(My comments are in black, my emails are in italics, Pre-Service Nurse in blue, Placement in purple)
Disclaimer before I begin: I'm not trying to say or prove anything with this post. Trust me, my process has been a very atypical application process. Don't let it scare you away from joining!
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From: Me
To: Pre-Service Nurse email (from here on in, abbreviated PSN)
Date: August 15, 2012
Time: 3:20pm
Hello!
I know that you are busy, but I was told if I didn't hear by the middle of the August to email somebody. I started Medical with the "Mental Health" paperwork, but I never sent in the forms to get my deferral lifted (I haven't had the money to go to a therapist yet). I have to do the Medical portion, but I haven't gotten my portal log in yet. I don't know if this is enough information for you, or who I should talk to about this.
Have a good day.
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From: PSN
To: Me
Date: August 16, 2012
Time: 6:48pm
Dear Mary,
Since your deferral is still in place, you will likely need to restart the whole application process with a recruiter. I will check this information with our placement department, but I believe that they will only migrate over recruiting files for applicants that have previously completed a physical exam or are now able to clear the deferral condition.
Thank you.
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From: Me
To: PSN
Date: August 17, 2012
Time: 7:12pm
Hello!
Thanks for the response. I'm not sure I understand. I am able to clear my deferral, and it was supposed to be lifted in June. I just can't afford to do the clearance until next month. Does that mean I have to restart the entire process all over again?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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After this, there was a bit of silence, so on August 21st, I called the Pre-Service Nurse to ask if they had received my email, and left a message because nobody picked up. What I asked above is basically what I asked in the voice mail, mentioning that I had already emailed but hadn't heard back.
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From: PSN
To: Me
Date: August 22, 2012
Time: 8:37pm
Hi Mary,
We are working with Placement to see if they will maneuver you into the new system. Hopefully you will receive some email communication from the new systems soon.
Thank you.
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From: PSN
To: Me
Date: August 29, 2012
Time: 11:54am
Dear Mary,
The placement office was planning to get in touch with you about your file and what you will need to do at this point to re-apply. If you have not heard from them you can contact 202-XXX-XXXX.
Thank you.
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So I called Placement on Friday, August 31 during my break at work, and talked to an amazing woman at the Health Placement desk who was trying to figure out what I was talking about. She said she'd email me back. When I hadn't heard by the next Wednesday (September 5th), I called again, and talked to the same woman. She told me all I needed was a reference number and to email certain people. Since this was a my-health-related thing, I wanted to double check with the Pre-Service Nurse.
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From: Me
To: PSN
Date: September 5, 2012
Time: 4:23pm
Hello!
I called Placement Friday, and again today, and spoke with them. They said that they sent over a question to you guys, and they didn't really know what I was talking about within the new system. They told me to email xxxxxxxx@peacecorps.gov so that I could gain access to the new system to fill out my Health History form. This is all correct, right? I only have to fill out my new form, or will I have to restart the application over again?
Thanks.
I called Placement Friday, and again today, and spoke with them. They said that they sent over a question to you guys, and they didn't really know what I was talking about within the new system. They told me to email xxxxxxxx@peacecorps.gov so that I could gain access to the new system to fill out my Health History form. This is all correct, right? I only have to fill out my new form, or will I have to restart the application over again?
Thanks.
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From: PSN
To: Me
Date: September 6, 2012
Time: 11:56pm
Dear Mary,
One of the placement supervisors had reviewed your file and was going to contact you to let you know that you needed to restart an application with a recruiter, because your file had expired. I have contacted placement again (the supervisor who was to handle this has since left Peace Corps) and they will hopefully be in touch with you by the end of the week. The instruction to contact xxxxxxxx was not accurate. The transition to the new system has been chaotic for everyone, so please bear with us as we work out the requirements for your case.
Thank you.
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After this, I got in the shower and cried. Then I proceeded to be unable to sleep (this has been my dream since 5th grade), so I created a new account and managed to finish the entire application in just under 3 hours. It helped that my essays were already written.
So I was content until I received the following email today.
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From: Health Placement Desk
To: Me
Date: September 6, 2012
Time: 12:00pm
Hi Mary,
It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday. You should be receiving two emails shortly – one from me, with a candidate reference number, and another from the health portal. You will use the candidate reference number to complete the Health History Form.
We can also see that you began a new online profile; you do not need to work with that profile further, just follow the instructions in the emails you receive today.
Best,
[Placement Officer's Name]
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Then I proceeded to almost completely fill out the Health History Questionnaire, while simultaneously kicking myself for staying up late (when I had an early lab) to fill out the application form. Patience and I don't get along too well.
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And that has been my saga for the past month. Really, you can't make this kind of stuff up! Ups and downs and all sorts of emotional nonsense.
Anyway, for those who are unaware, the Peace Corps changed over their entire application system in early July, and they have been trying to work out the kinks. I don't fault them; I totally understand how hard it can be to use a new system when you've been using a different one, especially when it concerns technology. It's just been really frustrating. Ha!
But now, life is about to get better. I also have so much amazing fun stuff to write about, including a post or two about International friends who have come to visit!
Hope your week has been less stressful than mine!
