From USA Today:
"Peace Corps applications rise sharply after changes"
Applications to the Peace Corps rose 70% this year after the organization overhauled its recruitment process last summer. More than 17,300 Americans applied for the Peace Corps in 2014 – a 22-year high for the U.S. organization, founded March 1, 1961, that dispatches volunteers around the world.
The new procedures, in place since July allowed applicants to choose their country of service and apply to specific programs, rather than being placed wherever needed most. Peru and Costa Rica emerged as favorites, but most applicants still offer to go anywhere they are needed, says Shira Kramer, press director for the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps rewrote its application last summer in an effort to make the applicant pool larger and more diverse. Immediately after the changes, the Peace Corps had the highest total number of applications received in one month in more than 15 years. "This milestone reminds us that Americans today want to serve others and make a difference, and we are making great strides to reduce barriers to service and modernize the Peace Corps," Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. Hessler-Radelet says the Peace Corps doesn't have the funding to increase the number of slots to accommodate the growing number of applicants. She said she hopes Congress will recognize the new level of interest and provide more money. "We can only accept the number of volunteers we can afford," Hessler-Radelet says. While the old application took up to eight hours to complete, the revamped application should take about an hour, the Peace Corps said in a statement. Other changes include elimination of one essay and some redundant questions. So far in 2014, about 95% of those who started the application submitted it. Last year 23% of the people who started the application process completed it, Hessler-Radelet says. In 2013, the Peace Corps received 10,118 applications, the lowest number since 2003, Peace Corps statistics show. "The world has changed since Peace Corps was started 50 years ago," Hessler-Radelet said in July when the organization announced its overhaul. "Today's applicants have many options for international service. We want to remain competitive." Additional changes are planned for next year's application, mostly on the back end of the website. "It will be even easier next year," Hessler-Radelet says.
^ This was an interesting read. The large number of applicants means that the Peace Corps can be selective of whom they take and where they place them. Hopefully, the Peace Corps goes back to the Ukraine. ^
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/08/peace-corps-applications-rise/16905369/
"Peace Corps applications rise sharply after changes"
Applications to the Peace Corps rose 70% this year after the organization overhauled its recruitment process last summer. More than 17,300 Americans applied for the Peace Corps in 2014 – a 22-year high for the U.S. organization, founded March 1, 1961, that dispatches volunteers around the world.
The new procedures, in place since July allowed applicants to choose their country of service and apply to specific programs, rather than being placed wherever needed most. Peru and Costa Rica emerged as favorites, but most applicants still offer to go anywhere they are needed, says Shira Kramer, press director for the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps rewrote its application last summer in an effort to make the applicant pool larger and more diverse. Immediately after the changes, the Peace Corps had the highest total number of applications received in one month in more than 15 years. "This milestone reminds us that Americans today want to serve others and make a difference, and we are making great strides to reduce barriers to service and modernize the Peace Corps," Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. Hessler-Radelet says the Peace Corps doesn't have the funding to increase the number of slots to accommodate the growing number of applicants. She said she hopes Congress will recognize the new level of interest and provide more money. "We can only accept the number of volunteers we can afford," Hessler-Radelet says. While the old application took up to eight hours to complete, the revamped application should take about an hour, the Peace Corps said in a statement. Other changes include elimination of one essay and some redundant questions. So far in 2014, about 95% of those who started the application submitted it. Last year 23% of the people who started the application process completed it, Hessler-Radelet says. In 2013, the Peace Corps received 10,118 applications, the lowest number since 2003, Peace Corps statistics show. "The world has changed since Peace Corps was started 50 years ago," Hessler-Radelet said in July when the organization announced its overhaul. "Today's applicants have many options for international service. We want to remain competitive." Additional changes are planned for next year's application, mostly on the back end of the website. "It will be even easier next year," Hessler-Radelet says.
^ This was an interesting read. The large number of applicants means that the Peace Corps can be selective of whom they take and where they place them. Hopefully, the Peace Corps goes back to the Ukraine. ^
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/08/peace-corps-applications-rise/16905369/
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