Hey- unfortunately, I do not know when you will find out whether or not you’ve been accepted. I think I learned I was accepted into NCCC in Novemeber. My term started in February. I can tell you that some people find out a couple months before and some don’t know until a couple weeks before, due to being wait-listed and all that that entails. 

I hope everything goes well for you!! 

Congrats on your acceptance!! NCCC spends a fair amount of time supporting Corps members in Life After AmeriCorps (LAA). Truly, though, it depends on the circumstances of the spikes you are on. Some spikes leave one with a lot of free time, while others leave one a bit exhausted after the workday. I suggest that you let your team and TL know, right off the bat, that you will be needing the time and space to do those Grad school apps and to study. That way, once it comes time to do the work, they’ll already know how important that time is to you. I do suggest that you ask around if you want help regarding either the applications or the GRE, as staff, faculty, and TLs have varying skills. Definitely use them as resources!

Enjoy your AmeriCorp term. :)

Well, let me start by saying my answer is obviously biased. I have not done Vista although I have heard both good and unfortunate things about it. What I can tell you is that NCCC was life changing for me. The amount of diverse experience, the constant interaction for people very different than myself, the traveling, the good, honest work… it was amazing. And it was hard! It was at times very challenging; there was a ton of interpersonal communication barriers to break down as well as dealing with the bureaucracy of AmeriCorps’ hierarchy. At least as a TL you’d have a little more say. ;)

I have heard that Vista can be hard because you must find and pay for your own housing and food. NCCC isn’t perfect, but at least those things are taken care of on a financial level.

You know you best. Do you think that putting a years worth of energy into one situation feels best? Do you think that you would be able to handle and enjoy the amount of flexibility and leadership it would take to lead a team of 10 people ages 18-24? Do you find more value in teaching English or in doing various service projects? I really think that you must look inside yourself to see where you feel you would a. develop/learn the most, b. be the happiest in terms of where you passion lie, c. what your gut tells you. I imagine you will make the right decision with all the information you have at the time. BEST wishes!! And feel free to come back sometime and let me know what you picked! I’d be interested to know. :) Take care.

If you are specifically asking about NCCC, then no to both questions. They will assign you a region. Also, for NCCC, your team would do at least 4 major projects throughout the 10 months. Each project should be fairly different in terms of what service category they fit into. For example, my team planted trees in Vermont, Building Houses in New Jersey and worked in a Habitat for Humanity Warehouse and Restore in New Orleans. Also, I was on what is called a “disaster team” which meant we responded to a disaster that happened during my term of service. I applied for and was chosen to serve on a team supporting distribution centers for those affected by the Gulf oil spill. We worked with children there, mainly.

Also, I think you’re in luck because teams generally do a lot of housing and environmental work. :) Does all that answer your question? Feel free to write back if you still want more information.

If it says the age limit is 24, (and if I remember correctly) then you have to be 24 at the time you start the program. I had a team member who had a birthday during the service that made him older than the limit, but had no problems. :) Also, you can apply as a team leader, which has different ages. I do think it’s better to be a Corps member first, though.

It is definitely an amazing program.

Depending on where you are on a “spike” or project, you generally get access to the internet. It’s not guaranteed, but you’re only in one location for 8 weeks or less. Also, teams often do trips into town (if in the boonies) for internet access. It’s different for every team and every project, but over I was usually able to get the internet. As for phones, only one of my projects did we not have great cell access, but it worked well enough. If you don’t have your own phone, I’m sure someone in your team would be willing to share.

It was not hard to communicate with my family, though it is a little weird trying to explain to them what all I was doing! That’s why I kept this blog and wrote when I could to update everyone. I let them know ahead of time about the blog (many asked me to write one) and so that was really helpful when I didn’t have many hours to call everyone I loved back home.

As for safe environments, that is a tough call. AmeriCorps NCCC is very very very cautious and concerned with safety. My team was actually moved from one New Orleans house to a different volunteer housing due to neighborhood violence. However, many of us thought the move was uncalled for. The truth is that sometimes we worked in very impoverished areas. Things happen. So safety is always discussed and treated as the highest priority. I would like to say that my team lived in Camden, NJ which was at the time the poorest city in the US complete with drug needles in the parks. But I met some of the most amazing and inspirational people of my life there. People are people everywhere. They difference is just being cautious and very aware. Considering all of the safety-related events that occurred (not that there were very many), none were enough to make me leave. What I gained is invaluable.

As for your Dad, I’d say

1. $5,350 or so toward school upon finishing

2. Independent experience

3. GREAT for getting a job post-AmeriCorps

4. A developed work ethic that might make any Dad proud

5. Skills developed

6. Traveling to really cool places

7. Making tons of friends and connection to people and organizations from around the US

8. Help discovering what passion you may want to follow in your life

9. Doing something beneficial- making a seriously huge, positive effect in the world

10. Self-expansion and growth so that you may become the best world citizen possible.

:)

Let me know if you need any more help convincing him. :) Also, it’s important to know if and when it’s time to make decisions for yourself, even if others don’t fully agree. I appreciate you asking questions to help you further your understanding and I hope you continue to make decisions that are aligned with your purpose, passion, and heart. :) BEST of fortune as you move forward. 

Hey!

1. Yes, there is one 2-week break in the summer (early July) if you start in the winter. I’m sure there is another 2-week break for the other season starting, just not sure exactly when. You can fly/drive/etc home during that time, but AmeriCorps will not pay for your travel then. You can also stay on campus, I believe.

2. No fees! :)

3. YES! People love hearing that I did AmeriCorps, especially because it gave me training in all sorts of areas. People generally recognize the dedication it take to do AmeriCorps and that it’s also service work. AmeriCorps usually does some training for Corps members around creating a good resume as well, which helps. NCCC spent a lot of time discussing with us what our post-AmeriCorps plans were and helping us achieve them.

Let me know if I can help you further! Take care. <3

Congrats!!

I did write a fairly long post to a similar question, which you can read in detail if interested, but here’s a more list-y recap. :] Also know that you should be provided with a very warm jacket, beanie, pants, shorts, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, steel-toed boots and a sweatshirt. Also, I was given a bandanna. I also acquired 12 t-shirts during my 10 months from different Non-Profits. Also, be aware that things happen, so I’d hesitate to bring any seriously valuable stuff with you (whether monetarily or sentimentally valuable).

When traveling on “spikes” or projects, you’ll be given a red bag and generally told you cannot bring more than you can fit in it, besides maybe a pillow and guitar. So seriously:

PACK LIGHT

Lots of sock and underwear

a couple nice outfits for outings

good, warm PJs

couple pairs of jeans

your favorite warm jacket

a pair of shorts

Ts for summertime

a laptop, cell phone, and mp3 mp3 auxiliary cable if you have them

some books, a journal/notebook, a handful of family photos, warm bed sheets, and any small items that keep you sane

scarf, gloves, sunglasses, bug-spray and toiletries.

Beyond that, just things to keep you entertained on long van rides and keep you sane in your housing. A hacky sack, a sketch pad- whatever you really like to do that doesn’t take up much room. Seriously consider what you don’t really need and what you can get there. 

Also, do check out my other post to see if I missed anything this time. HAVE FUN and don’t take anything too seriously. ;)

http://americorpswolf.tumblr.com/post/12333070382/ive-been-accepted-for-this-years-nccc-in-maryland

Yay! Best of fortune to you! Thanks for all the good you’re doing in the world! Much love love love!

Hmmm… good question!

I believe that AmeriCorps will pay for one baggage item if the airline charges for that first piece, but I’m not entirely sure. I flew Southwest, so my first piece was free anyway. I do recall that the first piece of luggage, when paid for, was $25 the last time I flew.

I’d double check with any of the campuses via or try to find an email address on the AmeriCorps website. Personally, I’d be sneaky and try to get someone on the phone at one of the campuses who could at least forward you to the right person. Email may take awhile. :)

Would you, if you check with them, write back here with the answer? That would be really useful. Thank you!