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I sent my application to the PC in January '09, and I finally got my nomination in August '09. I'm nominated for Northern Africa/Middle East (only Morocco and Jordan are in that region) as a business adviser scheduled to leave September 2010. I had my interview over the phone because my regional officer is in Chicago and I live in Kansas City. I found a list of typically asked interview questions on a Peace Corps wiki page and the interview was pretty much word for word. This helped calm my nerves because I wrote bullet points about each question. The interview took like 40 minutes. When I first applied I was really only interested in serving in Eastern Europe. I was really considering going back to school after the PC to get an MBA with a regional focus on Eastern Europe. So when my recruiter asked me where I was interested in serving I told him I had a strong preference for EE/Central Aisa. I asked him if this would hurt my application and he said it was better to pick somewhere you're interested in than risk taking the chance of being send somewhere you would hate. So I limited myself to that region for that round of nominations (May '09). My recruiter call me up on the first week of May and said I didn't get a nomination. There were 10 people for ever spot and even people with MBAs were getting skipped over. He said I would have to wait for the next round on nominations in August. Right before the next round of nominations rolled around I called my recruiter to tell him I was still interested. He then told me that they wouldn't even consider people who state a preference for a specific region and that only people who were 100% open to going anywhere would be considered. I told them to send me anywhere and a week later I got my nomination for Northern Africa/Middle East. I later found out that they don't even offer business advising positions in the Middle East region so that narrows my potential placements down to Morocco. My nomination took so long because: 1) I stated a regional preference at first, 2)I don't speak and foreign languages and 3) my recruiter only felt comfortable nominating me for business advising positions (which is fine because I don't want to teach kids english as my main job). I'm working on my medical junk right now (no health insurance). I got my dental done for free. My medical has been a little tougher. Getting all these blood tests done is expensive without insurance. I called my local health department and they told me they wouldn't do physicals for "work or school" and they also wouldn't do any of my blood work. Then I called the big VA hospital in KC and they said they were too busy to do stuff like this. Then I called the smaller regional VA clinics in the smaller towns within an hour of KC. They wouldn't do anything either. I then called another county health clinic in the county next to mine. And they were really helpful. They agreed to do the physical based on a sliding scale payment plan (I'm in the AmeriCorps so I get paid at the poverty level). Then they agreed to do my lab tests for like 50 bucks. They said that was lower than what they even pay for the tests. She said it should all cost $70-$90. I have to get some other shots (TD and polio) and Tb test so those will cost around $70. So I'm figuring around $200 for all my medical tests. Also, the PC reimburses you up to $125 so hopefully I won't have to pay more than $50-$70 out of pocket. I still need to do my eye exam. I don't wear glasses and my eyesight is fine, so it is annoying that I have to get them tested. Luckily a family friend is an optometrist, so I need to see if she'll do it for free/cheap. Hopefully the medical tests go well. I hear the real horror is when one of your tests is a little off and you jump through hoops to get it all figured out. Liar posted:What happens if they send you off to some random country, and then you just say 'screw this' and leave? Do they court martial you, or are you free to come and go as you see fit? This happens all the time. You just meet with them and talk about it. If you still want to leave they send you home. Omits-Bagels fucked around with this message at 17:06 on Sep 6, 2009 |
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Sep 6, 2009 16:25
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Mr. 47 posted:Question: Working in intel is an automatic denial. Pharmaskittle posted:1. I've been totally cool since, but a couple years ago I was treated for a few months for depression. If they see that on my medical record, is it going to be an issue? I hear the depression issue is a pain in the rear end. I've heard of people mentioned going to one session when they were 12 and having to jump through red tape and cut through hoops just for that. Evil Adam is probably right about them not checking up on your past medical info. But, being in the PC can lead to depression (because of the isolation) so you have to remember that. Its a judgment call on our part. Omits-Bagels fucked around with this message at 16:47 on Sep 7, 2009 |
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Sep 7, 2009 16:27
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On the medical physical, what does the anus/rectum exam entail?
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Sep 8, 2009 01:08
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Evil Adam posted:There is no rectal exam... I mean the anus/rectum check-box on the medical form.
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Sep 8, 2009 03:49
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So I have some anal drama. I got my physical done yesterday and my doctor was perplexed why he needed to do an anal/rectal exam on a 25 year old male. He said it really wasn't necessary so I though he would just mark that all was fine. Well, it turns out that he just marked a line through both normal and abnormal boxes (indicating that he didn't check it). He also marked through the Prostate and Pelvic exam questions the same way. I didn't notice it until I got out to my car and the doctor had already left. And he didn't fill out his physicians license number. Ugg. I assume turning this stuff into the PC office will just result in them sending it back to me. On the bright side my physical, lab work and urinalysis only cost $66 (without insurance).
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Sep 19, 2009 17:39
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Looks like I'm going in on Friday to get a finger up me bum. Two thumbs up!
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Sep 29, 2009 00:10
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CronoGamer posted:Several of the people in my group had either just finished a stint in Americorps or went on to take a position with Americorps after finishing. I think there's a decent amount of overlap between the two. I'm in the Americorps right now and I'm in the process of applying for the Peace Corps (I sent in all my medical stuff a week ago). A girl I did Americorps with just finished her year and she is going into the Peace Corps in like 3 months. I have a question: What did you all go into after your PC service? If you're still in/applying, what do you plan on doing?
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Oct 19, 2009 06:21
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 I guess I passed the medical. The medical went pretty quick, especially considering that I am nominated to leave in September 2010. Here has been my medical clearance process: Mid/Late August 2009 - Received medical packet Mid/late September - finished all my medical/dental paperwork. Then realized that my doctor checked a box wrong and I had to go back in and get that fixed. It took me a while to find people to do my medical stuff for cheap because I didn't have insurance. Early October - Turned in all my finished medical paperwork. Late October - I got a letter back from the PC saying that I needed some followup medical questions. December 4th - I finally get around to getting followup question filled out and faxed in. December 8th - I get medical clearance. So it took 1 day from the time I sent in my final medical questionnaire to get medically cleared. I assumed I wouldn't hear anything for a few months. I guess its time to wait... Omits-Bagels fucked around with this message at 16:54 on Dec 8, 2009 |
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Dec 8, 2009 16:52
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Winna posted:I just got this under mytoolkit Yeah. Everything is normal. They are just looking over your medical junk.
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Dec 10, 2009 02:07
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A little update: I passed my medical mumbo-jumbo about 2 months ago but I went off any got engaged. So I guess the Peace Corps is on hold a bit. But my girlfriend is interested in the PC (she thought about applying about 3 years ago). But she had skin cancer almost 3 years ago so I bet that is going to be a medical clearance nightmare. She keeps trying to call the PC nurse to find out what she needs to do for the skin cancer but no one ever answers. Anything I should know about applying as a married couple?
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Jan 14, 2010 01:20
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Evil Adam posted:I don't know anything about being married (in PC or otherwise) but a friend of mine had skin cancer before his service and was accepted. Took a lot longer, I believe, but he got in. I have a semi-rare heart defect and was let in. You'd be surprised! Do you know if there is a specific amount of time they want you to be "cancer free" before they'll accept you?
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Jan 14, 2010 02:01
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RagnarokAngel posted:Finally got to send my application in (Getting reference from my former places of employment was a nightmare, they were either out of work on sick leave or moved to other jobs) now I wait for an interview. Anything I should know? Even "obvious" stuff like dress, I've never had a real interview before, just bum jobs like gas station worker and stuff. My interview was over the phone. There is a list online of what they'll probably ask you. My interviewer asked them word for word from the list. I don't have the document though.
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Jan 19, 2010 06:16
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Miss Fats posted:What is the money situation for PCVs? Pay? I don't know exact numbers but you are paid at the level of the local population.
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Mar 31, 2010 21:58
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Iwate posted:Alright, so, I am finished with my application online and all my references are in. I wrote mine in like 2 hours (while watching TV). You are wasting your time. I doubt they even read it that closely.
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Apr 14, 2010 02:29
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internetstuff posted:This is a huge relief. I mean, it's not like my PC is contingent upon this issue. It took me a good 6 months from the time I got all my stuff sent in to the time I got my medical packet. Once I turned in my medical stuff it took me like a month to get medically cleared.
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Apr 28, 2010 05:47
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T-Rex Money posted:I've got to say, being on MedEvac really sucks. I've been on MedEvac for one month now, and D.C. has gotten really boring. Thankfully they let me take a week between appointments and go back home with my family. I still have no clue if I'll be able to go back to my post, but things are possibly looking good for the potential of going to a new post. I'm just not too excited about having to go through training and first six months again if I am sent somewhere new. Man, I miss my host country. What do you do all day? Are you free to do whatever you want?
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May 17, 2010 23:11
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You'll get nominated. Some people get theirs a few days after but mine took about a month from my interview.
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Jul 1, 2010 19:50
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Check out health clinics for the poor. I went to one and got all my work done for like $200.
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Jul 13, 2010 04:56
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Mu Cow posted:Figured I would join in the conversation. I'm taking part in the Master's International program through the University of Denver. So I'll be in grad school until June and hopefully starting my Peace Corps service around this time next year. Doing my master's this way is saving me a ton of money, DU is not a cheap school. How much are you saving by doing the MI program? If I go to go back to grad school DU is on the top of my list. Although not related to this thread, what was your background/stats for getting into DU?
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Aug 25, 2010 17:49
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Rush Limbaugh #1! posted:Actually, I was talking to someone who works at the main office in DC yesterday, and they said that they're having problems getting enough volunteers to fill groups. I guess it's bad enough that they're waiving language requirements for areas that traditionally have had them, like Latin America. Maybe if there wasn't a 12-18 month wait it wouldn't be such a problem.
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Sep 7, 2010 18:11
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HeroOfTheRevolution posted:Just as a heads up... if you're applying for the Peace Corps and expect to teach English, you might think about putting in an application for a Fulbright ETA position. The Fulbright name carries a lot of weight, and while it's more competitive than the Peace Corps, the benefits are also better monetarily and it's only 10 months; the money is yours to do with as you choose and the opportunity to do research and travel is greater (you also can live in much better abodes). This is especially true if you're interested in Eastern Europe; Bulgaria (where I am now) expanded their number of ETAs this year and may expand further next year, and some of the new ETA spots will not have many applicants. I think Macedonia just added an ETA, for instance, and I bet there will not be too many applicants. It looks like you need to take the TOEFL exam (and it is already too late to take it for this year). Also, do you need to state that you want to become a teachers? The site seems to say so.
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Sep 11, 2010 22:50
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Riven posted:My wife and I had our interviews over the last two days. Our recruiter told us we should get our nomination in the next few weeks! How has it been applying as a couple? My fiancee and I thinking of applying (when we're married) and I wouldn't mind hearing about your experiences.
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Sep 16, 2010 19:56
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Pocket DeSade posted:I've been hearing so many conflicting reports, from "they're so short-handed that they're forgoing some language requirements" to "they're being super picky since the economy is so bad" If this really stresses you out then maybe the PC isn't right for you.
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Sep 30, 2010 17:37
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I don't remember the exact totals but I went to a local clinic and they did all my tests (physical, blood work and eye exam) for under $100. The shots and stuff were about $70. I got the dental exam for free.
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May 10, 2011 05:58
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