Graduation is coming…do you know what you’ll be doing next?
Here are some of the comments we hear from students:
- “I plan to apply to grad school in a year or two.”
- “I want to try a few options before I settle on a career.”
- “My schoolwork was my priority for the last four years, and I need to get some experience before I look for something long-term.”
Are you looking for a meaningful position with a 1-year commitment? AmeriCorps may be for you.
The benefits to AmeriCorps participants are numerous: a living stipend, health coverage, student loan deferment, and a $5000 education award that could be applied to graduate school or used to pay off current school loans.
You won’t get rich, but you will gain experiential and financial rewards that can help you in the future.
There are three different programs within AmeriCorps, each with a different focus:
AmeriCorps State and National
Make a difference in your community or across the country. AmeriCorps funds thousands of positions in state and national non-profit organizations that focus on a range of issues from community development to technology. In these programs you’ll work directly with the organizations and gain experience you wouldn’t normally get in a typical entry-level role.
AmeriCorps VISTA: Fight Poverty with Passion
VISTA members serve full-time for a year with nonprofit or government agencies that work on literacy, improving health services, creating businesses, strengthening community groups, and more.
AmeriCorps NCCC: National Civilian Community Corps
Modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, NCCC is a team-based residential program with 5 campuses across the country which focus on critical needs related to natural disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development.
The program requires a 10-month commitment and you’ll be assigned to teams that travel to complete service projects in the region around your campus. Since NCCC provides housing and meals, the living stipend is lower, but the other benefits remain the same.
Have questions about AmeriCorps or other service opportunities? Visit CES to talk with a career advisor about your options!
© 2012 Career and Employment Services, University of Puget Sound