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Why to Join Peace Corps?

Can I join the Peace Corps after High School?

  • I know...there are already plenty of these questions posted, but I still feel it would benefit me more if I asked the question my own way and got my own answers. My plan is to go to college to become a criminal psychiatrist (criminal profiler, whatever you prefer to call it). Recently I've been reading that the Peace Corps typically doesn't go for people who have yet to go to college. This I can understand, however, I feel if I went right after high school, for say a year, then went to college, it would be more fulfilling then waiting until after I have been to college. Of course there are many reasons why I would like to join the Peace Corps, but once I start college, I don't see myself taking time out to join. Anyway, my question is, is any one aware of any areas or opportunities regarding Peace Corps that would except a high school graduate who hasn't gone to college? With that in mind, if my focus in high school was mainly on science, for example, and I've maintained a fairly good grade in that area, could that benefit me in joining before college? Thanks so much in advance!

  • Answer:

    Go to the PC Web site and read their three goals. You will note the first one is to send TRAINED people overseas. The entire point of the program is to transfer skills. Without education or extensive work experience, you are not capable of transfering knowledge. That is why 90 percent have four-year college educations, at least. The remaining 10 percent has 2-year degrees and/or a world of experience. As in decades or so. Also, Peace Corps doesn't really care about your "fulfilment." That's not to sound mean, but the organization exists to teach skills, not further your agenda. It certainly can, but it's a two-way thing. Sorry, you're not qualified yet.

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No. A. You would not be emotionally prepared. Trust me. I went after college and I should have waited a year or two after that even! B. Plus, to be blunt - what can an 18 year old - who has never experienced the world or higher learning - offer people? What skill can you teach? The Peace Corps is not a vacation. C. The PC will accept people w/o a college degree only if they have had years of experience in a field and have something to offer their host country. I do wish you luck. Your heart is in the right place. Try a short term volunteer opportunity abroad. Go to college and join the Peace Corps in 4 years - they will need you then. Trust me.

Meggan

No you must have a college degree.

They have taken 2 or 3 people right out of high school over the past 50 years, out of the 200,000+ people accepted. All had been helping on their family farm since they could walk, and had stellar leadership records in 4-H. It is a 27-month commitment. You have an except/accept problem. The Peace Corps' mission is to help other countries, not to make American high school graduates feel good about themselves. Other countries want people with a degree or vast experience. 87% or so of all PCVs have a degree. The rest have 10 - 50 years of experience in something a host country asked for. There's a fellow who goes to the same church I do who was a PCV without a degree. He'd been a bee keeper for 20 years. He taught beekeeping all over part of Ethiopia. > it would benefit me more if I asked the question my own way and got my own answers. Why? The answer is the same - You need a degree or vast experience - for you and for everyone else who asks.

Ted Pack

Ditto to everything that everyone else has said. If you don't want to wait so long to do some volunteer work abroad, then perhaps you can consider going through Leave UR Mark in the meantime. That way, you will be able to spend maybe a couple of months after high school is over volunteering in another country...it will look great on your resume and after college is over, you might have a better chance of getting accepted into Peace Corps due to your international experience. Here is their website (it's much shorter term 1-3 months). http://www.leaveurmark.com Good luck!

xEnax

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