Americorps HELP
February 10, 2016 6:10 PM Subscribe
Recent college grad, not at all moving forward with my life, and I'm interested in Americorps. I need a change. I want a big change, something challenging and very unlike what I'm used to. I'm overwhelmed and don't know how to begin going about this. HELP.
22F, graduated last May with a Bachelor's in English. I have a lot of experience with kids... infact, it's just about the only area in which I have extensive experience, and I want to do something completely different. I like kids and am very seriously considering devoting my career to them (in, say, an area pertaining to child development or the like) but I want to do something totally different, something pertaining to my interests that I've never tried before, before committing to anything. Some details:
I graduated college a BS in English.
I'm very interested in the environment - I've seriously considered studying sustainability or the like. I absolutely love anything outdoors and I love gardening/growing things. I'd love experience in a field pertaining to sustainability/conservation or the like, but there are many and I'm overwhelmed.
I'm also interested in public health, or health issues in general. I went to Africa a few years ago and I got to help with a presentation on the transmission of AIDs and I LOVED it, far more than I loved working with kids. Public health/medicine are really interesting areas for me and I'd love experience there.
I did well in school and really love academia settings.
I know y'all can't choose a program for me, but some guidance on how to choose one given that information would be super helpful. I'm from Western NY, in a suburban/urban setting, and I'd like to go somewhere different. Very different.
Also, one more question: NCCC or VISTA? NCCC is appealing because they basically just throw you in somewhere, but I'd be 23-24 and I'm concerned about being the oldest person there. I'm afraid that the possible immaturity of the people I'm working with would bother me. However, there's something appealing about being placed in one of five projects; I think there's opportunity for growth. However, VISTA may be nice because I wouldn't be the oldest. There are just so. Many. To choose from. And so many states - how do I pick one? I've never been west of Ohio and I want to go somewhere new.
Thanks in advance.
22F, graduated last May with a Bachelor's in English. I have a lot of experience with kids... infact, it's just about the only area in which I have extensive experience, and I want to do something completely different. I like kids and am very seriously considering devoting my career to them (in, say, an area pertaining to child development or the like) but I want to do something totally different, something pertaining to my interests that I've never tried before, before committing to anything. Some details:
I graduated college a BS in English.
I'm very interested in the environment - I've seriously considered studying sustainability or the like. I absolutely love anything outdoors and I love gardening/growing things. I'd love experience in a field pertaining to sustainability/conservation or the like, but there are many and I'm overwhelmed.
I'm also interested in public health, or health issues in general. I went to Africa a few years ago and I got to help with a presentation on the transmission of AIDs and I LOVED it, far more than I loved working with kids. Public health/medicine are really interesting areas for me and I'd love experience there.
I did well in school and really love academia settings.
I know y'all can't choose a program for me, but some guidance on how to choose one given that information would be super helpful. I'm from Western NY, in a suburban/urban setting, and I'd like to go somewhere different. Very different.
Also, one more question: NCCC or VISTA? NCCC is appealing because they basically just throw you in somewhere, but I'd be 23-24 and I'm concerned about being the oldest person there. I'm afraid that the possible immaturity of the people I'm working with would bother me. However, there's something appealing about being placed in one of five projects; I think there's opportunity for growth. However, VISTA may be nice because I wouldn't be the oldest. There are just so. Many. To choose from. And so many states - how do I pick one? I've never been west of Ohio and I want to go somewhere new.
Thanks in advance.
Best answer: I did two internships at national parks through the SCA after graduating college and it was a great experience. I'm not sure exactly how SCA and AmeriCorps are linked now, but it looks like you can choose to be a part of AmerCorps as a part of your SCA experience (it seemed like an automatic connection when I did it). I didn't really look at any other AmeriCorps programs, so I can't speak to how SCA compares.
It sounds like you're in a pretty similar mindset that I was in after graduating - the SCA was great because I could just browse through the available internships so it wasn't so overwhelming as *all the options* but there was still a variety of options in exciting places. It was a nice transition, since SCA set me up with housing and helped with logistics, but I was working at the parks with other employees, not part of a student crew or anything (although that also an option). I agree that the project site makes a big difference, especially in the internships, since you're not necessarily with anyone from the Corps at all.
You can message me if you have any specific questions I can answer!
posted by moogs at 7:17 PM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
It sounds like you're in a pretty similar mindset that I was in after graduating - the SCA was great because I could just browse through the available internships so it wasn't so overwhelming as *all the options* but there was still a variety of options in exciting places. It was a nice transition, since SCA set me up with housing and helped with logistics, but I was working at the parks with other employees, not part of a student crew or anything (although that also an option). I agree that the project site makes a big difference, especially in the internships, since you're not necessarily with anyone from the Corps at all.
You can message me if you have any specific questions I can answer!
posted by moogs at 7:17 PM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would not do VISTA again even if they paid me (a living wage). Other programs tend to have more flexibility about having a second job or whatever.
posted by listen, lady at 7:23 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by listen, lady at 7:23 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: For what it's worth, when I did Americorps Direct back about 8 years ago now, I had a great time learning home renovation and helping to get people back into their houses in New Orleans. My Vista counterparts seemed to be having an equally great time learning how to help run a non-profit organization. We occasionally got NCCC crews through, and they really seemed babied and restricted in their behavior—dormitory-style quarters, no alcohol, group transportation, etc. They never stayed long enough or got out enough for me to get a feel for how they felt about it. I would be prepared to learn that things are different now and/or that the experience varies greatly from location to location, but that was my experience such as it was.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:41 PM on February 10, 2016
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:41 PM on February 10, 2016
Best answer: Geegollygosh has great and balanced advice above, but I'm going to add a strong one-sided plug: I think you should do NCCC. If you are looking for adventure and something different, NCCC is a good opportunity for that. It's a really neat, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Lots of Vista positions are more like an internship or a more traditional "real job." NCCC is an opportunity to have an experience - traveling, working really closely with a small group, experiencing a broad array of projects - that is pretty different from the normal workaday world that you'll be going into soon enough.
You'll only be a little bit older than your teammates, and there's a chance you won't be the oldest one. NCCC offers exposure to several different projects and environments, which sounds like it would be really helpful for you since you are interested in several different things right now. That might help you narrow down what to pursue after your Americorps service.
Plus NCCC will give you good skills at working with people, because working in your small group is such a crucible for teamwork and interaction. That's very valuable!
posted by aka burlap at 7:43 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
You'll only be a little bit older than your teammates, and there's a chance you won't be the oldest one. NCCC offers exposure to several different projects and environments, which sounds like it would be really helpful for you since you are interested in several different things right now. That might help you narrow down what to pursue after your Americorps service.
Plus NCCC will give you good skills at working with people, because working in your small group is such a crucible for teamwork and interaction. That's very valuable!
posted by aka burlap at 7:43 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'll put in a plug for Public Allies, with the caveat that it's just one of many, many other Americorps options that I can't speak to. The idea of the program is that it takes a group of people and places them in different nonprofits where, in theory, they do work that builds the capacity of the organization to take on projects or programs it otherwise couldn't. One day a week all the participants come together for trainings, service projects, retreats, etc. It attracts a mostly recent college graduate crowd - I was one of three high school graduates in my program, the rest were 0-5 years out of university. It also pays much better than most other Americorps programs - not well, but better, because the nonprofit you work at is financing much of the stipend. This also gives the nonprofit a pretty strong incentive to find meaningful work for you.
The type of work you do depends entirely on the organization you're paired with. As I remember it, you apply first to the program, then once accepted you interview with the nonprofits you're interested in, and in the end you and the nonprofits rank their top choices and are paired up. They have locations all over the country and you can apply to as many as you like. If you decide to go this route I'd definitely recommend applying to more than one, as some of the programs can be quite selective. Public Allies had flaws and I can speak more to those if you're interested, but overall I learned a ton and made some friends for life.
posted by exutima at 8:48 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
The type of work you do depends entirely on the organization you're paired with. As I remember it, you apply first to the program, then once accepted you interview with the nonprofits you're interested in, and in the end you and the nonprofits rank their top choices and are paired up. They have locations all over the country and you can apply to as many as you like. If you decide to go this route I'd definitely recommend applying to more than one, as some of the programs can be quite selective. Public Allies had flaws and I can speak more to those if you're interested, but overall I learned a ton and made some friends for life.
posted by exutima at 8:48 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
My only advice is know that you will not receive a livable stipend. You will need external financial support from family etc. unless you do NCCC which as other have said is more restrictive.
posted by French Fry at 10:50 AM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by French Fry at 10:50 AM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you have any interest in intentional community and/or are worried about affording rent in your new town, may I suggest Lutheran Volunteer Corps / Jesuit Volunteer Corps / I think the quakers also have something similar? You're in a house with several other people also working Americorps jobs, you generally share food and are expected to have low-key community activities. My LVC house included a Buddhist and some tending-to-agnostic folks, the religious component won't necessarily be a big deal. It was nice to have a ready-made group of folks with little money and some similar interests to hang out with, plus there were retreats in lovely places.
I also did a VISTA year. Both experiences probably would have worked better if I were a bit more mature / career focused and was able to translate it into a full time job with the agency / more marketable skills. Agree with exutima that being such cheap labor means that sometimes agencies aren't very engaged in managing you / finding you useful and challenging work.
posted by momus_window at 10:51 AM on February 11, 2016
I also did a VISTA year. Both experiences probably would have worked better if I were a bit more mature / career focused and was able to translate it into a full time job with the agency / more marketable skills. Agree with exutima that being such cheap labor means that sometimes agencies aren't very engaged in managing you / finding you useful and challenging work.
posted by momus_window at 10:51 AM on February 11, 2016
I'd like to go somewhere different. Very different.
With your interests working with children, public health, and the environment, you sound like a great candidate for working abroad with the Peace Corps.
posted by Ardea alba at 12:35 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
With your interests working with children, public health, and the environment, you sound like a great candidate for working abroad with the Peace Corps.
posted by Ardea alba at 12:35 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can't help on the Americorps v. NCCC question, but I know the feeling of wanting to hit a home run. In the meantime, I would encourage you to read books.
James Altucher's ebooks have been especially helpful to me - I would recommend Choose Yourself in a heartbeat ($0.99 on Amazon Kindle). Read nonfiction about people you want to emulate. Read fiction that gets your imagination going. Start new habits that will help you bunt to get on base while you're figuring out your home run play.
posted by roll away the dew at 6:54 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
James Altucher's ebooks have been especially helpful to me - I would recommend Choose Yourself in a heartbeat ($0.99 on Amazon Kindle). Read nonfiction about people you want to emulate. Read fiction that gets your imagination going. Start new habits that will help you bunt to get on base while you're figuring out your home run play.
posted by roll away the dew at 6:54 PM on February 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Great replies. Thank you, thank you. I have a lot to look into.
posted by Amy93 at 9:54 AM on February 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Amy93 at 9:54 AM on February 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I think NCCC appeals to a specific type of person--from what I understand, it will likely be more of a breadth not depth experience. You'll get to do multiple different things in several different places. Which could very well be ideal for you if you're in the exploration phase but may not help as much with building a lot of skills specific to a certain type of position or building a professional network if that's important to you. I can't speak to the maturity issue.
In VISTA and State and National, I can't emphasize enough that your experience will depend on the quality of the site or program that you are placed in. You'll have larger AmeriCorps contact in some way, but your day to day experience will depend on your host agency or program, and there are tons of those and they vary as wildly as any other workplace. Some are great and will teach you a lot and connect you with your interests and potential future careers, some suck and will leave you feeling alone, broke, overwhelmed or bored. Vet your programs. Ask them questions about how you'll be used, how they'll support you, ask if you can talk to someone who had the role in the past.
I am not going to be that great at recommending specific programs because my programs both had to do with kids/education, but some to potentially look into that I know of (without vouching for the quality because I am not experienced enough with any of them): Red Cross AmeriCorps programs in multiple cities for public health ed; Foodcorps for gardening, public health and education; various conservation corps.
I would start on the AmeriCorps website and search the opportunities, but I would also look on local, nonprofit, and field-specific job boards for opportunities that you might miss using the AmeriCorps search functions.
The idea is that State and National and NCCC programs are hands-on direct service working with people, while VISTAs are capacity building, more behind the scenes and specifically focused on poverty alleviation. I will say that the breakdown doesn't always seem so clear so I wouldn't start by narrowing it down to one branch; instead I'd look at the opportunities themselves. You will probably find info that VISTA placements don't let you work a second job or pull in any additional income--this is no longer true. However, the stipend is less than the other branches. VISTAs also tend to be placed singly or in small groups while State and National often has a larger group of corps members working together but again this isn't a hard and fast rule.
Hope this helps. For my part, I had a great experience in AmeriCorps both times, but again the positions are variable. Feel free to message me with any other questions.
posted by geegollygosh at 6:51 PM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]