Balancing Peace Corps Service and Graduate School: Pros and Cons

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the implications of joining the Peace Corps for individuals planning to pursue graduate school. Participants explore whether such an experience is beneficial or detrimental to academic pursuits, considering factors like knowledge retention and the relevance of the experience to future studies.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether joining the Peace Corps could hinder academic performance by causing a lapse in knowledge retention over a 2-4 year absence from formal education.
  • Others argue that the Peace Corps experience is valuable and unlikely to negatively impact graduate school applications, suggesting it could enhance a resume if the motivation is genuine.
  • One participant emphasizes that while the Peace Corps may not directly relate to specific fields of study, the experiences gained could still be beneficial and enriching.
  • Concerns are raised about the commitment required by the Peace Corps, with some noting that the duration of service may deter potential volunteers who prefer shorter commitments.
  • Participants mention that the Peace Corps could provide opportunities to develop relevant skills, such as language proficiency or experience in engineering-related projects, depending on the assignment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of opinions, with some believing the Peace Corps experience is beneficial and others concerned about its potential drawbacks for academic readiness. No consensus is reached regarding the overall impact on graduate school preparation.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the long-term effects of a gap in education and the relevance of Peace Corps experience to specific academic fields. There is also a lack of clarity on how graduate schools perceive such volunteer experiences.

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Is it advisable to go into the Peace Corps if you are planning on going to graduate school? Can it help or hinder you? It seems like you might forget information but at the same time it's something I've wanted to do for a long time.
 
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I wouldn't go into the Peace Core just because you want to use it as resume fodder. Random resume items not at all related to your field of study in grad school will not be of that much use.

If you actually want to do it, then I say go for it. It could be the experience of a lifetime. Good Luck!
 
G01 said:
I wouldn't go into the Peace Core just because you want to use it as resume fodder. Random resume items not at all related to your field of study in grad school will not be of that much use.

I would think very few people would join the Peace Corps as a resume booster, and that's why I said it's something I've wanted to do for a long time. So it doesn't look good to have volunteer experience like this to graduate schools; does it look bad, will I forget everything learned as an undergraduate if I'm out of school for 2-4 years?
 
Well, it can't possibly look bad to have the Peace Corps on your resume. I'm just saying, if you were doing it only for the resume boost, then it wouldn't be worth it.

You may need to refresh yourself on some topics before you take up school again, but I don't think you'd forget everything. I think it'll definitely be possible.
 
It will certainly not hurt you. You just have to make sure you are ready to go back to school after a two year stint in a 3rd world nation. PC will give you some invaluable experiences. It will reduce and defer your student loans if that is an issue for you. It can help you brush up and or become fluent in a foreign language depending on where you work at. Also dependent on where you work, you may be able to do things slightly relevant to your studies. Many countries need help with computer stuff which may look good for you. Also many need help in engineering topics like water purification and environmental issues.
 
Also, there are plenty of other ways to help humanity other than the peace corps. I had looked into joining a few years back, but it was like signing up for the army; you had to stay for so long. I mean I know that the types of things you do take a lot of time, but I would have thought that they could have used me for 6-12 months, but they wanted years from me!
 

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