Program Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Fellows/USA program, returned Volunteers are to have completed their Peace Corps service satisfactorily. Satisfactory completion means:

• having completed the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service, or the full tour minus up to 90 days if you returned home on an emergency leave;
• having been granted an "Early Close of Service" or an "Interrupted Service" due to circumstances beyond your control; or
• having been medically separated and having completed a year of service, including training.

University Admissions Criteria

Universities, in collaboration with employing agencies, establish additional admissions criteria. Before you can become a Peace Corps Fellow, you must apply to and be accepted by a partner university’s Fellows/USA program. While a few of the programs are highly competitive, most are eager to enroll more Fellows. Typically, Fellows are selected because of their ability to demonstrate their commitment to both service and a profession. However, because admission is not guaranteed, the Peace Corps encourages you to apply to more than one program. The number of fellowships awarded at each site depends upon many factors, including available funds, employment opportunities, and graduate school enrollment capacities.

Check university requirements and allow sufficient time to take necessary tests and to obtain letters of recommendation and college transcripts before applying. Many programs require that applicants take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), or another standardized test. Similarly, some states require that prospective teachers take the National Teachers Examination (NTE), state tests, or other exams, before issuing a temporary or conditional teaching certificate. These standardized tests are offered a few times per year.

Whether the university requires it or not, it is helpful to include your Description of Service (DOS) statement with your application. The DOS is a certified document issued by the Peace Corps that states the activities and duties of Volunteers during their service. The DOS details the training you received and the work you performed, including your secondary projects in country. It also lists your language proficiency exam scores. Some universities may grant credit, initial teaching certification, or waive requirements based on the DOS. If you have not yet completed your service, submit a detailed description of your work to date followed by your DOS as soon as it becomes available.

If you need to request a copy of your DOS from the Peace Corps, contact Volunteer and PSC Financial Services at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.

How to Apply

• Contact the program coordinators at the universities that interest you to request program and application information.
• Narrow the list down to a few programs for which you would like to be considered. Most returned Volunteers apply to four or five programs.
• Follow all the application instructions. You must apply to each university separately. The program coordinator will check with the Peace Corps to determine your service record and eligibility.

When to Apply

Contact university program coordinators to determine application deadlines for specific institutions. Volunteers may begin the application process during their final year of service or they may apply anytime after service. In some countries, it may even be possible to take the GRE.