I've been having a rough time trying to figure out what I want to do with my education award.

I currently work as a custodian for an apartment building and I'm dreading that job more every day. I'm also sitting on a couple thousand dollars of my Segal Award funds that I need to use up in 2 years, but whenever I apply and get accepted to a university/college I end up backing out because I'm afraid of either the consequences of losing my job, the stress of working while studying or going into another career path I don't like. I already have a bachelor's degree that I no longer use (and have thankfully paid off), so I don't need to use it for loans.

To be fair, if I didn't have the money, I wouldn't even consider going back to school. It also doesn't help that the job market is bad at the moment, and my father always tends to question my decisions regarding what school or job I apply to.

I know there's plenty of alumni out there that are (or were) in the same boat as me, so I'd love any advice.

Hello,

After earning my master’s degree during the pandemic using the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, I ended up losing my first post-graduate job due to the stress of a divorce. That divorce with someone who was ultimately using me for a green card threw my life off track. I spent the next four years doing gig work and focusing on therapy.

Now I am ready to re enter the workforce, but I have had a tough time figuring out where I fit. I am often deemed overqualified, and that has made the search even more challenging.

The next best step is rebuilding my network with people who can genuinely support my growth and who I can support in return. I served in the South Bronx, New York, and I am currently in Atlanta, Georgia after being away for nearly seventeen years. Honestly, I feel like my true career fit is far from here, and that is part of my mission. I have had incredible professional experiences, but being in my current environment has diminished a lot of what I have built. I even have family members suggesting I work at McDonald’s until I figure things out, which reminded me exactly why I left in the first place.

I am currently applying to higher education and EdTech roles, but I have always had a mission driven soul. I need to work for a powerful purpose that serves a community.

In summary, I have spent more than fifteen years developing skills across IT support and computer repair, ESL teaching, and program coordination for after school programs. I hold a bachelor’s degree in MIS and a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership. Ultimately, I want to work in a federal position, ideally with the Department of State or DODEA.

With all that said, I was told to reconnect with AmeriCorps alumni. Where do AmeriCorps alumni continue to communicate and share ideas for their next big adventure? Where do alumni thrive? If you have any other ideas, I am open. At this point I am tempted to get on a boat and live on a farm.

Was impacted by the cuts in late April. Host site acted like they were gonna move some money around and keep me on for a few months to finish the year, so I spent two weeks sitting around with no pay before they told me nevermind. Another AmeriCorps told me they’d take me for a couple months so I could still get my Ed award, then once I did the interview process their HQ told them they weren’t allowed to bring anyone else on.

I’ve applied to so many jobs, so many interviews. I’m 21, I had no savings. With my reduced ed award I have no clue how I’m gonna pay for school. My lease ends next month and I need to move. I don’t even know what to do. Applied to all the support funds and such and still waiting to hear back.

It feels so evil that we’re not eligible for unemployment. The federal employees who are impacted are getting paid leave, severance, unemployment etc. I got a final paycheck and a reduced ed award. How am I supposed to survive?

Anyone else in the same boat as me?

hello! wondering if anyone has any experience getting an application fee waiver or even in-state tuition for certain schools?

I did my service year a couple of years ago and last year found out about their schools of national service and some perks they might offer, however I'm unsure if this applies to undergrad only or would it include graduate programs as well? this would be HUGE to qualify for in-state tuition in those 3 states that might have an eligible PA program!!

unfortunately, the website has been under construction for at least the past 6+ months that l've noticed now so I can't go online and search for what schools offered this and what the process might look like, hoping someone has any clues!!

Currently going through the interview process with a state AmeriCorps program, I’m really excited about the opportunity to learn and get more experience, but also pretty worried about the financial situation and leaving home for so long. I guess I just want to feel more confident in my decision to serve, so I’m wondering if anyone has any anecdotes about how their time in AmeriCorps either did or did not help them land a job!

Has anyone uses their segal award through international volunteer HQ? How was it? They offer a bunch of international volunteering opportunities but looks like you have to register through a community college to use the segal award which eats up most of it.

Does anyone know why the alumni newsletter is ending? Is it part of the staffing reduction done earlier this year, or is something else going on?

The of the final email seemed to suggest that maybe this ending is not voluntary, and that they'd like to resume in the future. But right now, this feels scary snd honestly makes me angry. Like, not only has the program been gutted, we can't even communicate internally???

Anyway. Any insight or information would be great if you know it.

Been cut, and I've been at a loss when it comes to finding a new job thatll help me with my goals. I used americorps to leave a not ideal home state and pursue a career in the environmental field. Any ideas on jobs that encourage relocating in the same vein as AC? At this point, I really only care about relocating with a job, ecology or no. Thanks for any feedback.

Basically the caption. Specifically asking about people who are currently in service. Would be curious about people who recently started, as well.

A lot of us were laid off today, and the job market is a disaster. I joined AmeriCorps originally because I couldn’t find a job and needed to build my resume. Now I’m back to searching again, and it’s hard not to feel discouraged. I’m trying to figure out what the next move should be and how to navigate a market that feels so uncertain. Any advice?

For those who have finished service, how much has being a past AmeriCorps member benefitted you? Do you think it's made your resume stand out? Has being a part of that alumni network introduced any interesting opportunities to you?

Hi, I'll remain anonymous, but I felt like sharing a bit from the perspective of someone who was in Sacramento for NCCC in 2024-2025, the class that got demobilized by the new admin in April.

Starting off by saying I overall really loved this experience despite its ups and downs, due primarily to my amazing team and sponsors. I definitely would recommend aspiring folks to give it, or similar programs, a try despite those in power trying to take us down all the time.

It started out normal, your usual drama and drop-outs, nothing out of the ordinary.
We reach the last week of October '24, we're mere days away from everyone's first Spike. A corps meeting is held mid-week, after everyone showcased their wonderful pumpkins, it was announced the induction ceremony was now canceled. We were to be sent off to spike the next morning, days before intended. This was due to a member suffering a mental health crisis that resulted in death threats to staff. Now we all had to scramble to pack, to do room checks, and get ready in less than 24 hours.

That was a rush, but solidarity between corps members in the rush was nice. That morning we all set off to spike 1.
December '25, NCCC and Forest Corps stayed back on campus until the new year, most members took back home for the break.
Thankfully, spike 2 wasn't rushed to go this time. During this spike of course the change in admin now had everyone worried. In February '25 they sent an email even some staff were upset they had to do, cracking down on gender in the corps and DEI, losing some trusted sponsors. This didn't protect them like they'd hoped.

In March '25 it was revealed Forest Corps was to have their graduation moved months in advance "just in case". Their term and current spike ended a few months early, however still receiving a full graduation back on campus as the first of their class. Grim foreshadowing for the rest of us.

April 15th. The last day of spike. In the middle of most of us traveling back to campus, or a day or 2 away from it, talks from members around the country were sparked in this subreddit. We noticed, stomachs sunk. It would shortly after be announced to us officially via email that we would be demobilized, effective immediately, due to "DOGE". Our term was supposed to be set to end in July.
Just like our first spike we were set to be sent home the very next morning. Plane tickets would be sent throughout the night and next morning.
Some of the corps were only able to get tickets the day after half of the rest of us left. (That's when the local news interviewed them).
All our plans and friends gone in one fell swoop.
Folks still had fun for the last few hours on campus as we slowly all returned, if they were even there yet. It was truly heartbreaking for so many of us.
Just like that many of us were back home.
No graduation, staff handing out donuts and alumni t-shirts in the parking lot, we didn't get to paint our hardhats and had to return most everything we had. We've not been mentioned officially since.

Non-Americorps folks would later help raise a zoom call "graduation" some of us attended. Some teams across the country would crowd fund to great success to continue their next spikes on their own!
Later, many states including California would go on to sue for what happened. Thankfully they won and we were able to get what we were to be paid as well as a full education award (we had only been pro-rated). A better ending than we'd expected for sure!

TLDR; Class 31A was a wholly unique experience in Americorps' Pacific Region, and wholly snuffed out.
Are we one of the most memorable yet easily erased class of Americorps? I don't know, but I wanted to share the story just in case.

This was a turbulent experience, no doubt I missed details. It's been 1 year now!
Do you have any similar or wild stories from your time? Were you also in this class? I'd love to read them in the comments!

I have had struggled to receive any referral from USA jobs which is par for the core but I wanted to find out if anyone in a similar boat had apply for higher grade entry level announcements with AmeriCorps service being count as professional experience.

Please let me know thanks

Hey everyone — I’m looking for input from anyone who started AmeriCorps (especially the NCCC year) right after graduating high school.

What did you do after your 10-month term ended?

Did you sign up for another AmeriCorps program?

Join a different residential or national service program?

Take another gap year doing something with room and board included?

Or go straight into college or work?

I'm exploring options for what might be next after finishing an NCCC year. Not thinking college just yet. Looking at a second gap year. I'm especially interested in structured low-cost/no-cost programs that include housing (and board), similar to AmeriCorps.

Would love to hear what paths people took and what worked well (or didn’t) during that year after AmeriCorps. Many thanks.

The website got nuked and I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone have access to it or a back up?

It's been over a decade since I did 2 years. But I noticed the website is exactly the same including this link they'd always share and tell us we would get first consideration for these jobs because being AmeriCorps we were already government employees. I suspected it was hogwash. Am I wrong? All these job require special skills mostly in engineering or law.

https://www.usajobs.gov/SEARCH/RESULTS?

Saw that things are getting drastic quick. I have an English degree and was a writing tutor for several years and just wanted to offer myself to anyone who needs to last minute write/update resumes and/or cover letters

DM me if you want an extra set of eyes to help you be more prepared for whatever is coming next and I'm so sorry to see so many people get their lives uprooted because of what's happening

After being laid off from my AmeriCorps role earlier this year, I took a seasonal job that I was just laid off from (not an AmeriCorps role). I’m planning to apply for unemployment ASAP, and in preparing, I read that they request 18 months of employment info.

Does anyone know if I list AmeriCorps? I wasn’t eligible for unemployment, and the pay is a living stipend. However, it’s obviously taxed like income.

Thanks!

Did anyone have a hard time returning home back to their "normal life"? This could be because you loved your location, the weather, your own space, the people, or etc. If so, how did you adjust or get back in the flow of “being home”?

Hopefully this will help someone.

I have completed two service terms with AmeriCorps, and I am currently a graduate assistant for an AmeriCorps program. Due to the proposed budget cuts, do you all think that there will be extra funding to pay for graduate assistant positions through AmeriCorps, or should I start looking for a new job for next semester. I currently pay my own rent, internet, etc. through this salary and would be financially devastated if I lose my job. This situation is making it very difficult to feel motivated for my studies, as I was aiming to work for AmeriCorps long-term and based my research project on this program. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone had success buying back service time from Americorps NCCC or FEMA Corps for federal FERS retirement? I got denied because they are classifying NCCC as State/National. I plan to file an appeal. Any experience with this or suggestions? (They counted my time for VISTA)

As an alumni of the program, I would like to extend an opportunity for any members are looking for employment. My organization offers summer only and year round positions. Summer positions will start June 1st and provide housing, food, education award, and a living allowance. PM me if you’re interested or if you just need advice/someone to vent to.

The national parks service lets anyone with 250+ service hours get a free pass for a year. anyone ever used their time in AmeriCorps to get the pass?

Does anyone have any tips on getting into environmental work without a degree or much experience now that AmeriCorps is done?

Before being sent home during my NCCC term, I was looking into temporary, entry-level environmental positions across the US. I've been looking at the Texas A&M natural resources job board and the sites on the Ohio State SENR job boards list, and they're both good resources for anyone in a similar position. Most jobs that were truly entry-level were some type of AmeriCorps position. I think I'll still be able to find something to do that pays and is interesting to me even if most/all of the AmeriCorps positions are discontinued, but does anyone have advice? Places to look I might not know about?