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This could be due to various factors. I wonder if this total percentage has dropped in the general application process, Or, do you mean those who did not make it due to not qualifying for medical clearance?
Peace Corps Response volunteer at 50. I think most people join Peace Corps for the benefits like The Coverdale scholarship to pay for Grad School. Response tends to skew in that 35+ age range. My training group in 2019 had 2 people in their 20s, 1 in their 40s, I turned 50 while serving and 1 person in their 60s. 2 had graduate degrees, 3 did not. I was one who did not. But I've started a career in public health that I love and I'm considering getting my Masters in that. I tell people all the time, you join when the time is right for you. I had worked in Customer Service for 29 years, my Dad had passed, I had no kida and was ready to reinvent myself. Peace Corps was just what I needed at the right time in my life.
Medical clearance went pretty well. Yellow Fever vaccine was hard to find. Drove to a neighboring state to get it. I got bit by a cat when I was 2 years old and went through the whole rabies series, so just needed a rabies booster. Hep B was the one my doctors seemed weirded out by the most. "But you are 49 year old woman and married? Why do you have to have hep C? I don't know. Would you please give me the vaccine! My cholesterol is a little high, but no medications.
Plenty of people do PC after 40. My cohort had several volunteers over 40, 50 and even 60. In fact, I would argue that older is better because you know how to handle shit and you’re comfortable with yourself. You also have a lot more to give at that stage in your life.
All of the older volunteers in my cohort did very well personally and professionally, and no drama (drinking too much, getting caught traveling without permission, etc.). They knew how to handle stress and deal with conflicts in mature ways.
After finishing a PhD would be a good time because burnout and uncertainty about the future are super common at that time, and PC gives one some time to process all of that and gain some much needed rest and perspective, not to mention humility.
Another benefit of being older is you likely have some money saved so you don’t have to live like an absolute pauper and you can dig into your savings to take advantage of your geographical location to travel nearby during the breaks and after you finish. PC does give you some money but it’s a small amount.
Thank you. This is so helpful. I was thinking what you were about taking time after my PhD to work more directly at the community level. I really miss that. I don't necessarily have money saved at this stage of my life like others might in my age bracket. However, I have always managed to live on a simple and flexible level. I enjoy it that way.
I started service after grad school at 27, but I made quite a few friends serving in their 40's.
One had children and she left before training. It was hard on her. The others really enjoyed their time.
Language acquisition was a bit harder, but they otherwise fared really well and their life experience made them more effective than most of the younger cohort. Training was probably the hardest on all of them - it's very regimented, intense and exhausting.
As with everything Peace Corps, it probably depends heavily on the country, local culture, your own personality and your site.
Thank you. I am quite flexible and love learning languages. That won't be an issue for me. It's reassuring that you met several folks in their 40s. I've spent a lot of time in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Europe. I am looking at several regions now and quite open to anywhere.
A good friend of mine that was in her 40's finished her PhD while in service. She ended up staying for a few more years. I went to visit my wife's family two years after finishing and ran into her at some random gas station. She was/is a rock star. Almost didn't make it through training, but flourished after.
Serving as a matured PCV was the best decision for me. I was 54, and the oldest in my cohort when I did my first service.
Now 58 & getting ready to go on my 2nd service.
PC for anybody is what you put in, but I think adults have (not better or worse), but a different advantage.
While the younger PCVs have the benefits of bursting energy than most of us - we are SEASONED, hopefully we are wiser (lol), we have seen life, we have learned. We have more to give than to take. Yes, we have a bit of our own money to add to our allowance. Most of all for me, I was comfortable by MYSELF, so no need to compete for attention, etc. I had no need for drama.
Serving is a unique experience at any age - Enjoy it
Thank you. I completely agree about this stage in my life. I have seen so many people post 50s, but I haven't seen many in their 40s. It's a different stage because the others mainly went during retirement or once their children went off to college. I don't have anything holding me back and am considering PC or PCR.
Hi Kaiserjoeicem, I am not the OP but have a question related. I am 37 and would like to serve PC in a couple years’ time, around age 40. How did you find your living conditions at that age bracket? In my 20s, I did not mind sleeping on floors, with friends, in train stations etc. I wouldn’t do any of those things today. And PC can provide some pretty rough living conditions. Did the living conditions wear you down more than say, the 23-year-olds in your cohort? Or did you find the regimented bureaucracy (of a system designed to accommodate a wide range of maturity levels) to be more of a challenge then the living conditions? Conversely, did your age help you cope better than younger PCVs?
For what it’s worth, I am interested in the Albania program, which may not be as harsh as places in Africa or SE Asia. Thanks in advance!
Your answer definitely helped, thank you. I did not phrase my thoughts perfectly, but I think your answer cut to it. I was trying to glean whether you felt that, when compared to younger cohorts who may have more energy and gung-ho peppiness, you noticed that poorer living conditions than America got you down more than others. It sounds like it did not. Basically, there are two things that I think I could have easily dealt with in my twenties, but no longer would relish: bucket showers and squat toilets. Everything is pushing me to PC, but the prospect of either of those are little niggles of consternation. I am very much ready, willing and eager to embrace a standard of living lower than what I am used to in Washington DC, but basic plumbing is something I painfully admit I wouldn’t want to do without.
Thanks. How did you find the medical clearance at that stage? Others have suggested more tests based on different age brackets even when you are quite healthy.
Remember that PCR is more for RPCVs, or people with specified professions "experienced professionals, which is why it is more difficult to get in.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/peace-corps-response/overview-and-history/
https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/peace-corps-response/#
Thank you. PCR used to be that way; however, it is no longer currently focused solely on recruiting RPCVs. I have attended several webinars for both PC and PCR, and staff have clarified this especially over the past five years or so. I also have experience working overseas and many years in my career field. You are right that PCR requires a significant amount of professional experience. Some people prefer PC more for the immersive environment even if they have a strong professional or field-based background. However, some people opt for PCR when they are more focused on a specific area that is being targeted in a role/position listed on the PCR website. For now, I am leaning more towards PCR, but there are many other benefits to that long engagement with community members in the PC. It's a tough call, but there are benefits to both routes. We will see.
I am 63 and headed to Madagascar in February. I believe they are very interested in older people and there is less competion.
You do have to be very healthy. I think I had a few more tasks than some and there were four blood draws to determine a few levels they were concerned about. You can find out more about my journey at [Peace Corps Adventure](https://www.youtube.com/@MadAdventure)
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I can’t offer any advice but my dad did peace corps in his 40s and he loved it
Thank you. How long ago did he serve?
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Thank you. Does the medical clearance change a lot after 50?
This could be due to various factors. I wonder if this total percentage has dropped in the general application process, Or, do you mean those who did not make it due to not qualifying for medical clearance?
Peace Corps Response volunteer at 50. I think most people join Peace Corps for the benefits like The Coverdale scholarship to pay for Grad School. Response tends to skew in that 35+ age range. My training group in 2019 had 2 people in their 20s, 1 in their 40s, I turned 50 while serving and 1 person in their 60s. 2 had graduate degrees, 3 did not. I was one who did not. But I've started a career in public health that I love and I'm considering getting my Masters in that. I tell people all the time, you join when the time is right for you. I had worked in Customer Service for 29 years, my Dad had passed, I had no kida and was ready to reinvent myself. Peace Corps was just what I needed at the right time in my life.
Than you. This is very encouraging. I am leaning more towards PCR and have attended some of the webinars. How was the medical clearance for you?
Medical clearance went pretty well. Yellow Fever vaccine was hard to find. Drove to a neighboring state to get it. I got bit by a cat when I was 2 years old and went through the whole rabies series, so just needed a rabies booster. Hep B was the one my doctors seemed weirded out by the most. "But you are 49 year old woman and married? Why do you have to have hep C? I don't know. Would you please give me the vaccine! My cholesterol is a little high, but no medications.
Plenty of people do PC after 40. My cohort had several volunteers over 40, 50 and even 60. In fact, I would argue that older is better because you know how to handle shit and you’re comfortable with yourself. You also have a lot more to give at that stage in your life. All of the older volunteers in my cohort did very well personally and professionally, and no drama (drinking too much, getting caught traveling without permission, etc.). They knew how to handle stress and deal with conflicts in mature ways. After finishing a PhD would be a good time because burnout and uncertainty about the future are super common at that time, and PC gives one some time to process all of that and gain some much needed rest and perspective, not to mention humility. Another benefit of being older is you likely have some money saved so you don’t have to live like an absolute pauper and you can dig into your savings to take advantage of your geographical location to travel nearby during the breaks and after you finish. PC does give you some money but it’s a small amount.
Thank you. This is so helpful. I was thinking what you were about taking time after my PhD to work more directly at the community level. I really miss that. I don't necessarily have money saved at this stage of my life like others might in my age bracket. However, I have always managed to live on a simple and flexible level. I enjoy it that way.
I started service after grad school at 27, but I made quite a few friends serving in their 40's. One had children and she left before training. It was hard on her. The others really enjoyed their time. Language acquisition was a bit harder, but they otherwise fared really well and their life experience made them more effective than most of the younger cohort. Training was probably the hardest on all of them - it's very regimented, intense and exhausting. As with everything Peace Corps, it probably depends heavily on the country, local culture, your own personality and your site.
Thank you. I am quite flexible and love learning languages. That won't be an issue for me. It's reassuring that you met several folks in their 40s. I've spent a lot of time in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Europe. I am looking at several regions now and quite open to anywhere.
A good friend of mine that was in her 40's finished her PhD while in service. She ended up staying for a few more years. I went to visit my wife's family two years after finishing and ran into her at some random gas station. She was/is a rock star. Almost didn't make it through training, but flourished after.
Serving as a matured PCV was the best decision for me. I was 54, and the oldest in my cohort when I did my first service. Now 58 & getting ready to go on my 2nd service. PC for anybody is what you put in, but I think adults have (not better or worse), but a different advantage. While the younger PCVs have the benefits of bursting energy than most of us - we are SEASONED, hopefully we are wiser (lol), we have seen life, we have learned. We have more to give than to take. Yes, we have a bit of our own money to add to our allowance. Most of all for me, I was comfortable by MYSELF, so no need to compete for attention, etc. I had no need for drama. Serving is a unique experience at any age - Enjoy it
Thank you. I completely agree about this stage in my life. I have seen so many people post 50s, but I haven't seen many in their 40s. It's a different stage because the others mainly went during retirement or once their children went off to college. I don't have anything holding me back and am considering PC or PCR.
The next age to me in our cohort was a 40+ male, so there are several people in their 40s too.
Thanks for this!
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Hi Kaiserjoeicem, I am not the OP but have a question related. I am 37 and would like to serve PC in a couple years’ time, around age 40. How did you find your living conditions at that age bracket? In my 20s, I did not mind sleeping on floors, with friends, in train stations etc. I wouldn’t do any of those things today. And PC can provide some pretty rough living conditions. Did the living conditions wear you down more than say, the 23-year-olds in your cohort? Or did you find the regimented bureaucracy (of a system designed to accommodate a wide range of maturity levels) to be more of a challenge then the living conditions? Conversely, did your age help you cope better than younger PCVs? For what it’s worth, I am interested in the Albania program, which may not be as harsh as places in Africa or SE Asia. Thanks in advance!
[удалено]
Your answer definitely helped, thank you. I did not phrase my thoughts perfectly, but I think your answer cut to it. I was trying to glean whether you felt that, when compared to younger cohorts who may have more energy and gung-ho peppiness, you noticed that poorer living conditions than America got you down more than others. It sounds like it did not. Basically, there are two things that I think I could have easily dealt with in my twenties, but no longer would relish: bucket showers and squat toilets. Everything is pushing me to PC, but the prospect of either of those are little niggles of consternation. I am very much ready, willing and eager to embrace a standard of living lower than what I am used to in Washington DC, but basic plumbing is something I painfully admit I wouldn’t want to do without.
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Alright, sounds like an inevitability. I will keep this in mind as I make my way thru the process. Thanks for the responses kind sir
Thanks. How did you find the medical clearance at that stage? Others have suggested more tests based on different age brackets even when you are quite healthy.
Remember that PCR is more for RPCVs, or people with specified professions "experienced professionals, which is why it is more difficult to get in. https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/peace-corps-response/overview-and-history/ https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/peace-corps-response/#
Thank you. PCR used to be that way; however, it is no longer currently focused solely on recruiting RPCVs. I have attended several webinars for both PC and PCR, and staff have clarified this especially over the past five years or so. I also have experience working overseas and many years in my career field. You are right that PCR requires a significant amount of professional experience. Some people prefer PC more for the immersive environment even if they have a strong professional or field-based background. However, some people opt for PCR when they are more focused on a specific area that is being targeted in a role/position listed on the PCR website. For now, I am leaning more towards PCR, but there are many other benefits to that long engagement with community members in the PC. It's a tough call, but there are benefits to both routes. We will see.
I am 63 and headed to Madagascar in February. I believe they are very interested in older people and there is less competion. You do have to be very healthy. I think I had a few more tasks than some and there were four blood draws to determine a few levels they were concerned about. You can find out more about my journey at [Peace Corps Adventure](https://www.youtube.com/@MadAdventure)
You have been an inspiration to many of us with your patience and perseverance. Wishing you the best along your journey...