The Application Process

This was no walk in the park. As one blog accurately put it: "Comprehensive and rightly exhaustive, the Peace Corps application process weeds out more would-be volunteers than anything else just because it takes so fucking long." My application process stretched across 10 months, from the day I opened the application form to the day I received final medical clearance. Here's something of what it looked like:

September 26 - Submitted my application for the September 30 deadline
November 13 - Emailed Peace Corps inquiring about my application status. Received an email back to schedule an interview
November 19 - 90 minute interview at UVM with a returned volunteer
December 29 - Emailed Peace Corps inquiring about my application status. Told to sit tight
January 17 - Received nomination to serve as a health volunteer, leaving in September of 2013
February 11 - Submitted documents for Office of Medical Services
March 3 - Emailed Peace Corps inquiring about my medical pre-clearance. Told to sit tight
March 14
March 25 - Received a request for additional medical documentation 
April 2 - Issued medical pre-clearance
May 1 - Received a call from placement officer
Later on May 1 - Received official invitation to serve as a Food Security Volunteer in Nepal
May 4 - Accepted invitation
July 10 - Received final medical clearance


Application forms:
Application
Resume
Three letters of recommendation
Two essays
Skill addendum
Romantic involvement questionnaire
Fingerprints
Final transcript
Passport/visa application
Aspiration statement
Host family questionnaire

Medical Forms
Medical care compliance form
Immunization record (with proof of varicella, mmr, polio, and tuberculosis immunization)
Physical exam form
Blood test form
Dental exam form
Dental x-rays
Asthma evaluation form
Personal statement on seasonal allergies
Eyeglass prescription form

Doctor Appointments
Eye doctor - 1
Allergist - 1
Internist - 3
Pediatrician - 1
Radiologist - 2
Dentist - 2