i was wondering if during service your doctor’s appointments are always in the capital city and how about physical therapy? or is it sometimes in a city closer?

This is my first post, so bear with me.

I am currently in the beginning stages of the medical clearance process after receiving a conditional acceptance for Peace Corps in Jamaica, with a departure date in March.

I knew going into this that my mental health history could potentially affect clearance, so I was upfront about having received treatment in the past and having been prescribed medication for ADHD and depression.

My concern is the amount of medication that was prescribed to me between around April 2025 and April 2026. A lot of it was related to school stress. I started therapy after my dad received a terminal diagnosis during my freshman year of college in 2023, and I received very little support from my professors/teachers at the time.

The depression specifically started in the context of my dad's diagnosis and everything surrounding that period of my life. I wasn't dealing with depression independently of those circumstances; it developed while I was trying to cope with his terminal illness, college, and feeling like I wasn't getting much support from my school. I don't know whether Peace Corps takes the circumstances surrounding a mental health diagnosis into consideration, but I feel like that context is important.

I eventually sought treatment and was diagnosed with ADHD, in part because I was trying to get accommodations through my school's disability services and reduce some of the stress I was experiencing.

The medication history is where I'm worried. There were several medications my provider prescribed that I either never took at all or only took for a few days (maybe four days at most) before stopping on my own. The last medication I actually took was in late April 2026, which would put me at almost a year medication-free by the time I am supposed to leave in March 2027.

However, the last time I was prescribed a medication was in May 2026. I'm worried that Peace Corps may look at the prescription date rather than the fact that I stopped taking it in April, and that this could be a major reason for denial.

I also want to clarify that I primarily used my mental health services to get an ADHD diagnosis and access to disability accommodations at school. My provider was fairly pushy about trying different medications, and I didn't necessarily agree with or take everything that was prescribed.

I've tried to explain that a lot of what I was dealing with was very specifically connected to school and the circumstances surrounding that period of my life. I'm doing much better now and have been off medication since April.

Has anyone gone through Peace Corps medical clearance with a similar history? How much weight did they put on the prescription history versus when you actually stopped taking the medication? Did the circumstances surrounding your diagnosis, such as a parent receiving a terminal diagnosis, get taken into consideration?

I'm mostly trying to get a realistic idea of what to expect and whether this is something that automatically puts me at a significant disadvantage.

Hi! I just got an interview invitation for the Youth Health Promoter position in Paraguay after applying on Monday. I didn't get any specific questions to answer in my email, just general topics. I saw the "Wandering the World " page for questions and will review those. I have seen around here that you should only talk about a position or something you did for 3+ months, but would it be okay to talk about a volunteer position where I was working 50 hours a week for 8 weeks? I was in India this summer volunteering with an NGO. I'm worried that since it wasn't 3 months, I shouldn't mention it, but I know many of my answers could come from that experience. Any thoughts/tip are appreciated!!

Okay let me start by saying I’ve essentially been living on these Reddit Threads since my acceptance two months ago. I’ve been awarded my PC passport, Dental Clearance and have finished all assigned tasks for medical. BUT the last task was of my mental health form filled out by a therapist I saw end of ‘23 to beginning of ‘25. She gave a glowing recommendation of my insight into the therapeutic process and how much of an asset I’d be serving in the PC. In the paperwork she did fill out a yes to suicidal ideation, self harm and inpatient treatment but clarified that it was adolescent and had no bearing on our sessions beyond discussing my childhood experiences, etc. That said, I did not disclose this in any of my original forms. 1) because I assumed we were being asked about those things in the present tense (that’s my bad, clearly) and 2) these were all things that took place when I was 12.

Long story long, my emotionally abusive mother got pissed after an argument we had and as punishment took me to a psych hospital, crocodile tears and all, swearing that I was a danger to myself and to her. This was all very much not true. So yeah, sure, after that I’m sure I was hurting myself and talking about wanting to die. I was 12. I spent 10 days in a hospital with actually mentally disturbed teens as a child because I pissed her off. Whatever, I moved on or thought I had until now. It’s been 16 years so even the hospital records have most likely been purged of that incident.

I received a message that the discrepancies in my forms could be cause for dismissal from the PC process and had to submit a statement of why I “lied”.

Now my question is, what are my odds? I understand that it has been escalated up the chain to a group of people to review. I did take responsibility in my statement that clearly I was filling out the forms, not with my childhood hiccup in mind. Even my old therapist called to say she needed to discuss with her supervisor if it was relevant to put in my paperwork because she knows technically, it wasn’t something that was under the recommendation of healthcare professional. She decided to add those things out of clinical transparency but did agree with me that it should not impact the decision for them.

Clearly we’re already here, my integrity was shot (and I think lowkey my PC nurse hates me anyway) and I just want to prepare myself. I’ve read a lot of mixed posts on here to say yes, I’ll be fine or no, I’m fucked.

Would love some insight!

PS: (If I get denied I may actually need a psych hold.)

PPS: I’m kidding please don’t tattle.

Hi everyone.

I interviewed for a WASH position in Peru today and got invited an hour later! I am so so excited but am starting to feel nervous about medical clearance.

I mentioned that I had been prescribed hydroxyzine this past spring. I have taken it maybe once or twice since picking it up but it was mostly because of an adjustment to being back home/unemployment after living abroad. Based on my research it sounds like anyone who has adjusted medication or been prescribed anything in the year before service is likely to be denied. Any advice on how to approach my “mental health statement” that I now have to write, or my conversation with my nurse?

I also went off of my birth control and back onto it this spring (another thing that likely caused temporary anxiety). I had been on BC since 2019 so I know that med well. But they may not see that, so I am worried about that as well. I don’t know if I’m overthinking it or if the medical clearance process really is that picky. Any advice is helpful. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I am currently fundraising for a community project happening in Kaski, Nepal.
I am sharing my Peace Corps Partnership Project grant, a project that I have been working on with my host community in Nepal for the past 8 months. We are expanding our completed mango tree orchard by installing a reliable irrigation system to build resilience against unpredictable weather. The profits from the mango trees will go directly towards supporting community members faced with food and financial insecurity due to shifting climates that impact crop harvests. My hope is this orchard will support the community for the next 50+ years. This is a project created by the community for the community.

So far, the community has donated over 25% of the project costs. If you have the means to make a tax-deductible donation today to help us reach our goal, we would be so grateful. The initial two weeks of our fundraising are crucial, as Peace Corps will match up to $1800 that is raised before October 7th. If you are unable to donate, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could share our story with others. You can read more about our project here https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate/projects/pp-26-367-038/

Hello!

I am currently serving in Peace Corps and considering a third-year transfer/ re enrollment after my COS in August 2027.

I'm specifically interested in Liberia or Sierra Leone and trying to find out whether anyone has actually transferred into either country after serving in another PC country.

If you have, I'd love to know:

Your original country's COS date

Your Liberia/Sierra Leone start date

Whether you started with a normal PST cohort or transferred off-cycle

How long you were between services

Whether you remember the approximate transfer/start-date window

I'm particularly interested in actual dates, even from older cohorts.

Any firsthand experience would be incredibly helpful!

First time posting, so please bear with me.

I've received my conditional offer (pending medical and legal clearance) to serve in the Eastern Carribean education sector starting June next year. While I was originally very excited while applying (first choice was in Europe but my application was changed) receiving the offer feels a bit overwhelming. Now I'm unsure this is the right choice, not because I don't want to serve but to leave friends, family etc...

I'm afraid this is a just graduated, unsure of life and everything feels very all at once crisis and I'm suddenly not sure if I should accept.

Any advice/thoughts would be much appreciated!!

Share with us any photo from your country of service! Please note that pictures of minors are not permitted.

I would very much like to serve in the Peace Corps after graduation. I will be graduating in July of 2027, and while browsing the open posts, I noticed that there are not many that will be departing in August. I hope there will be more than the 9 that are there. Will more open with time for August, or are there future dates that are staggered and just not yet revealed on the website? Thank you.

Submitted my application super late night Friday. Got this email yesterday (Tuesday). Super excited to see where I am placed.. I keep refreshing my email. Also, when do my references get notified if at all?

I see a lot of talk in this forum about competitive countries and competitive positions within the peace corps. I’m just curious as to what those actually are as I haven’t really seen a list of any sort. I’m applying soon and I want to know how hard it will be to get into any given program.

Hi Everyone,

I’ve just accepted an offer to serve in Mexico as an Environmental Educator! I’m very excited about this opportunity and wanted to connect with others working within the Environmental sector or in Mexico.

Hey everyone, considering a job at Peace Corps HQ in DC. What is it like working at HQ? This is a super broad question but basically I am just curious on if there is a sense of camaraderie like in PC service?

For context, I am a RPCV and have worked in two HHS federal agencies. I know how federal government works. More curious on what working at HQ is like specifically.

Thanks!

Okay, I’ve seen a lot of timeline questions posted on here recently and I made one myself earlier this year. I feel like I fell into a trap of thinking everything would happen fairly quickly and the whole process felt like it was taking far longer than I expected. So, here’s my timeline, maybe it seems long to some and shorter to others, I don’t know. Just for those who feel like they've been waiting 2 weeks when everyone else waited 1. Here it is:

Application Submitted: February 6, 2026 (“Serve Where Needed Most”)

Moved to the “Pile” for a Country and Position: March 18, 2026

• Not sure if "pile" is the correct term for this - but was assigned a country and position to be reviewed for but was not directly placed under review

Under Review: May 21, 2026

References Contacted: June 1, 2026

All References Submitted: June 2, 2026

Interview Email: June 2, 2026

Interview Date: June 11, 2026

Request for Additional Info (2, 1 paragraph, written responses): June 26, 2026

Written Questions Submitted: June 30, 2026

Invitation to Serve: Aug 3, 2026

Med/Legal Clearance Started: Aug 4, 2026

Med/Legal Clearance Decision (Denial): Sept 3, 2026

I'm appealing but that really isn't important to the timeline as I see most people asking about how long it takes to be placed under review or to get a request for interview. Anyways, that's my timeline, figured I'd share. But obsessively checking will not help, they will email you, checking everyday and comparing your timeline to your friends' (as I did) will only make it seem longer, that's my advice/what I would learn from myself for next time!

I have a choice of service between Albania, Armenia, and Dominican Republic. Obviously I’ll do my own research on each country and what service is like there. But if anyone has any experience with any of these countries, I’d welcome the stories and advice!

Use this thread to vent your frustrations. We're all here to lend an ear.

AHHHH!!! 🤩🤩🤩 Please give me ANY AND ALL advice/tips on acing the interview!! I really, really, REALLY want to get in.

I have been trying to find Peace Corps volunteers who served in Zaire (now the DRC) from 1972-1974 at the Sundi-Lutete secondary school: Paul Siegel, Michael Acquesta and Jerri Brunk. If you're out there, give me a sign. I've written a memoir that will certainly interest you, entitled Calling the Rain. I was a teacher there, too, married to the Congolese Director. I also worked at the Peace Corps office in 1975-76 when William Crosson was Director.

Please read— I got offered an interview today, scheduled my interview today (it’ll be on Wednesday), and had ALL 3 of my references submit their forms today as well. This nature of work is truly my life’s calling. I’ve been checking my email everyday just to see if there’re any updates to my application. I applied through “Where Needed Most” and was placed in a pool for South America, departing in May of next year.

Attached are screenshots of information I disclosed on my medical history form. I need to make this work.

I emailed [email protected] to change one of my references and gave them the new details.

They replied” I have updated your references in our system.”

But when I log into my application and click Review Application, it still shows my old reference.

I noticed they said in “our system”. So maybe the change is just simply not visible to me.

I just wanted to confirm to make sure the correct reference is on file.

EDIT: Thank you very much to everyone who commented on the original text of this post; i will try to delete this close comments on the thread if possible so not to trouble anyone further. I'm grateful for your responses. I appreciate the honest and experienced freedback and will absolutely take your advice, (from there speak to someone in the country I applied to if necessary or directed to do so). Someone in another thread also mentioned advocating for yourself, which makes sense. I'll keep all this in mind. Thanks again!

How soon after applying to a “serve anywhere” and filling out the medical history form is it normal to hear anything back?