Peace Corps questions? est place for answers is r/peacecorps

Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? The application process can be long and confusing. This leaves many applicants with lots of unanswered Peace Corps questions. The Peace Corps website has many resources. But nothing compares to asking questions and connecting with current and returned volunteers at r/peacecorps.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what exactly Reddit and r/peacecorps is. We will hear from the subreddit’s moderator, and read thoughts from members on its value. And you will get tips to make the most of this one-of-a-kind resource. If you’re considering applying to the Peace Corps, joining r/peacecorps is one of the best moves you can make.

What is Reddit?

Reddit is a huge forum where people can submit almost anything that can be discussed and even voted on. Posts are organized by user-created communities called “subreddits”. There are moderators who are members of the group and not paid employees of Reddit. As of 2022, Reddit ranked as the 9th most visited website in the world and the 6th in the US.

r/peacecorps Subreddit

Your subreddit for all things Peace Corps. With updated information and valuable input from a diverse and active community of PCV redditors.
r/peacecorps community description

Currently (2023), it has 26,000 members but as you can imagine, not all are active every day.

Questions answered by a Moderator

When and why did it start?	Feb 2010. None of us are the creator/original moderator, but I imagine it was started to be a place for people to discuss Peace Corps.
What do you think it’s main function is?	For the discussion of anything and everything related to the Peace Corps.
How has it changed over the years?	Mostly more active moderation, though we do try to be as hands-off as possible.
What kind of questions are best answered?	Questions about application/service that can’t easily be answered through Google. Discussions about service, post-service, etc.
What kind of questions should be asked elsewhere?	I won’t get into specifics on this one, but people really should make an effort to check out peacecorps.gov, and use google and the sub’s search function, because more than likely their question has been asked and answered before.
What do you wish members knew?	Lots of people have been through the process, and while people will answer easy questions, you will get a lot more engagement if you are thoughtful in your posts and have made an effort to find your own answers. And I wish RPCVs would remember that the application process really can be confusing, frustrating, and downright dumb sometimes, so a little empathy and grace would be fantastic.
What do you see in the next few years?	Much of the same. Pre-pandemic we had some AMAs and even some PC staff on the sub answering questions. I don’t know if we’ll be able to restart any of that.

And if you are a current or returned PCV, and want to be a moderator – message the mods with your interest and maybe some ideas of how you’d like to see the sub develop.

What do the r/peacecorps Redditers say?

The r/peacecorps community lets possible applicants, current volunteers, and returned volunteers connect and share. What do members think about the subreddit?

I’ve personally found it so helpful for questions because reaching out to PC directly can sometimes take a while & I have never met any other volunteers/applicants, so it’s been amazing having an online community where I can talk to people in the same boat as me 🙂 PC Invitee

The PC subreddit is certainly not the worst corner of reddit, but just not the source I’d prefer to be the leading source. Banerjee’s was pretty accurate when I read it in 2016 and I would say that it’s easier for someone to read it first and then seek out updates from the reddit or RPCVs than starting from scratch on reddit. Returned PCV

I do like it but personally speaking with RPCV away from reddit was more helpful for me personally. I find Reddit to sometimes be full of posts that could fear someone out of doing something or just full of negativity. Some folks can be very vulnerable on here and people don’t always move with kindness offline but definitely online. But that’s a lot of threads not just PC. I will say niche stuff lile packing help was very helpful on here. current PCV

It’s got a lot of problems in my view. Too many high schoolers coming on to flood basic questions that can be answered on Google or the PC website itself. A lot of repetitive and basic questions that are better answered other ways. For me, reading Banerjee’s Insider’s Guide taught me much more than you can find on the reddit, sans misinformation and from a credible source. Returned PCV

The subreddit has many good things. You can connect with others applying. You can get specific questions answered. You can hear honest opinions. But, it also has some problems. There are repetitive questions. Sometimes there is negativity. r/peacecorps can be helpful when used with other reliable sources. Members agree you should be open-minded but critical. This allows you to get the most from the shared knowledge.

So, you want to join the Peace Corps . . . If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, you probably have questions that run the gamut from “What is the application process like?” to “Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?” In this updated second edition, former Peace Corps volunteer Dillon Banerjee shares candid facts and insights about the experience in a practical question-and-answer format. With input from recently returned volunteers who served across the globe, this thorough guide presents valuable information.

It was published in 2009 but still has a lot of good information, especially about what it’s like to serve. You can find more info at Amazon.com

How to Get the Most out of r/peacecorps Subreddit

The r/peacecorps subreddit has a wealth of information already available if you know where to look. Follow these tips to get the most out of the community:

First, check peacecorps.gov to make sure your question isn’t already answered by Peace Corps
Read the Wiki and FAQ before posting – The wiki and FAQ pages contain answers to many common questions about the application process and Peace Corps service. Reviewing these resources before posting can help you find the information you need more quickly.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/peacecorps/wiki/index/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/peacecorps/wiki/faq/
Search First – your question probably has been answered already

But if you still have questions, here are some tips:

Make your subject line meaningful so that people will want to read more
In the text, provide specific details and enough information to understand what you are asking for
If you have several unrelated questions, break them up into separate posts
Take it easy and be patient, it might take a few days before someone answers
Update your flair or sign your post, more information is always better
Post a follow up each comment with a thank you. or ask more questions

Following these best practices will help you get quality responses from the knowledgeable r/peacecorps community. The more effort you put into your questions and interactions, the more you’ll gain from this invaluable resource.

Still Have Questions?

The Peace Corps application can seem hard and confusing. But r/peacecorps on Reddit can help a lot. By joining the community and asking questions, you can get tips from people who did it before.

So if your thinking of joining the Peace Corps or already in the process, go to r/peacecorps today. Look at past posts. Say hi and ask questions. You’ll get lots of wisdom from people who have gone before you. With the community’s help, you’ll be ready for the adventure.

Check out r/peacecorps today!

And WanderingTheWorld.com also has a ton of information about the application process, packing, PCV resources, and a lot more.