Community Service Applications Way, Way Up
Job applications from college students to federal community service programs such as Teach for America are way, way up. The explanations vary, but it is clear that far more of today's college students are applying for positions with AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and other such organizations than in years past.
According to the Star Tribune, "Teach For America, a two-year program that places college graduates in low-performing schools around the country, the number of applicants fell in 2007 but this year jumped 36 percent to nearly 25,000 would-be teachers. Only 3,700 are placed. When the program began in 1990, 2,500 students applied."
So what is driving the sudden surge in interest in these wonderful programs? Some reasons are:
- High student loan balances coupled with loan forgiveness programs.
- Gen Y'ers are generally more community service oriented than Gen X'ers or Baby Boomers.
- The economy is sputtering and these programs offer job safety and good benefits.
- Students see these opportunities as good breathers between their undergraduate and graduate school studies.
I love to hear great news like this. The more people we have working for the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and AmeriCorps the better place this world will be. I'm not as concerned about the reasons behind the increase in applications I'm just so thankful that so many more young people want to help out.