Hey, I'm trying to finish my application. I'm having a hard time writing
the essays. Do you have any advice for writing the Peace Corps essays?
I suggest that you write several versions. Some of my earlier ones were WAY too informal, and some were WAY too formal. I wanted to strike a nice balance and find my voice, and overall make it sound like ME.
I suggest an outline to keep you together.
Here was my outline for my Peace Corps essay:
1. My reason for teaching ESL--experiencing culture.
2. Why Peace Corps--personal
3. Why Peace Corps--professional
It's a tough balance--it's a little more than a job interview--it's two years of your life. I kept in mind that they REALLY do want to know WHO I AM so that they can determine IF I am a good fit and WHERE I would be a good fit.
Your essay should truly show an aspect of YOU. And yet at the same time you can't forget that it's a job interview. And memorable--if people in the office are discussing your essay, what will they say? In mine, they can say "Hey, did you read the Saudi Arabian essay?"
They read hundreds of essays, so include SOMETHING to be memorable. Something they can grab on to, or it will just be a generic "OMG I <3 b="b" c="c" change="change" i="i" me="me" p="p" pc="pc" pick="pick" the="the" to="to" want="want" world="world">
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is this the final version of the essay you submitted? i'm also having a bit of trouble with my essays. your comments are helpful.
This was my final submission! I was happy with it, as I felt it reflected me, and was memorable. I recommend some personal anecdote. Imagine if people in the PC office are talking about the different essays--with mine they could say "the girl who went to the Saudi Arabian dinner" instead of just "the girl who really really wants to join PC."
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do you feel it is important to specify what exactly you want type of work you want to be doing?
I clarified the type of work I wanted to do because I clarified it on my application. PC gives you a choice: you can tell them you want a specific job but don't care about the country, that you don't care about the job but you want a specific country, that you want a specific job and a specific country, or that you don't care about either.
I cared about the job, but didn't care about where I ended up, hence putting it in the essay.
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Was curious what comments you might proffer regarding working with older peace corps volunteers, tips, etc. I am 54 and completing my application and would like considerable bluntness...
I would decide where you want to go and don't want to go. Ukraine is very tough on older volunteers--the weather, the stairs, etc. You should also understand that in many countries there is serious ageism and organizations may not want an older volunteer at their site, however the time I knew about that, the gentleman involved was 70+.
Some PCV groups have support groups for older volunteers. In Ukraine they had a senior support group.
Also, the medical is fantastic.
It's also good to know that most volunteers are just out of college and some don't have all the partying out of their system. I was in a weird age group where I was too old for the partying, but too young to be going to bed when the older volunteers were.
Good luck to you! Peace Corps can be a really great choice for older volunteers!
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I am not sure if you posted this under another topic on the blog, but did you ask to go to the Ukraine? Did they care about where you wanted to go?
I did not ask to go to Ukraine. I specifically said "I want an ESL job, but don't care where I go." There are essentially four options:
1. You choose your job preference and not the country.
2. You choose your country preference and not the job.
3. You choose your job preference and country preference.
4. You choose "open" on both.
When you decide to state a preference, it may mean limiting your opportunities in Peace Corps. I would not have gone had they told me I had to dig wells or something. My background is in Education and I could not afford the two years out of my career - I needed the experience.
They told me I would be a teacher trainer, then said they had 3 openings - one was in Ukraine, one in Africa, and one in central Asia. I told them my preference was:
1. Ukraine 2. Africa 3. Asia - mostly because of the job definition.
Then I got my acceptance letter.
I *think* that when you restrict where you go that it potentially raises some red flags - like - why DON'T you want to go there? I also think if you sound reasonable and rational and not making a kneejerk reaction, that you'll be okay.
I didn't mind that I'd gotten Ukraine because I really didn't care where I went. Some people DO care, but either they don't want to admit it or they don't realize it. One of the gals I knew was terribly disappointed that she had gotten Ukraine because she imagined a more rural Peace Corps experience.
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I am a soon to be graduated college student and after reading your essay I fear that I don't have enough to offer in order to truly make a difference while I'm out there. I will have BFA after graduation, with minimal volunteer experience, but loads of traveling experience and a strong desire to serve. What do you recommend I focus on in the essays?
Focus on what you know, what your plans are, and again - do something to make yourself stand out. Ultimately they're looking for people who will stick with this for 2 years, so if you can demonstrate that within your essay that's great. I'd suggest mentioning what inspires you, what will help keep you there, etc. I'd also recommend you try to think about what "make a difference" means to you, because if what you're doing doesn't match your thinking, that can create problems. I mention it in my post "Advice from a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer."
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Peace Corps requires two essays. One about why you want to do it and one about an experience you had working with people of another culture. Did you write this second one or was it not required or something?
I wrote it but couldn't find it to post it.
I really don't have additional tips for your essays other than stand out, be yourself, and make a good impression. Good luck to you.
I suggest that you write several versions. Some of my earlier ones were WAY too informal, and some were WAY too formal. I wanted to strike a nice balance and find my voice, and overall make it sound like ME.
I suggest an outline to keep you together.
Here was my outline for my Peace Corps essay:
1. My reason for teaching ESL--experiencing culture.
2. Why Peace Corps--personal
3. Why Peace Corps--professional
It's a tough balance--it's a little more than a job interview--it's two years of your life. I kept in mind that they REALLY do want to know WHO I AM so that they can determine IF I am a good fit and WHERE I would be a good fit.
Your essay should truly show an aspect of YOU. And yet at the same time you can't forget that it's a job interview. And memorable--if people in the office are discussing your essay, what will they say? In mine, they can say "Hey, did you read the Saudi Arabian essay?"
They read hundreds of essays, so include SOMETHING to be memorable. Something they can grab on to, or it will just be a generic "OMG I <3 b="b" c="c" change="change" i="i" me="me" p="p" pc="pc" pick="pick" the="the" to="to" want="want" world="world">
________________________________________________________________________________
is this the final version of the essay you submitted? i'm also having a bit of trouble with my essays. your comments are helpful.
This was my final submission! I was happy with it, as I felt it reflected me, and was memorable. I recommend some personal anecdote. Imagine if people in the PC office are talking about the different essays--with mine they could say "the girl who went to the Saudi Arabian dinner" instead of just "the girl who really really wants to join PC."
________________________________________________________________________________
do you feel it is important to specify what exactly you want type of work you want to be doing?
I clarified the type of work I wanted to do because I clarified it on my application. PC gives you a choice: you can tell them you want a specific job but don't care about the country, that you don't care about the job but you want a specific country, that you want a specific job and a specific country, or that you don't care about either.
I cared about the job, but didn't care about where I ended up, hence putting it in the essay.
________________________________________________________________________________
Was curious what comments you might proffer regarding working with older peace corps volunteers, tips, etc. I am 54 and completing my application and would like considerable bluntness...
I would decide where you want to go and don't want to go. Ukraine is very tough on older volunteers--the weather, the stairs, etc. You should also understand that in many countries there is serious ageism and organizations may not want an older volunteer at their site, however the time I knew about that, the gentleman involved was 70+.
Some PCV groups have support groups for older volunteers. In Ukraine they had a senior support group.
Also, the medical is fantastic.
It's also good to know that most volunteers are just out of college and some don't have all the partying out of their system. I was in a weird age group where I was too old for the partying, but too young to be going to bed when the older volunteers were.
Good luck to you! Peace Corps can be a really great choice for older volunteers!
_________________________________________________________________________________
I am not sure if you posted this under another topic on the blog, but did you ask to go to the Ukraine? Did they care about where you wanted to go?
I did not ask to go to Ukraine. I specifically said "I want an ESL job, but don't care where I go." There are essentially four options:
1. You choose your job preference and not the country.
2. You choose your country preference and not the job.
3. You choose your job preference and country preference.
4. You choose "open" on both.
When you decide to state a preference, it may mean limiting your opportunities in Peace Corps. I would not have gone had they told me I had to dig wells or something. My background is in Education and I could not afford the two years out of my career - I needed the experience.
They told me I would be a teacher trainer, then said they had 3 openings - one was in Ukraine, one in Africa, and one in central Asia. I told them my preference was:
1. Ukraine 2. Africa 3. Asia - mostly because of the job definition.
Then I got my acceptance letter.
I *think* that when you restrict where you go that it potentially raises some red flags - like - why DON'T you want to go there? I also think if you sound reasonable and rational and not making a kneejerk reaction, that you'll be okay.
I didn't mind that I'd gotten Ukraine because I really didn't care where I went. Some people DO care, but either they don't want to admit it or they don't realize it. One of the gals I knew was terribly disappointed that she had gotten Ukraine because she imagined a more rural Peace Corps experience.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a soon to be graduated college student and after reading your essay I fear that I don't have enough to offer in order to truly make a difference while I'm out there. I will have BFA after graduation, with minimal volunteer experience, but loads of traveling experience and a strong desire to serve. What do you recommend I focus on in the essays?
Focus on what you know, what your plans are, and again - do something to make yourself stand out. Ultimately they're looking for people who will stick with this for 2 years, so if you can demonstrate that within your essay that's great. I'd suggest mentioning what inspires you, what will help keep you there, etc. I'd also recommend you try to think about what "make a difference" means to you, because if what you're doing doesn't match your thinking, that can create problems. I mention it in my post "Advice from a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer."
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Peace Corps requires two essays. One about why you want to do it and one about an experience you had working with people of another culture. Did you write this second one or was it not required or something?
I wrote it but couldn't find it to post it.
I really don't have additional tips for your essays other than stand out, be yourself, and make a good impression. Good luck to you.
