What are the chances of getting into peace corps?

Considering joining the Peace Corps?

• I'm 26 and in grad school currently. I have one more semester left (I finish in December). After that, I will be ready to get a job, or start my life, etc. I was considering the Peace Corps. Yes, I will have nearly $50K in education debt (all government loans) but I hear that the Peace Corps can defer them. As an undergrad I majored in multimedia journalism. I'm getting my Master's in Information Science. I know all about web design and graphic design, and how to use programs like Word, MS Office, etc. I've worked as a web designer before, but I have no previous volunteer experience and I'm on the shy/introverted side. But I really want to help others in this area. Do I have any chance at all in getting into the Peace Corps? I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to improve my communication skills, but it won't happen overnight. I think the Peace Corps would actually be a way to help me do so... So what are my chances of getting in? What do I need to do to improve them?

• Answer:

  Education wise you a fine, if you are an American Citizen you might qualify. Prior Community Service is a plus but not required. But honestly, I would suggest you start volunteering now. Because you will be completely ineffective if you are a shy volunteer. I have seen a lot of people who are shy an introverted fail dismally at Peace Corps. Their communities either overwhelm them or they don’t engage people and they don’t get anything done. You can request a more structured post, where you are given a classroom to teach in. But if you get put in a rural post, where you need to determine your assignemtn it helps to be outgoing. So try to do some community service and get out there and work on your communication skills. Do something that forces you to be outgoing. It will help make your Peace Corps Service more meaningful.