| Has anyone's kid participate? Any feedback? Worthwhile? Well organized? Lead to something useful on completion? |
I love Americorps. My kids didn't do it, but I encouraged them to. I've worked with the program for many years, most recently with their placements at City Year. |
| My niece did it. She had a so so experience. She was passionate about her placement (in Las Vegas) but felt the program was very disorganized. |
| I know two different kids who did it, with two different placements. Both loved it, and are doing great in college now. |
| I did it in 1994-95. It was great as a gap year. I got a small stipend and a small college award when I finished. More than anything, it kept me busy (we were in a recession) and helped me refocus. A friend’s daughter completed a year of AmeriCorps during he pandemic (also a gap year for her) and enjoyed it, I think. |
| My daughter did it for the year after her college graduation. She loved her experience, felt like she learned a lot. She developed a research interest and has gone on to graduate school. It wasn't an easier year; she was very much out of her comfort zone but the experience has really changed her outlook and her career path. |
| Two of my kid's friends who didn't get a job or scholarship for graduate school, had no choice but to do Americorp. They ended up retaking GRE and going to grad school. They say if you don't have other options, its better than wasting time on retail jobs. You get to travel and have new experiences and its better than a gap year on resume. |
| Disorganized, with dimwit tyrants as bosses. Especially when anyone off the street can find a $15-20 hr job with ease. I wouldn't waste your time. |
| Thanks for the replies. DS has graduated from college but is not sure exactly where he wants to head. Americorps FEMA would be his focus. |
| Do people do this after HS or is it just for college graduates? |