Fulltime Service After Graduation: An Exploration Guide An exciting array of post-college service programs lay before you... Everything from a few months to a couple of years, in settings close to home or on the other side of the globe. Many of these programs offer placements that will stretch your knowledge, your skills and your awareness, better preparing you for graduate school and your future career. You will have the opportunity to work in a professional environment, learning firsthand about community issues and processes for addressing them, while applying your skills in responsible and challenging capacities. Take advantage of all that full-time service has to offer; it’s an opportunity of a lifetime. The Center for Community Service and Justice staff is here to assist you as you consider your options. We offer literature on a range of post-college service programs, as well as directories that categorize programs according to various criteria. | 
Graduating Seniors '05
who are participating in
community service after graduation
gathered at a reception in their honor
after Baccalaureate mass. |
If you would like to talk about options for full-time service after graduation, contact Christina Harrison at ext.2771
or to set up an appointment. Questions for you to consider: 1. What are your motivations for volunteering? - Wanting to give back for all you have been given?
- Personal challenge?
- Hands-on experience for future career?
- Something totally different from what you may do in the future?
2. International or domestic service? - Does mileage from home matter?
- Open to expanding or developing completely new friends/support group?
- Do you prefer an urban or a rural environment?
- Do you desire brand new experiences in a new place or would you rather stay somewhere that is familiar?
3. Short-term or long-term? - What type of commitment are you prepared to make?
- Short-term commitment: 3-6 months
- Long-term commitment: 1-3 years
4. What types of skills and issues do you want to be engaged in? - Do you want to work with people or the environment (etc.)?
- Are you interested in Advocacy, Business, Community Organizing, Health Care, Homeless Services, Legal Aid, Materially Poor, Native Americans, Teaching, Women’s issues, Youth, etc.?
- What skills and knowledge do you have that you would like to apply in your position?
- What skills and knowledge would you like to develop through your position?
- What is your future career path and how will a community-based position better prepare you for that path?
5. What type of living arrangement suits you? - Communal: Do you want to share the common experience with others by living with them?
- Independent: Do you want to live independently and have the support of a community that you meet with on a weekly or monthly basis?
6. Do you prefer a Faith-based or a secular program? - Faith-Based: Are service and spirituality interconnected for you?
- Secular: Do you want a non-faith-based program emphasizing service, social change, advocacy, and/or civic involvement?
7. What previous volunteer experiences do you have that lead you to believe that a volunteer year would be a good experience for you? Back to the top Questions to Explore with the Program Representative: 1. Financial - Is loan deferment available if I have student loans?
- Is room and board included? Stipend?
- Is simple lifestyle (living on a minimal amount of money) an option or required in the program?
2. Health - Is health insurance offered to the volunteers?
- Does the program fund prescription medication?
3. Community/Interpersonal - Is there an orientation at the beginning and a re-orientation at end of program to get me acclimated to the culture?
- Is there a support system near the placement sites?
- Are there times throughout the year when the entire group reconvenes to share experiences and information?
- Is a mentor, spiritual director, mental health counselor accessible?
- Is language training necessary prior to volunteering or provided for volunteers?
4. Transportation - Is travel possible during the service commitment, if so what support does the program offer?
- Can I bring my own vehicle?
5. Who covers daily travel expenses, repairs and car insurance? - Is use of public transportation expected?
- Does the program pay for transportation to orientation and/or service site? Trip home at the end of service commitment?
6. Education - Is an education award/grant available at the end of my year of service?
Back to the top - You can do post-college service even if you have student loans to pay back?
- You can serve in a non-English speaking country? (Many programs offer language training as part of their orientation.)
- Health insurance is provided by most programs to their volunteers?
- Most faith-based programs enable you to re-connect with other program members to share experiences and information in interesting parts of the country?
- You can serve in a field of interest that is in conjunction with your major? Or in a field that is totally unrelated?
- Most programs pay for your trip to your service placement and home at the end of your year of service?
- A lot of former volunteers remain in the city in which they have served, so you will be likely to find support in the larger community?
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