Are you a student in the Madison area looking for tips that will help bolster your Peace Corps Application or improve your chances?
Check out the following! These articles have been curated for UW students and alumni based on common questions received during Advising hours.
Local Opportunities
- Don't know where to start? Search the Inventory
- Virtual Engagement: PEACE (Practicing English and Cultural Exchange)
- Center for Pre-Health Advising Pandemic Involvement Ideas
- Literacy Network Internships
- Social Justice Hub
- Badger Micro-Internships
- SuccessWorks Resources
- UW BASES Service Learning
- Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI)
- Food Banks
Don’t know where to start? Check out the Diversity Inventory.
The Diversity Inventory (DI) is a searchable online database of diversity and inclusion programs, events, research, support services, and assessment on campus and in the Madison community. This centralized directory collects and reports diversity data, ultimately affecting change by connecting students, faculty, and staff to initiatives that are creating a more inclusive campus community.

The Center for Pre-Health Advising gives great ideas here for how to stay productive and involved during the pandemic.
“Even as physical distancing and public health remain of utmost importance, there are an increasing number of opportunities to support your communities safely as we all continue to protect the health of people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. Many are sharing resources. The Morgridge Center has excellent ideas. Idealist gives a great overview. And we offer a number of additional (and overlapping) resources and ideas in the menu below. There are many ways to use time well during this time. In addition to looking for ways to be involved through volunteering, internships, and paid work, we encourage you to take time to learn, reflect, grow, and connect with people (including health professionals) in other ways as well.”
Literacy Network Internships
The Literacy Network is recruiting Session Leaders!
Do you have or want to add to your teaching or tutoring experience? Literacy Network is looking for college students, retirees, or professionals for our Session Leader internships! Being a Session Leader intern is a great professional development opportunity if you are interested in supporting adult learners in our community.
Interning as a Session Leader can help you:
· sharpen instructive, managerial, and communication skills
· get better acquainted with issues affecting adults with low literacy
· become better equipped for careers that have educational or international reach
· become a better teacher, healthcare provider, business executive, or community leader
Training and ongoing support throughout the semester is provided. All instruction is in English. Successful Session Leaders in this internship receive $600 per semester.
Students in our programs are Madison-area adults living in poverty who struggle with rudimentary reading, writing, spoken English, or basic computer skills, like sending an email or using the internet. When they improve those skills, they can find jobs, better support their families, stay healthy, and be more involved in their children’s education. Many are immigrants and refugees, and the adults in our ESL programs come from over 70 different countries and speak over a hundred languages.
Learn more and apply today!
· ABE Session Leader – Help local adults improve their reading, writing, and computer skills, or achieve their high school equivalency. Apply here: https://www.litnetwork.org/job/essential-literacy-internship/
· ESL Session Leader – Help local immigrants/refugees learn English. Apply here: https://www.litnetwork.org/job/esl-program-internship/
Interested in getting involved but don’t have 10hrs/week? Join us as a tutor for 2hrs/week! Learn more at https://www.litnetwork.org/volunteer/.
During the pandemic, our Session Leader interns and volunteer tutors are doing an amazing job keeping our students safe and well-informed while students continue improving their English skills to become more independent. Come join us in this very important work! If you have questions, contact Leanne Chan at leanne@litnetwork.org
Badger Micro-Internships
Click here to learn about how UW-Madison students of all majors can build skills and experience through these short-term assignments with a variety of employers.
Here’s a quick summary of what exactly micro-internships are:
Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable Career Launchers to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role. Unlike traditional internships, Micro-Internships can take place year-round, typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and are due between one week and one month after kick-off. Micro-Internships are used by companies ranging from those in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups, and go across departments including sales, marketing, technology, HR, and finance.
Micro-Internships are facilitated via the Parker Dewey platform, which connects Career Launchers with Companies in need of support.
SuccessWorks Resources
Here are some resources SuccessWorks has developed that students may need access to under the current situation:
- Virtual Events including a virtual career fair, mock interviews, and a number of employer engagement opportunities
- Virtual & Phone Interview Prep Guide
- Internship/Job FAQs addressing the current market and steps to take
- Comprehensive Networking Guide
- L&S students with questions about the current job/internship market can be directed to SuccessWorks career advising (virtual appointments and drop-ins are available).
Also, regardless of whether you are a first year, or fourth, you should definitely take a couple seconds to enroll in this Canvas Module by SuccessWorks that guides you through whether graduate school is a good option for you, whether you should consider a gap year (or two!), and what options are available to you. It includes a portion called “Have you considered Peace Corps?” that provides great basic information for those who don’t have their post-graduation plan fully nailed down yet.
UW BASES Program
Want to work with children, learn about homelessness, and make a difference in the life of a young student? Join the BASES program! Our undergraduate and graduate mentors are matched with early elementary school kids experiencing homelessness and provide in-school support to a child for a full academic year.
BASES has both class and service learning components. Students are prepared for this experience in a biweekly class that focuses on the potential of 1-on-1 mentoring relationships to aid young children’s adjustment to school and how to foster resilience both in and outside of school. Mentors will learn about the effects of poverty and trauma on child development through guest lectures, films, readings, reflective writing assignments, and discussions. Class exercises are designed to support students’ learning about homelessness, mentoring, societal forces, racial inequities, and emotionally responsive teaching.
The need in our city is enormous. Last year almost 1500 students in Madison Metropolitan School District were identified as highly transient or homeless. Applications are being accepted for the 2020–2021 mentor cohort. You can apply online now:
https://forms.gle/1rkNjKoR68FERKGq5
Please refer any questions to bases@education.wisc.edu.
Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes
Gain two semesters of language learning in just 8 weeks!
Online learning for summers.
Instruction in less commonly taught languages:
Arabic, Bengali, Brazilian Portuguese, Burmese, Dari, Filipino, Hindi, Hmong, Indonesian, Javanese, Kazakh, Khmer, Lao, Marathi, Persian, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sinhala, Tajik, Tamil, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Urdu, Uyghur, Uzbek, and Vietnamese
Visit the WISLI website for information on language offerings and to learn about programming, deadlines, application criteria, and more!
Food Bank Opportunities
From Molly McCormick, American Red Cross – SW Chapter
Second Harvest Food bank of Southern Wisconsin – 2802 Dairy Drive Madison, WI 53718
Feed My People – 2610 Alpine Rd. Eau Claire, WI 54703
Point of Contact: Stephanie Jung Dorfman, (608) 906-4517 or sdorfman@feedingwi.org
Feeding America Eastern WI Warehouse Locations:
- Appleton – 2911 W. Evergreen Drive Appleton, WI 54913
- Milwaukee – 1700 W. Fond du Lac Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53205
- Point of Contact: Patti Habeck, (920) 427-5925 or phabeck@feedingamericawi.org
Adam Lemons from Team Rubicon volunteered at the Appleton warehouse location to answer questions or provide some feedback. You can reach Adam at 585-330-5865 or lemons@teamrubiconusa.org.
Visit Volunteer Wisconsin, where anyone can search for other volunteering opportunities in WI.
Molly McCormick
RPCV Philippines 2015-2017
608-304-2096
molly.mccormick@redcross.org
With more then 17,000 people applying to volunteer for Peace Corps every year, the application is very competitive.
How do you make yourself stand out?
Read these tips below and contact the campus recruiter to craft an application that will catch the placement officer’s attention.
Application Tips
Let's Talk References
Make sure you understand your best reference options when applying.
5 Resume Tips for Your Peace Corps Application
Your resume is an essential component to your Peace Corps application, and the Peace Corps website gives tips on how to use yours to your advantage.
Application Tips from Placement Officers
The Peace Corps website offers advice from actual placement officers on how to create the ideal application.
Tips for the Peace Corps Application
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Laurelin shares tips on how to get through the application process without feeling overwhelmed.
6 Things a Returned Volunteer Learned Applying to the Peace Corps
Tori Jackson did not get a Peace Corps volunteer assignment on her first try, but came back and successfully received placement in Ecuador. See what she learned!
In-Depth Overview of the Peace Corps Application Process
This article offers an in-depth overview of the Peace Corps application process from start to finish.
Interview Tips
Selected for an Interview? Now What?
The Peace Corps website explains the interview process and how to prepare both yourself and your interview space.
Put Your Interview Skills to the Test
SuccessWorks has launched a new practice interview program so you can ace that interview. Free to UW students and completely confidential!
Instructions for Access:
1. Make an account
2. Once you have made your account, go to the top left corner and click on "Assignments."
3. Enter the code: fdda79
Review the Core Expectations
The Peace Corps has a certain set of Core Expectations for volunteers. Make sure you are familiar with this list when the time comes for your interview.
Returned Volunteer Grace's Interview Tips
Grace was a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia. Her blog has tips and questions that will help you ace that interview!
Returned Volunteer Lianne's Interview Tips
Lianne was a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia. She explained the interview format on her blog, and added 5 key tips to help you do your best!
"No Concerns" During the Interview? Concerning.
The Peace Corps website explains the interview process, as well as how to address real challenges in your life and your concerns going abroad.

Interview Tips: Behavioral Questions
Check out this article, full of helpful tips curated for any student who has a big interview coming up. In the article, Kirby Livingston, PhD student, dives into how to attack the very popular “behavioral interview question.” This information is great to know for any student who wants to ace their Peace Corps or any job interview.
Social Justice Internships 2020-2021
Apply now! The application deadline continues until positions are filled. Pay is $13/hour. 10-12 hours/week with a flexible schedule.
Seeking undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about advancing social justice issues. Social justice internships provide purposeful out-of-classroom experiences within the Office of Inclusion Education to develop skills to engage in social justice and an opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
Visit the Social Justice Hub’s website to explore this and many other opportunities.
And, if you are interested in more ways to get involved with the Social Justice Hub, you can express your specific interests here. They will then follow-up with you to discuss getting connected. Open to students, staff and faculty. There are many opportunities available to get involved as a member and they encourage interested students to initiate new projects as well.
Check out some other Social Justice Hub opportunities: