetings Gentle Readers,
Welcome to “Want to Join the Peace Corps?” The purpose of this blog is to create a space to discuss the ins and outs of applying to the Peace Corps. My answers will be based on my 4+ years as a recruiter in Peace Corps New York Regional Office. And, fear not, if any aspect of the application process has changed, you can rest assured that my brethren in the Returned Volunteer community will be sure to correct me. I look forward to your questions, comments and concerns. Read on for our first letter from a fraternity brother who finds himself in a compromising position.
Dear Concetta:
I need your help. I really want to join the Peace Corps but I heard that there is some sort of criminal check. I swear I am not a criminal, but I have been arrested. Last year my fraternity had a party and things got a little out of hand and twelve of us- including me- got arrested for ummm…. well… okay- we got arrested for public urination. Am I out of luck?
Sincerely, Alpha Tepee Peepee
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Hey Peepee:
Thanks for being my inagural correspondent and for illustrating that no question is too strange for “Want to Join the Peace Corps?” The good (and slightly disturbing) news is that you have a lot of company. In my years as a recruiter, I was amazed at just how many people ran afoul of the law by relieving themselves “al fresco.” The most important piece of advice I can give you is Disclose Disclose Disclose. The Peace Corps does, in fact, do an extensive background check and it is very important for your recruiter to know anything that might come up. The worst case scenario would be for you to omit some information which Peace Corps would discover after the fact. And fear not, I did- in fact- help lots of folks who found themselves in your situation to become successful and productive Peace Corps Volunteers.
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Concetta — as an outstanding former Recruiter in the New York Office of the Peace Corps — as well as being, of course, a great PCV! — this site is in good hands with having you give advice and suggestions on how to deal with the Office of Selection in PC/HQ. Welcome to Peace Corps Worldwide!
I am 17 years old, live on Guam, and I’m about to test for my GED. After my 18th birthday(late this year) I wish to take part in the Peace Corps. Any information on how to go about that?
Concetta, it’s so nice to “hear” your voice again! I’m remembering many laughs on the 9th floor. I’m looking forward to this!
Concetta,
I am currently finishing my 3rd year at Texas A&M and was considering applying for the Peace Corp in the fall. I’ve been looking into recruiting services and found that the nearest office is located in Dallas. Is there any other way to go about talking with a recruiter about my options/get more information?
Redag–call the 800# and hit # 1 and ask for a recruiter. He or she will be in Dallas and you can get as much information as you want from that person who will be a newly returned PCV.. Also, go to http://www.peacecorps.gov. The Peace Corps has a very good site and you can learn a lot from it. My guess is that Texas A&M has a network of RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) in their Grad Schools, check around and you’ll find more than one person you can talk to. Or come back and ask Concetta or myself more questions. Both of us have been Peace Corps Recruiters.
But to answer you other question, Dallas is the closest office to you.
John
Concetta,
I finally submitted my application yesterday and had a question for you. I am allergic to bee stings and I’m having a hard time finding any information on what the ramifications may be for this condition when I face medical evaluations and/or placement concerns. I have heard that I will be probably be disqualified from serving in Sub Saharan Africa and other places. Just wondering whether you may be able to provide any insight in my chances or if you ever came across someone in the same situation while you were a recruiter. Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.
WJC
I am a vegan (I don’t eat meat or dairy). In your experience as a recruitor, have you come across anyone with this dietary concern? If so, how does the Peace Corps handle this preference?
I am a college graduate interested in applying to the Peace Corps, however my family is concerned about my safety in certain areas of the world. They are convinced that as an attractive young female, I could be kidnapped, raped, or sent into human trafficking. How can I ease their worries? Also, which areas are considered safer than others, and how can female volunteers protect themselves?
Grace
Dear Concetta
I’m 22 years old, I graduated from the university PR mass comunicator, I seak english & spanish, Im an amrican citizen but i was born raised and live currently in venezuela what kind of chance do i stand with joining peace corps beacause i cant find anyone close enough to talk to about this expirience
Thanx 4 ur help
Tracy
I am going to be attending an informational session in Houston in August. My question is, are these informational sessions pretty sales pitches by the peace corp or are they a gritty Q/A type session where you go to find out more detail? I am looking to hear on a more detailed basis about the peace corp, I don’t want the college job fair pitch where everything is beautiful and perfect. I am mid-career and married, so there are a lot of unknowns for me and I want to patch them up.
Concetta-
I am due to graduate with a BA in Linguistics in May and feel that this would be a valuable asset for not only learning the language I would need to speak, but also for teaching English if given such an opportunity; however, I have two concerns, quite unrelated, that I am worried about affecting my likelihood of being accepted into the PC.
The first one is I am a 23 year old woman with a good amount of visible tattoos (my right arm is sleeved) and I know that while we have a bit more lienient culture on such a thing, I am also aware that others do not. This causes me to worry that this particular aspect will deter me in being able to volunteer, even if I were to commit to wearing light long sleeved shirts in the summer!
The second concern has to do with previous volunteer experience. My volunteer experience is limited and sporadic as I have been attending school full time and working full time for the past 4 years, leaving me little spare time to do much more than an MDA Bowl-a-thon here or AIDS walk there. In starting my application and reaching this portion, I realize I don’t have many contacts for my limited volunteer experience. I have, however, been with the same company for five years and have moved up within it, which speaks to my work ethic and desire to succeed in what I do. Is this something that would help my case?
Loaded questions, I know! But thank you for any insight you can offer!
Hi There,
I am due to complete my Master’s in counseling psych pretty soon and am very interested in joining the peace corps. i was working at a mental health clinic until recently and left after being accused by another employee of something I did not due. The other employee was a mentally ill therapist that had a falling out with me. After HR got involved I became highly insulted that after four years I was treated as if I was not trusted by the organization so I quit. I stress that I was not fired. I am wondering though, how badly this event will affect me when I apply to the peace corps. I have over 10 years of experience working social services and currently have a BA in psych. Anything you could tell me would be great. Thanks!
Would the following criminal charges exclude me from Peace Corp eligibility:
The first charge involves a dispute I had with a person who was stalking my wife and came to our home uninvited. He had been sending my wife unwanted emails and cards. There was a physical confrontation, and subsequently I was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charges were completely dismissed “no-billed” by a county grand jury.
The second charge involves corporal punishment administered to my stepson, after he became increasingly aggressive towards my wife. My wife and I never agreed on a discipline management program for my stepson. One day when I came home from work, my stepson had been pushing my wife around in the kitchen. I told him to go to his room and used corporal punishment; striking him with a belt on his buttocks. Afterwards, my wife and I had a disagreement, and she called the police. When the police arrived, they looked at my stepson and said he had a mark on his buttocks. I was then arrested for injury to a child. The charge is a felony and not a misdemeanor because my stepson is under the age of 15. He is 12 years old. This case is active and has not been disposed of. My attorney and the prosecutor are talking about a plea deal for a misdemeanor charge. The prosecutor has also agreed to withhold this case from the grand jury, which may or may not issue an indictment. If no indictment is issued, the case will be “no-billed,” which means it is dismissed. The case has been withheld since August 2011 so my attorney can complete his investigation and submit his information to the grand jury at the same time the prosecutor submits her information. Regardless of the outcome, this is the first and last time I ever use corporal punishment for disciplinary purposes.
I am a graduate student currently in my 5th term with 6 classes left before graduation with my master’s degree. Are we allowed access to computers while overseas, or should I take mine, rent etc one? Once I complete this master’s degree, I am scheduled to start one of many doctorate degrees how does everyone balance the school load while being overseas? I have included in my essays about the residencies that I will have to do once in my new program.