6 reasons to go into the Peace Corps (hint: It's easier than ever)

Daniel Funke | University of Georgia

One question is on the minds of college seniors everywhere: What's next?

RELATED: Which colleges produce the most Peace Corp volunteers?

Get a job, sure. Go to graduate school, another option. There's also one that lets you live in a different part of the world while helping others.

The Peace Corps sends volunteers abroad for two years each to more than 60 countries that have requested U.S. aid, offering the opportunity to help communities in the developing world in areas such as education, health resources and environmental sustainability.

Here are six reasons to consider applying:

1. It’s easier than ever

In the past, prospective Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) had to fill out a very long, complicated application; it could take up to a year to learn whether or not you'd been accepted; and the assigned country would remain a mystery for much of the process. In July all that changed when the Peace Corps announced historic changes to its application process. The online form is doable in under an hour; you can help choose the country you'd like to volunteer in (there are still no guarantees) and what you'd like to do there; and you'll hear within a year about that acceptance.

2. Immersion in another culture

By spending two years in a foreign country -- often living with host families -- PCVs become immersed in ways unheard of when travelling as a tourist. You'll experience day-to-day living first hand, from the highs to the lows.

3. You'll learn a new language (or become fluent in the one you've been studying)

Immersion naturally means volunteers speak that country's language (that can mean drilling down to region-specific dialects). Yes, it's a challenge, but once selected, PCVs undergo a two- to three-month training period during which they receive intensive language instruction from native speakers as well as technical details about their volunteering duties.

A facility with languages also makes you more attractive to prospective employers when you get back to the U.S.

4. Graduate school could cost less

Should you decide graduate school is in your future, having been Peace Corps volunteer can make it more affordable.

Through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, returned PCVs can receive scholarships and stipends as well as internships at more than 80 colleges in the U.S. At some schools, such as Georgia College and State University, Peace Corps veterans can even receive full tuition remission. That’s a pretty good deal considering graduate school programs can cost anywhere between $30,000-$40,000 per year.

5. A Peace Corp stint could help in the job market

According to Peace Corps spokesperson Erin Durney, volunteering makes it easier to get a job at government agencies such as the U.S. Department of State or nonprofit organizations like Doctors Without Borders that value public service and language skills. Want to work at a big company? No problem. In September, President Barack Obama announced the creation of Employers of National Service, an initiative that connects AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni with jobs at participating corporations like Disney, NBC Universal and Comcast.

And don’t worry about housing when you get back. Returning volunteers receive more than $8,000 to help with the transition and job search.

6. Because you can

Think about it — you’re about to graduate college. You have unprecedented freedom to choose your next step. The older you get, the harder it will be to travel abroad (you may not think so, but trust us), so why not start on that bucket list now?





Daniel Funke is a student at the University of Georgia and a spring 2015 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.