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!
Dear Friend: You know how I know you’ll be a good Peace Corps volunteer? You asked two great questions and you have the foresight to anticipate some potential speed bumps in your application process.
You are correct in your assertion that we are the beneficiaries of a more lenient culture here in the United States. It is also true that perceptions about tattoos can vary from an acceptable part of the culture to completely unacceptable. But herein lies the beauty of serving in over a hundred different countries, your recruiter can work with you to steer you in the right direction. Thankfully it appears that you will be looking to teach English which is one of the broadest programs in all of Peace Corps. So I think that between the two of you, you’ll be able to find a country that is more accepting of the idea of body art.
The whole personal appearance thing can be such a tricky topic for folks interested in Peace Corps. Of course, in the final analysis, each person must decide for himself whether to abandon dreadlocks, or facial hair, or piercings in order to volunteer, but the fact of the matter is that these things can be non-negotiable depending on your host country. In Thailand for example, beards and mustaches were culturally taboo- in fact, they indicated danger and evil- decidedly NOT the image you’d be striving for in your efforts to be a successful volunteer. While some applicants find this a tad invasive, the reality is that there are a finite number of Peace Corps volunteer slots and many more interested men and women who want to serve, so the Peace Corps needs to take into account how successful an applicant might be and exhibiting culturally taboo body stuff can definitely impede success. From the thoughtfulness of your question, it would seem that you are aware of this and would do what you could to compensate if it became necessary (since unlike dreads or piercings- you can’t exactly “undo” a full sleeve of tats).
Next up- how much volunteering do you really need in order to apply? Great question once again and with an added bonus of mentioning that you worked your way through school. So here’s the deal. You have to volunteer.  You just do. There is something about volunteering that is just different. It’s esoteric, I realize, but true nonetheless. Who knows, maybe it’s the work for no pay thing. Maybe it’s the passionate opinionated people. Maybe its something else, but volunteering is it’s own animal. But, there is NO “double-secret” bare minimum of volunteering and better still, you could apply right now and work with your recruiter to find some great volunteer opportunities that would make you a better Peace Corps Volunteer. So, get going on the application and just be sure to state clearly that you haven’t really had as much of a chance to volunteer because you’ve been working your way through school.
Which… ummmm HELLO??? is Fantastic! You have been going to school and working full time for four years. One of the biggest things that recruiters look for is demonstrated dedication and perseverance- that’s 2 things I realize but you get the point. This is a major accomplishment and should not be minimized. It shows that you have been able to take on several challenges and succeed at both. No matter what happens- may I just say congrats to you!
Actually, this reminds me of something I used to tell my applicants all the time. There is a question that asks you about cross cultural experiences and I would often get asked whether you had to have lived abroad for it to qualify. And here’s what I would say…. I grew up on Long Island so if you were from upstate New York, or Ohio, or Pennslyvania or anywhere BUT Long Island and you showed up for college and your freshman roommate was from L.I.- trust me, that’s a cross cultural experience. You needn’t have schlepped all over Europe in order to feel cultured. We just want to know that you’ll be able to view life from a different perspective from what you are used to. Your question reminds me of this because both questions usually came from people like you (and me- as it happens) who were working their way through school. In fact, my work-study in college was working in the athletic department “cage”- which means I washed dirty sweat socks for four years-an honest living and a cross cultural experience to boot.
I hope this helps and I really hope that you’ll keep me posted with your progress. Good luck and Happy New Year!
Concetta
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Hi Concetta,
Forgive me for leaving a comment, but I couldn’t find an alternative on this website.
I have a few questions about the application/process:
1. How necessary is it to have previous volunteer experience before applying?
2. Due to low blood pressure, I cannot tolerate cold climates very well, can I request a warmer region?
3. I’m thinking about switching careers, from IT to teaching. Are there many ‘transitioners’ in the program?
Thank you!
AZ
I would like to join the Peace Corp however I’m worried that I won’t be a competitive enough candidate. I start my senior year of college at the end of August, so I still have about a year before I’d be ready to leave the country, which means I have time to be become more competitive.
Here are the things that might hinder my application:
I have a low GPA, my overall GPA is only a 2.32 (I attended community college first, so my university GPA is a 2.47).
I need to have some dental work done (when in the process would I have the medical/dental exam done?)
I’ve done some volunteer work in HIV/AIDS education but not much, I was actually an admin assistant at a non-profit that did HIV/AIDS education and testing within the Asian and Pacific Islander community in San Francisco.
I’ve applied to be a literacy volunteer at the local library (would that be helpful volunteer experience?)
I work at Kumon (an after-school enrichment program that focuses on reading and math), will that be helpful?
In 2004 I attempted suicide and I’m currently seeing a therapist (although I’m on no medication), will that hurt me?
In 2004 I was 19, my parents are divorced, my aunt died when I was in 6th grade and my Papa in 8th and I didn’t have any adult guidance in how to handle my emotions and grief because I had absentee parents. I worked all most full-time while attending community college and juggling 15 units a semester which resulted in at least one failed class a semester. When I transfered to a 4-year university, I was working full-time and going to school full-time and I failed half of my classes. I’m now focused on going to school full-time and last semester my GPA was a 3.0. Also, it wasn’t until I was trying to transfer to University that I was diagnosed with a math learning disability, which accounts for the three math classes I failed at community college.
I would love nothing more than to volunteer and I have never given up in the face of difficulties, so I’ve got perseverance down. I could see the Peace Corp being able to work with one of my weak areas, but when you put them all together I feel like an overall weak candidate even though it is something I’d really like to do. What can I do to make my application stronger?
Thank you!
Hey,
I was just wondering, when you say college degree, are AA’s included in that? Does an associate count as a degree?
I’m an avid volunteer and I’m about done with my associates, would I qualify for the Peace Corps? Or when you say college degree, is that just 4 year+?
Thanks so much!
I received my first mortgage loans when I was very young and this helped my business very much. However, I require the commercial loan as well.
This entry blew away a huge weight off of my shoulder. I was worried that my focus on growing up in the north and attending school in the south (about 3000 miles difference) and the cultural changes I had to adapt to would reflect poorly on me. I thought it might make it seem like I hold an unrealistic perception of culture shock as I was only immersed in a culture of my same country of origin.
As for “skin,” I have yet to ink myself up but I do have my septum pierced. However, it can be easily hidden with a flesh colored plug as it’s only an 8g.
Now, my main concern, that I never considered until coming across it while reading Peace Corps rejection stories, is that I am a strict vegan. In my oblivious, Westernized thinking, I never thought about the possibility of being offered meat and having to turn it down and how this might exude the wrong idea. I still have a year until I get my Bachelor’s degree and thus, have a year to contemplate what I would do should this situation arise. I’ve been looking forward to volunteering abroad, through the Peace Corps, and coming across this dilemma is heart-breaking. As of now, I am torn between the prospect of crying hysterically because I just willfully ate an animal and flooding the local estuary or river with my tears because I let down the locals I was working with by saying “no” to a gift of meat.
Hello,
So I hope writing this here is alright. I am not sure where else to do it. So here it goes:
When I was a teenager I had gotten in a bit of trouble…
I have been to D.T for a felony, but a year after that I had gotten better, and tried to stay out of trouble.
I did get in trouble again right before I turned 18, but only because I didn’t stop my friend from shoplifting.
Now, I am 19. I have gotten my act together, and tried to get better friends. For a long time I didn’t get in trouble. I have been working and going to school to help keep me busy. Unfortunately, I got a DUI recently i wasn’t drunk, but being under 21 and from Utah I got in some trouble.
I really am trying to be a better person, and more than anything I want to help out and volunteer. My record doesn’t look like I am a very good kid/adult, but I am. Usually I just have to learn mistakes the hard way.
I was looking over the Peace Corps website, and there is a determined time you have to wait before applying when you get in trouble, but I want to know how badly my record has affected my chances for ever being a volunteer. I want to finish school which will be in three years before I apply so I know I have some time, but do I even have a chance?