Applying to the Peace Corps – If you want to go to a certain country, call a travel agent

I decided to apply to the Peace Corps in November ‘97, applied in December ‘97, interviewed in Jan ‘98 and left in May ‘98.

I think that’s faster than many people.  Some of the other volunteers had waited two years or more to be assigned and leave for their assignment.  Some had been rejected and reapplied.  I knew many people who couldn’t get in and joined AmeriCorps.  Some people couldn’t even apply because their debt was too high and you actually have to be in reasonably good financial standing (student loans will be on hold while you’re serving but other debt will not).

The initial application was quite lengthy.  You can walk through an application online at the peacecorps.gov website.

Once you jump through the first hoop, then it’s a race to complete all of the other application materials. 

More to come

Medical Questionnaire