SOYOUWANNA JOIN THE PEACE CORPS?

2. APPLY CORRECTLY

Complete the application
Meet for an interview
Get your medical check-ups
Wait for a placement

Complete the application

The first thing you'll learn is that the Peace Corps is indeed a government organization. This becomes very clear when you encounter the bureaucracy that oversees the application process. Just try to get someone on the phone to answer any questions you might have. Don't worry, that's what we're here for. But surprisingly, once you actually do speak to real live people, they are extremely friendly and helpful.

Although there have been recent rumors that Washington is trying to improve the application process, we tend to believe that the annoying application process is a great tool for weeding out prospective volunteers who really shouldn't join up. If you can't make it past the paperwork, then there's a good chance you won't be able to make it past those giant insects you'll have to battle in your bathroom/outhouse/large bush.

And don't forget that you (the party in the first part) are volunteering for an agency of our government (the party in the second part) that was asked by an agency from another government (the party in the third part) to come over and perform a service for still another one of that government's agencies (one or two parties in the third, fourth and possibly fifth part). That last sentence just smacks of government, eh? Not surprisingly, Peace Corps volunteers are exempted from competitive entry for Civil Service jobs upon their return.

Back to the application: so the first main step is to fill out buttloads of paperwork. Go to the Peace Corps web site to check it out. Nothing too outlandishly weird, but there's a lot of it.

The second main step involves the dreaded "personal statement." Remember those college applications that asked you ridiculous questions about leaders and values and all that crap? Get ready to do it again. The application is structured around essay questions. This makes sense, as one of the main objectives of Peace Corps is to find out how you are likely to relate to unfamiliar or stressful situations, as well as how you will interact with people of another culture.

Don't stress out if you haven't had a whole lot of previous intercultural experience. What is most important is that you convey your desire to learn, remain open-minded, and not assume that America is the center of the universe (although after seeing the slew of McDonalds restaurants and Coca-Cola bottles all over the world, it can be hard to think otherwise).

The third main step is the most time-consuming aspect of the application: bugging your references to get their letters back to you. You'll need three references when you apply: one from a current or previous employer, one from a volunteer supervisor, and one from a friend. Your best bet is to just get everything in quickly. The entire process, from completing the application to leaving the country, can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Meet for an interview

After you turn in your application, your branch office (the Peace Corps office in the city closest to where you live) will most likely schedule an interview within a month of when they receive the application.

The interview will vary, depending on the person who interviews you. Some candidates report going through a cross-examination, and others have a more relaxed 'get-to-know-you' type chat. Just remain cool, be yourself, and remember that this is also part of the matching process. If you break out in hives every time the temperature rises above 80 degrees, this would be a good thing for the Peace Corps to know when they are deciding on your placement.

What is it with this "placement" anyway? We shall be blunt: you don't get to choose, but you can vocalize preferences for regions in which you want to be placed. Now don't get too picky with geography. Remember, this is not your travel agent helping you plan a two-year vacation to your favorite destination. You'll go where you're needed. What it really comes down to anyway is what programs in your field of expertise happen to be available at the same time that you are. Don't assume, for example, that because you speak fluent French, you will be assigned to a French-speaking country. If there isn't a match available, they'll just ship you someplace else.

Get your medical check-ups

Be aware that the Peace Corps likes its volunteers to be physically and mentally healthy, which is a pretty reasonable request (and benefits both parties). This means, however, that if you do have any health issues, you may be required to address them before they will offer you a placement. This may slow down the process a bit, particularly because you will have to get all the documentation reviewed by the Peace Corps Medical Office.

Don't assume, however, that you'll necessarily be rejected due to a medical condition. Volunteers who have asthma or some kinds of epilepsy, for example, are simply sent to countries where they will have greater access to necessary medical facilities.

Wait for a placement

As we mentioned earlier, the entire process can take from 3 to 6 months. In some ways, the wait is the hardest aspect, in part because you don't know where you'll be air-dropped. . . uh, we mean "assigned."

Even though you might be told during your interview of a potential placement, it is only after you have had your interview and been medically cleared that the Peace Corps will give you an official invitation. So it is entirely possible that you were told of a particular opening in South America, but by the time the invitation is made, that spot is closed and another one is open in North Africa.

You've just gotta go with the flow, man. . . it's all part of the adventure.