Americorps: How competitive is it?

Parents Forum
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<p>I’m assuming that it’s somewhat less competitve than TFA, but I could be wrong. I expect applications may be up given the economy, but that this will be somewhat balanced by the influx of Recovery money recently awarded to the program. I’m considering doing this for a year if I fail to get in grad school next year, as it would be good prep for what I want to do, provides health insurance, and I’ve been impressed with my dealings with program as a CampusCorps member.</p>

<p>Any other thoughts would be appreciated as well!</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>This article indicates that Americorps has a 25% acceptance rate./ [Post-Grad</a> Volunteering | Imprint Magazine](<a href=“http://www.imprintmagazine.org/life_and_style/post_grad_volunteering]Post-Grad”>http://www.imprintmagazine.org/life_and_style/post_grad_volunteering)</p>

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<p>Competitiveness varies depending on the program you apply to. With AmeriCorps, you apply to specific programs that you are interested in, so you are only competing against other people who applied for those specific programs. You don’t apply nationally, like TFA. There are three general AmeriCorps programs (NCCC, State, and VISTA) so make sure you look into the differences of each one. Some examples: NCCC do 2 months in 5 locations, State does direct service (like tutoring), and VISTA does indirect service (“capacity building”). VISTA also gives you noncompetitive status with the federal government for a year after you finish, if that would be of benefit to you.</p>

<p>My program currently has ~50 applicants and 4-5 spaces that will turn over / be filled this summer.</p>

<p>Each program is VERY different, and some are better run than others (like… the one in California that made the news, and i’m sure it’s not the only one like that).</p>

<p>I wanted to point this out: The Recovery money is not leading to the creation of more AmeriCorps positions, at least not in my state/area. They are actually taking away permanent AmeriCorps positions, and turning them into Recovery positions so they can use the money, because they have to use it one year. At my office we are wary of getting the normal positions back after the year. We wanted to expand and take on more locations, but we aren’t going to be able to do it since there is not actually an increase in available money.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the info, though I already knew about the Visita/NCC/State distinction (I’m a CampusCorps Americorps member currently). If it helps, I want to apply in the rural, “unpopular” areas (eg., ND, SD, WY, AK, ID), so I probably wouldn’t be applying to the most popular sites.</p>

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<p>The rural unpopular areas have now become popular because of the lower cost of living in those areas. This means that the stipend money, ~1100/month for a Vista (who also “on-call” 24/7) or ~900/month for Americorp can go further.</p>

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<p>No, it’s getting more competitive than TFA because not all locations require that you have a degree completed. That and TFA has a minimum GPA requirement for the Bachelor’s degree. Most Americorps agencies that I’ve applied to have either not answered at all, answered telling me that they’re receiving 1,000+ applications per each vacancy just like everything else in this economy, or rejected me outright because I’m applying out of state even though they’re supposed to at least allow for relocation if not pay for it. And they’re taking forever to get back to people just like everything else in this economy. And some of them are telling me it’s “unprofessional” to enquire about the status of your application and as to why it’s taking so long. Maybe the rural areas in the South might be better, think “where no one else in their right mind should want to go,” sort of thing.</p>