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Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:01 pm
by mpasi
Any ideas as to how adcomms see it?

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:02 pm
by deadhipsters
Lame. You couldn't hack it with the Peace Corps.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:05 pm
by dcs24
Hey, hey, hey...I lived on an island with feral boar, wild horses and restored historic homes with the AmeriCorps... forget your Peace Corps nonsense!

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:08 pm
by deadhipsters
dcs24 wrote:Hey, hey, hey...I lived on an island with feral boar, wild horses and restored historic homes with the AmeriCorps... forget your Peace Corps nonsense!
That actually sounds delightful.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:13 pm
by mpasi
dcs24 wrote:Hey, hey, hey...I lived on an island with feral boar, wild horses and restored historic homes with the AmeriCorps... forget your Peace Corps nonsense!
Where did you serve?

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:15 pm
by dcs24
mpasi wrote:
dcs24 wrote:Hey, hey, hey...I lived on an island with feral boar, wild horses and restored historic homes with the AmeriCorps... forget your Peace Corps nonsense!
Where did you serve?
It was actually with a group affiliated with AmeriCorps, The SCA, and it was a barrier island off the coast of southern Georgia/northern Florida.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:15 pm
by 09042014
They take anyone right?

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:16 pm
by mpasi
Desert Fox wrote:They take anyone right?
No. Especially not now. I should point out that my interest is in public advocacy, I've done one term already, and will start another one in the fall. They complement my interests well, I think.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:45 pm
by starlight007
Like to know this as well...finishing up my term in 2 weeks!!!! Can't wait.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:07 pm
by jjlaw
Desert Fox wrote:They take anyone right?
I think it depends on the program. For my program, the acceptance rate was about 18% for the last term, but my supervisor said it was much more competitive this year. A lot of members I talked to say they applied to 20+ positions and only heard back from a few. I think the economy makes AmeriCorps a lot more competitive, but it can also depend on the program itself. Many organizations only have 1-2 positions open.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:46 pm
by Lawof_theLand
I think your best bet would be to use it to show, based on specific experiences, that it helped you better appreciate the value of public service.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:52 pm
by mpasi
jjlaw wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:They take anyone right?
I think it depends on the program. For my program, the acceptance rate was about 18% for the last term, but my supervisor said it was much more competitive this year. A lot of members I talked to say they applied to 20+ positions and only heard back from a few. I think the economy makes AmeriCorps a lot more competitive, but it can also depend on the program itself. Many organizations only have 1-2 positions open.

The Obama fans were clamoring for Americorps spots long before the economy went to shit. My guess is they really responded to the name-dropping on the campaign trail. Then again, it was much easier to get a spot when I did my summer service in '08, though I beat out a lot of people for my job. It got worse after he won, which probably coincides with the economy tanking that fall as well. DC was an annoying place to be for the first six months of his administration. Obama diehards everywhere.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:52 pm
by mpasi
Lawof_theLand wrote:I think your best bet would be to use it to show, based on specific experiences, that it helped you better appreciate the value of public service.

Thanks.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:09 pm
by xyzzzzzzzz
anyone know how to make an app more competitive, especially since more people are applying. Also, are the people who are just doing it because of the economy getting weeded out? or accepted because of their skills? also interested if anyone knows how the economy is influencing peace corps apps.

Re: Americorps as a soft factor...

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:58 pm
by jjlaw
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