My mother is from Madagascar, and I have been there many times. I am drafting my motivation statement for the English Education position in Madagascar, and I'm not sure whether I should emphasize my familiarity with the country and its culture and conditions. To me, it seems like a clear benefit to the program, as I'm less likely to quit and more likely to assimilate easily. Is this a good idea or a bad idea? I'm certainly not framing it as a homecoming, or an opportunity to be close to family

I have severe food allergies but have managed my entire life without problems. Are there really other countries I could go to?

First of all, instead of talking to me on here you should just connect with your local recruiter instead at https://www.peacecorps.gov/connect/recruiter/peace-corps-volunteer/

But if for some reason you don’t want to do that, or if that hasn’t worked out like you’d hoped, then please feel free to ask me questions here. I’ll be around until my workday ends (4 pm PST) today and I will check in periodically over the weekend as well.

Edit to explain edits: I’ve been typing out answers quickly and am going back in to add more depth on some as I’m able to do so :)

Thanks to everyone who has read and asked questions so far.

I've always wanted to serve the world/my nation in a major way, and I think the Peace Corps is the best path for my future and serving in that way. I graduated with a less than desirable GPA (below a 3.0 but above a 2.5) and no on paper community service experience but have a wealth of experience in everything from construction, landscape/plot design, and general skilled manual labor tasks and a desire to serve. What are my chances of getting a job (preferably in the Ag sector)? What is life like in country? (Africa/Caribbean) What is day to day life like as a Agriculture PCV?

For context i’m a 20 year old single man with no health issues or long term commitments in the US. I’m also a certified welder.

I submitted an application to the Corps yesterday, but how hopeful should I be about being accepted? I applied for the general deployment as I don’t mind where I end up.

I'm interested in serving the Peace Corps and I want to leave by next year but I'm torn on which countries to choose because I think they all will be beneficial to me and in my growth.

I just don't know how likely I'll get in to my selected countries.

1). The Philippines 2). The entire region of Latin American 3). Morocco

I applied for a PCR position and received a rejection email that said this:

"While you were not considered a competitive candidate for the Academic English Language Instructor position, you are a competitive candidate for other positions within Peace Corps Response."

Is this something they say to all candidates or should I take to mean that I should actually search through and consider other PCR positions? This position seemed incredibly tailored to me - I was a triple major in undergrad and this hit all 3 of them 😂

I finished and submitted my application right after graduating this semester, and I'm both very excited and very anxious about chances. Just wanted to share my excitement with people who have gone through the same process :)

Hello!

I was recently given conditional invitation to serve to Paraguay, I applied for this country and am excited about it, and accepted. However, I saw on the voulenteer openings that there was a position in Costa Rica, I think it would match up with my skills and the depart date would be better for me. I have emailed my placement officer twice wondering what the process is to switch but they still have not gotten back to me (it been a week since the second email). I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to go about this. I just want to know if it is possible to be switch, I am worried about not getting a postiton at all if I reneg but I really feel like Costa Rica would be a much better fit for me.

Hi! I’m looking into peace corps applications right now for post grad (I graduate in May), and I would like to leave September/October. I know there are a bunch of dates open for September right now, but the deadline for everything is in 3 days (Jan 1). I totally should have looked into this earlier, which is 100% on me. I know they also do rolling applications and open things quarterly, so I was wondering if I should try and get my application in for this cycle for more opportunities to leave in September, or wait to be slightly more competitive after the new applications open up after the 1st? I just don’t want to be stuck with only having good options to leave in December or January of next year. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thank you:)

My application is currently being reviewed so I have not been denied yet. I was just thinking about routes I could take in the event of being denied. Are there any private organizations that do similar work in other countries that I could look into?

My partner and I got our interviews locked down for next Thursday! Really hoping we do well and look forward to a departure past our college graduation.

Any tips on the interview process? Any part of it influenced by the position you applied for or is it more general? So excited (and a bit nervous!)

How will history of rehab affect my application? Hi all, I am a 24 year old man with a bachelors in Business Information Systems (probably not the best field for PC but I’m ambitious). I am not bilingual but I love to learn.

I have always been interested in Peace Corps from hearing stories from a family friend who served in Haiti in the 90s. She was very enriched by her experience, despite the fact that she saw a man stuck burned to death inside a pile of tires. She was actually kicked out (not sure if by PC or Haiti government, I need to ask for the story again).

I wanna do PC because I’m at a pivotal point in my life, but I know I want to meet people who live differently. I am social and charismatic, I truly love forming bonds and learning about others. I am confident I can be a good ‘mascot’ for America (because I do love our country, despite its many, MANY problems). I am a writer and if I can do PC I wanna make my new book about my experience (to be clear, this is NOT my primary motivation but a perk).

But there are some problems: I have a non-extensive history of mental health hospitalizations. I understand will make my PC journey an uphill battle (even more than it already was) and I probably won’t not get in for at least a few years but I really wanna try.

Here’s the background: about two years ago someone I was VERY close to (truly loved him like a brother) put his shotgun to his head and tragically took his life💔Of course, his death has profoundly affected me but I can honestly say that after 22 months of reflection, I have ABSOLUTELY no issues with depression OR anxiety and am as happy as possible.

But let me explain the hospitalizations:

-About a year and half ago I was committed into two psych wards (4 days and then 21 days) for drug-induced delirium and insomnia. It was NOT an addiction, but something I only took once (stay away from gas station acid, it will fuck you up)

-About two months ago (REALLY recent, I know) my family basically forced into rehab for synthetic cannabis addiction. I was acting like a tweaker: acting manic as fuck (my psychiatrist says he strongly believes I’m not bipolar but that’s how I was acting due to the drug), getting kicked out of businesses, evicted from my apartment for reckless driving, fair-weather gf left me, and losing everything. Scaring my friends and family, which I regret.

Although this was very recent, I strongly believe I am stable because i have not touched a drug since I’ve gotten out, not even alcohol (i know it hasn’t been that long tho). I was never really into hard drugs, but rehab made me realize that being totally substance free has brought to the surface more mental clarity, confidence, and ambition than I ever thought was inside of me. I am actually so thankful I went there to realize this and I go to alumni meetings every week.

I know PC isn’t big on addicts (especially recently reformed ones), but is there any outside chance I could make the argument I wasn’t actually addicted and only went because my family basically forced me to? But still explain it as a positive experience, of course.

I am currently taking Trazodone for sleep but I am considering talking to my doctor and stopping it, as I genuinely believe it is only a placebo effect anyways. I don’t need it to function.

I take responsibility for my past. I have tried my damned hardest to use my friend’s death and my psych hospitalizations as fuel to better myself, but I understand these issues will likely make it hard for me to get into PC for AT LEAST few years but I’m really hoping to make it happen.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Would it hurt to reach out and ask for an update on my application? I applied a few weeks ago, but have not heard back on the status of my application.

This is just my personal clearance timeline, for anyone who it may help give an idea of the process for. Timelines can vary a lot, and it's a long frustrating process.

6/11/23 - Originally applied for PC Thailand as a TESS volunteer
6/20/23 - Contacted for interview
6/26/23 - Interview for Thailand
7/12/23 - Invited to serve in Thailand
7/14/23 - Passport application mailed out
7/24/23 - Passport application received and processing
8/9/23 - Dental clearance
8/17/23 - Legal received fingerprints (don't remember when I mailed them sorry)
8/22/23 - Rejected by medical for mental health reasons
8/28/23 - Submitted appeal for medical clearance
10/18/23 - Appeal rejected by medical. Advised by nurse to reapply when I've reached 1 year stability on one issue, and 5 years stability on another

10/22/23 - Applied for PC Mongolia as I would meet the stability timelines by departure, but not at the time of applying. Figured it couldn't hurt to apply
10/26/23 - Invited to interview for Mongolia
11/2/23 - Interviewed for Mongolia
11/13/23 - Invited to serve in Mongolia, did not need to resend fingerprints or passport documents.
1/30/24 - Rejected my medical again for mental health. Did not appeal this time.

6/16/24 - Reapplied to PC Thailand as a YinD volunteer
7/24/24 - Invited to interview
7/31/24 - Interview for Thailand
8/2/24 - Invited to serve, did not need to resubmit passport documents but did resend fingerprints
10/2/24 - Legal received fingerprints
11/13/24 - Legal clearance obtained
11/21/24 - Dental clearance obtained
11/22/24 - Medical clearance obtained!!

I'm so excited to be leaving this January for Thailand! If anyone has questions about my timeline I'd be happy to answer, but mostly I just wanted to put this out there for anyone who's applying and wants an idea of how varied the times between applying and interviewing, etc. can be.

I recently submitted my application on the January 1st deadline and have not heard anything back. I definitely do not expect anything back, the thought of not being accepted has definitely crossed my mind. The position I applied for departs in September 2025, so I was wondering if it would be worth it to reapply during the February deadline. Have no update on application status or anything, and I applied to a position in Peru. Thank you :)

For reference I am in my last semester of University doing a Major in Global Affairs, Minor in Foreign Language and certificate of Legal Studies. I am an officer in one organization, and president of another one which I am starting. One organization is for empowerment of women, which deals with culture volunteering and raising money, also touching into deep issues. The one I am starting is an Italian organization. I am also doing a legal internship as well as working in an office dealing with conduct as an assistance. (been working for about 3 years in the office).

Does anyone know when applications open for January 2026 or later?

My partner and I have been together for four years and have lived together for three. We have moved across the country together, and supported each other through some pretty intense family trouble. We individually have interest in serving, but for slightly different reasons. My question is, is there a statistical difference in placement for long term, unmarried couples vs married couples? Any experience or advice is helpful. Edit: for clarity, we are interested in serving together

Typo in title lol - meant to say PCV’s

Recently applied to a special needs educator role in North Macedonia (departure sept. 2025). Would love to hear any information from current PCV’s or RPCV’s about what it is like in country!

Also- if anyone else has applied for the option positions in North Macedonia departing sept. 2025- have you received interview invitations?

so I recently submitted my application for a youth development facilitator position in Peru. I submitted my medical info the day after that. The status still does not say it is under review what does this mean and when should I expect it to be under review? Also anyone else on here apply for that position as well?

I was originally applying for the community economic developerI am applying for a community environmental promoter wondering how different roles work and how much of a difference they make.

Hello all! I have a question for those that this pertains to. I was put under consideration for an English Teacher position in Sri Lanka for September 2025, and was recently offered an interview. I selected ‘apply where I am needed most’ in my application, but tried to convey that I wanted to be placed in a Spanish-speaking country, because I have the most language and cultural competency in these countries/regions. I currently live in Spain teaching at a primary school, and wanted to continue doing something similar through Peace Corps. I have heard nothing but amazing things about Sri Lanka, and I am still considering going through with it, but I was really hoping I would get placed in a Spanish speaking country. I’m sad to admit that I am much more hesitant to go through with volunteering if Sri Lanka is where I am placed. My main question is, can I communicate this in my upcoming interview and request to be relocated, or is it too far gone? I really want to convey this because I do really want to serve, but am unsure how to go about it. Any and all advice is appreciated, thank you all!

hello guys, I'm very worried because I need to complete the tdap vaccinations but I won't be able to get the third one on time before departure and the nurse said that tdap isn't available in my country of service (Rwanda). does anyone know if this is going to prevent me from being able to go for service? we depart in may. I'm planning to set up a time to schedule a meeting with my travel nurse to discuss this. has anyone had issues like this? if so, what are normally the outcomes?