<p>Has anyone here had any experience with Peace Corps? Our DD, who graduated from college in May 2010 with a major in Social Justice and minor in French, is taking a gap year and had planned to go back to school this fall for her masters in Development Practice and a law degree (dual degree program). She has been working two jobs and is very involved in volunteer work, as well. She procrastinated and did not take the LSAT until December 10. She got her score back yesterday and is very disappointed with what I found to be a respectable 162. </p>
<p>Before she ever applied to college, the agreement was that DH and I would take care of undergraduate costs and she would be responsible for anything beyond that. Her LSAT score has really caused her to question whether or not she should continue with the application process for school this fall. Additionally, she is suddenly thinking about her financial future which will probably include student loans of $200K (four years to obtain dual degrees). She has always expressed an interest in working with Peace Corps, but just didn’t see a time that it could happen. She did some research last year at this time in Rwanda and is interested in returning there or going to another area in Africa to serve in the Peace Corps for two years. According to DD, they offer a stipend, health and dental insurance, and some school loans are partially forgiven. Additionally, after 27 months of service, she would received $7,400+ to “transition” back to living in the states. I know she told me if she served two years, they would also pay $10k per year for three years toward grad/law school. </p>
<p>I was just wondering if any of you could share a personal story (good or bad) about Peace Corps. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I don’t know anyone who’s actually done it, but you can actually earn you Master’s Degree via the Peace Corps…you study for a year at a partner school and then do a full 26 months abroad. You can get more info about it on their web site.</p>
<p>I don’t know the details of the Peace Corps program, and specifically the post-service benefits, but 2 of my son’s best friends, my daughter’s friend and the niece of one of my close friends all served in Africa. Though none of them felt it was the experience they hoped it would be, all completed their commitments. I think you can request a general location for placement, but did not get the impression that you can apply to a specific country. None of them will unequivocally say that if given the chance to do it again, they would. </p>
<p>As for her thoughts on applying to law school with the 162, I applaud her for being thoughtful. A 162 is unlikely to get her into one of those schools where a high paying job is a sure thing, unless she has something very unique in her application that would counteract the LSAT score. However, if she is applying for a formal dual-degree program, where the law degree is not necessarily the path to her future, but a complimentary degree to make her more qualified for her development interests, then it may still be a good idea. This is all assuming the LSAT score will make her eligible for the program she is interested in. Most dual degree programs require separate admission to both programs.</p>
<p>DD is in the Peace Corps in Rwanda. She is just beginning her assignment. </p>
<p>I would suggest that your daughter talk to a Peace Corps recruiter. They are very helpful and are all over the country. The recruiter will tell her the process (although you can read it on the PC website). </p>
<p>You submit your application and then would be invited for an interview. After the interview, your application either moves forward…or not. If it does, there are a ton of forms to complete, health forms and the like. It is time consuming…really is. Those get submitted and if your health stuff clears, they will then do a security clearance (somewhere along the way DD got fingerprinted). At that point, the recruiter will “nominate” you for a position. This does NOT mean you will get that position, only that your application will now move forward.</p>
<p>Then the waiting begins…it can take up to a year for you to receive a posting from the time you file your application. You do not get to choose the specific country you want to go to. PC does the choosing. They told DD that she could make a specific request but this would limit her options considerably and there was no guarantee they could honor any requests. DD did her application in August 2009 and got her appointment in August 2010. She departed 2011.</p>
<p>PC does provide medical coverage to its volunteers. Re: loans…15% of a Perkins loan cancels for each year of service in PC. Stafford loans are deferred only, not cancelled.</p>
<p>Volunteers get a living allowance while in the PC and a relocation allowance when they return (about $7000). No one does it for the money!!</p>
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<p>This is not a benefit that is automatically given to each PC volunteer that goes to grad school. </p>
<p>We have a family history with many PC volunteers and every one of them really found their experience to be an outstanding one that changed their lives.</p>
<p>You can send me a PM and I’ll give you more details. I will say, if your daughter gets accepted to the PC, Africa is where the MOST volunteers are posted.</p>
<p>I’ve known several young people who did it. I’m sure most will tell you it’s a life-changing experience but sometimes people romanticize what it’s going to be like before they actually do it and end up disappointed.</p>
<p>A friend’s son recently finished his assignment in Africa (can’t remember which country). He was basically by himself (no other PC volunteers with him), living in a tent, no internet, no electronics, very little contact with his family. He also came down with malaria (despite the shots). I think he would do it again but you have to mentally prepared going in. There are blogs and forums out there populated by people who have done it or are in the middle of their assignments. Have her research it. When I started reading up on it (something I always wanted to do - they will take you no matter what your age), I was surprised by the realities of the living conditions on many assignments and some of the less-than-fulfilling assignments. Doesn’t mean she shouldn’t do it but I think it’s helpful to know what you are getting yourself into.</p>
<p>Yes…the person should be aware of the changes in their lifestyle and living conditions. DD has no running water, no electricity, and she is still learning a very complicated language. She is the only PC volunteer within a half hour of her site…and that is not easy travel! With the use of cell phones and internet, it’s very easy in most countries to maintain contact with other PC volunteers in the country. Remarkably, even though they have no power, they DO have wireless internet country wide where she is…and cell service.</p>
<p>PC does an EXCELLENT job during the three month training period of helping the volunteers understand and adjust to their new culture and homes. We were very impressed with what DD reported.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the replies so far. This is something she had researched at length at this time last year and made several connections. She didn’t follow through with the process at that time because she thought that we (DH and I) would be vehemently opposed. She is our only child and, admittedly, it would be very difficult for us to have her so far from home for such a long period of time, but we are fully supportive of whatever decision she makes. She didn’t get to visit much when she was in school 6 1/2 hours away. She studied abroad for a semester and has done some international travel, so we’ve had short periods of time without seeing her, but two years would be difficult for us. </p>
<p>We asked her if a law degree is necessary for what she wants to do in the future. She has told us since tenth grade she wants a law degree and she told us last night she feels just as strongly about that now as ever. Northeastern and Brandeis offer a dual degree JD/MA in Sustainable International Development. That has been her top choice, and Columbia, Emory and University of Denver are also on the list of schools that have top programs in Development Practice or Sustainable International Development. She would like to work for the USAID (United States Agency for International Development). I know the 162 really threw her for a loop. She has consistently scored in the top one percent of test takers all her life. Unfortunately, she procrastinated in studying for the LSAT and took it at the last minute in order to get law school applications in this month. She missed three questions in the reading comprehension section, two questions in the analytical reasoning section, three questions in the logical reasoning section, but ten in the logical games section which is where she crashed and burned. </p>
<p>She plans to speak with a Peace Corps recruiter early in the week as well as a couple of professors from her alma mater who have law degrees and are very familiar with her and what she wants to do in the future. I want to be supportive, but it sure makes me worry when I read about other Peace Corps volunteers living in tents, having no electricity, no internet and little contact with their families. Whatever decision she makes, DH and I will support her.</p>
<p>DD is in her last 7 months of the 27 months. She was just home for the first and only time during her service and it was fully at her cost; the PC does not provide trips home during service.</p>
<p>The stipend varies depending on the country but isn’t a whole lot. Health and dental aren’t insurance per se; they see PC doctors and dentists. I think it is covered if you need to be sent to the states for any reason though several people have had minor surgery overseas. The doctors make rounds of the sites in their areas of responsibility.</p>
<p>I thought the transition allowance was more like $6000, but could be off some. It is also taxable. I have never heard of them paying towards grad/law school, nor of loan forgiveness, just deferrals. She did one year of grad school before she went over via Master’s International and will finish when she comes back. That program guarantees in-state rates for the school, but not an out and out payment. You still have to pay the in-state rate. </p>
<p>As Thumper said, the application process is about a year long. A lot of people are turned down for medical reasons alone. There are also security clearances and the jobs of relatives and friends can affect your eligibility to serve because of security concerns.</p>
<p>You do not get to pick your country, or region of the world. DD ended up in a region that was not on her list at all. She is not in Africa.</p>
<p>DD has running water where she lives, but only for about 2 hours a day. There is no tub, no shower, no heat, no a/c - not even fans. Her unlimited internet became limited all of sudden and no one can tell them why. You live with a host family who is paid a stipend for room & board. After a time, you can move out on your own, but she said a lot of people have trouble with that where she is since there are very few apartments, etc.</p>
<p>A friend of older Ds was in the Peace Corps at a fairly young age, since she skipped high school & went right to college.
She was in the " larger region" of where she was interested, but they spoke a totally different language than what she had prepared for.
Even though most volunteers do not go home during their term of service, they can receive visitors.
This young woman loved it so much, she stayed for another year after her term was up & is now working towards more of an international career.</p>
<p>My younger daughter is very interested in peace corps & you wouldn’t know it from the energy she spends on " fashion" but she doesn’t have a problem with no electricity or running water.</p>
<p>She experienced both while she was living in Ghana & Tamil Nadu ( although she was very bad & didn’t take her malarone when she was in Tamil Nadu " because no one does". )
don’t you love it when 18 yr olds know * everything* :rolleyes: As far as I know there is not a vaccine against malaria- yet.</p>
<p>My aunt lived in Patankot for 40 some years communicating with her family by letter & only coming to the US every 4 years or so. My grandmother was you could say * not so happy* even though as a missionary, my grandmother could not criticize her decision.</p>
<p>From what I have heard, PC will try & give you the continent you are interested in, but the specific skills needed may be different than your own, the region may be opposite from where you thought you were going & you will likely be stationed as the only Peace Corp rep in the area.
Not what you expected- but I have heard it is a great experience anyway.</p>
<p>( I would love to do it myself- but I don’t have a college degree- however there are many other volunteer opportunities that I am exploring)</p>
<p>I saw a family friend yesterday, a young man I have known since preschool days. He just returned from Peace Corps service in Cameroon. When I asked how he liked it, he said, “It had its ups and downs.” His father and mother visited him there, and the dad said the parents loved it on their visit. This young man was translating something with his French/English dictionary, so it must have improved his language skills. </p>
<p>Another family friend, also from preschool, served in an Asian country, Thailand maybe? He had a positive experience. Another young friend from our church is serving in Africa with a church mission group for two years. Is that something your D would consider?</p>
<p>Re: housing…this must vary from country to country as well. DD is living in an apartment that is part of a compound. It was approved by the PC BEFORE she moved in. She will be there for the full two years (it’s not like there are rentals readily available in her village…and moving would be a headache). There is a very nice family that lives in the other 2/3 of her house. </p>
<p>PC pays for travel to the country at the beginning of service and then home at the end. No other travel is paid for by the PC. However, if a PCV opts for a third year of service, my understanding is they can come home before the third year at the PC’s expense.</p>
<p>Cap…that stipend is about $7000 when they return to the U.S. While it’s “taxable”, the reality is if that is the ONLY income the PCV earns in that year, it is below the threshold where they will owe any taxes.</p>
<p>Cap…that stipend is about $7000 when they return to the U.S. While it’s “taxable”, the reality is if that is the ONLY income the PCV earns in that year, it is below the threshold where they will owe any taxes.</p>
<p>good point-
plus since Peace corps is so rigorous both in the application process & in what is required of the worker, this ( IMO) will add a tremendous depth to further job or school applications. ( which is a side benefit, but like the military, shouldn’t be undertaken unless the actual service is what you are interested in)</p>
<p>A college roommate of S1 is currently in his third year in Panama. Enjoying it, and enjoying have his college loans deferred. </p>
<p>OP, it seems to me that even with “only” a 162 on the LSAT, having PC experience will add a considerable panache to her application. In addition, while she’s waiting to be approved by the PC, there’s nothing to prevent her from studying and taking the LSAT again.</p>
<p>A young friend of mine is currently in a South American country in the Peace Corp. She is an engineer by training (top university, supurb grades) who had a few years of engineering work experience before joining the Peace Corp. My observation based on her Facebook posts and talking with her mom is that the Peace Corp is really wasting her talents… she is teaching English to little kids and is supposed to work on some sustainable farming methods with the villagers.</p>
<p>BUT, for someone just out of undergrad with a non-technical major (like the OP’s daughter), that might be a great experience.</p>
<p>PC applicants have LOTS of talents. Just as they do not get to choose their country of placement, they also do not get to choose their “assignment”. My DD is also an engineer. She double majored in biology. She will be teaching biology. BUT she could have been assigned to teach English which is what most educational PC volunteers do.</p>
<p>BUT every PC volunteer is required to undertake a secondary project that they choose themselves. My DD plans to use some of her “other talents” for her secondary project. It might relate to engineering and it might relate to health (she is also a certified EMT). It will depend on what she learns about her village and the needs there.</p>
<p>I really do appreciate all the information that’s been posted here. I’ve encouraged her to come to this site and read this thread, and I know she’ll continue to research her options. Like EK, I believe service with PC would add depth to her grad/law school applications, especially considering her desire to work in international development as a career. Working in a mission group isn’t something that would interest DD, bookiemom, as she is an agnostic. I agree that should she decide to apply to PC, it would be good to study and retake the LSAT during the waiting months. Again, thank you for all the replies, both here and through private messages. I love CC!</p>
<p>Cap…that stipend is about $7000 when they return to the U.S. While it’s “taxable”, the reality is if that is the ONLY income the PCV earns in that year, it is below the threshold where they will owe any taxes. >></p>
<p>Right. But DD had to pay some tax on her '09 portion because of earnings and dividends before she left. The PC helps them with a taxable allowance calculator each year to see what if anything is taxable. So volunteers could be paying tax on portions that are not for full calendar years. </p>
<p>I just threw it out there as something else to be aware of.</p>