What are my chances of getting accepted in the peace corps?

Peace Corps?

• I have just submitted my application to the Peace Corps. What's the chances of me getting accepted with the following qualifications: Bachelor's from Univ of SC in Accounting Passed 2 of 4 sections of CPA exam. (will complete by Dec) Raised on a beef cattle farm. Many years experience with general agricultural, plumbing, and carpentry duties. Lack of qualifications/experience: -No foreign language education -No service in volunteer organization

• Answer:

  I'll give you the secret. If you want to join...like its your dream, goal, drive.....and you apply, stick with the process and don't drop out on your own accord.....then you will be accepted. They give a really low acceptance rate number, but they don't tell you that most of those people that "were not accepted" actually dropped out of the process on their own because their hearts weren't in it, they got a job they couldn't pass up, decided to go back to school, or whatever other reason may come up. The other people who don't get accepted usually have extreme medical conditions that the PC can't reasonably accommodate in another country. Bachelors--check Raised on Cattle Farm--check Handy-Man Abilities--check It sounds like you will be just fine, don't worry. We all do in the beginning of the application process 'til we found out that there is really no reason to worry much. With your background, I imagine they'd put you into Business or Agriculture or Animal Husbandry or Community Development or Water Sanitation. Plenty of options. Your CPA exam doesn't have to be completed before you apply, they'll just ask you to send your scores or whatever in before you leave. They often ask that of people who are finishing college, certifications, course work, etc--just finish it before you leave and show us the paper saying you completed it. You don't necessarily need experience in languages. While sometimes if you want a certain area, it can help to have experience in the language, there are TONS of areas the PC goes to that they would never expect a volunteer to know the language, there are also a good number of English speaking countries. ie. some languages they have that no one would be expected to know, yet they learn them once they arrive: Macedonian, Twi, Kriole, Malagasy, Bambara, Tashlheet....etc etc etc etc....so even people who do have background in languages will more than likely find themselves in a country learning a language 100% different from anything they've ever learned. No volunteering is not really a problem if you can show you've done other stuff. In your case I think your cattle farm/agriculture/plumbing/carpentry is a good beginning substitute. They may request you try to get some work/volunteer experience in whatever work area they nominate you for. ie. they nominated me for Youth Dev. and I have been volunteering at a camp lately, someone for Health might volunteer at the Red Cross. etc. All in all, I think you will be fine. The PC really wants volunteers, and since you are educated and have a "technical" background (so to speak) they will probably really be looking at you--not many people have skills in cattle farming and agriculture, and they really like to see people that do. The only thing I can see them saying is try to get a little bit of volunteer experience after they nominate you and during the rest of the application process. But I really think they tell that to most people. No worries, breathe deep, don't stress! You'll be fine. If you stick with the long process, you'll be accepted! Off on your grand adventure you go, and I wish you the best of luck! Jenna p.s. (DEF check out the first site I list below, it'll be your lifeline. message board can answer and question, and there is an infinite amount of "inside" information in the Files section to the left)