Application Timeline

I wanted to document my application process, and highlight the timeline of my acceptance with Peace Corps, in case anyone stumbles on here looking for this info (which I combed through blogs for as I was applying). It is important to note that applying to Peace Corps is a loooong process, and is pretty much guaranteed to test your patience. Here’s a pretty good glimpse at my application process. Bear in mind that I went through it quickly, and the average timeline is 9-12 months, though mine was only about 6 months.

November 9, 2010: Finished the online application, and the preliminary health questionnaire.

December 9, 2010: Had my interview in Washington, DC. I was able to expedite this process because I was studying in Washington, D.C. at the time, and the semester was ending. My recruiter wanted to interview me before I returned home to Iowa.

December 9, 2010: Nominated to service as a university-level English teacher in Asia, departing in late June. I was nominated the same day as my interview!

Mid-December, 2010: Received my Medical Kit.

Late-December 2010-February 2011: Visited the eye doctor, orthopedic surgeon, regular doctor/gyno, dentist, and collected vaccination information for shots I had previously done.

February 2011: Dental Clearance!

March 26, 2011: Got the letter stating I was medically deferred until June 2011-a short but important deferment. I had major knee surgery April 29, 2010, and PC decided I wasn’t up to par in terms of my knee rehab. Therefore, they deferred me for a short time. I decided to appeal!  This is what your toolkit will look like if you are deferred-the lack of check mark in the circle is not an encouraging sign.

I was also sent a letter detailing the other things I had not sent in with the original medical kit.  So I began to collect those documents.

April 5, 2011: Panicked because I could find anywhere to get a polio booster after age 18-finally had to travel up to Des Moines-NOT easy to find!

April 15, 2011: Sent in my deferral appeal forms. I had gathered my most recent physical therapy forms, and faxed them in. I also sent in my missing medical papers (tests my doctor didn’t give me the results form, polio vaccine proof, retest for iron levels and diagnosis of slight anemia).

April 29th, 2011: My medical deferral was lifted!  Here’s what it looks like on your toolkit if an appeal is lifted or if you get medical clearance.  Got my check mark-Yay!

May 4, 2011: Asked to submit a final resume and told to send a transcript after graduation.

May 5, 2011: Notified that the Asia/late-June/ESL program was full, and asked several questions via email about how I felt about a new program. It was indicated that I would end up teaching ESL in Asia/Africa leaving in July.

May 12, 2011: Status update! Saw online that I was invited, but had to wait for the invitation packet that came via mail stating when/where/what.

May 14, 2011: Graduated college! 🙂 Not PC-related, but exciting.

May 16, 2011: Invitation packet was stealthily delivered by the UPS man-nobody heard or saw him, not even our 2 dogs.

May 17, 2011: Mom wakes me up super early with my invitation packet in hand! She found it on the porch with the newspaper. I am headed to South Africa as a Resource Specialist with the Schools and Community Resources Programs on July 5th! Accepted the invite later that day!

June 13th: Scheduled my flight to Washington, DC for staging.

Sigh…waiting for the mailman can be torturous-if you are applying for PC, you will find this out!

-Jen