Seniors interested in service after Whitman began the process of applying for programs months ago, yet for many, choosing between options is the most difficult step. Service programs like Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and Teach for America all strive to make a difference, but they vary in many key ways. This year’s seniors have found that each organization has its triumphs and pitfalls, and finding the right fit can be a challenge.

For many, the philosophy of each organization is the major decisive factor. Senior William Maier was driven to apply for a position with Peace Corps by both the opportunity to serve abroad and its less strict organizational structure.

“They emphasize serving a community’s needs rather than the needs of an overarching organization, and that’s something that I identify strongly with,” said Maier. “Instead of telling [communities] how to fix their problems, we should be asking them, ‘How do you want to fix your problems?'”

Peace Corps regional recruiter Matthew Hogue agrees that the focus of Peace Corps is more flexible than many other programs.

“Peace Corps has less structure, a greater opportunity for creativity, and in many teaching situations there is less emphasis on test scores and more on finding ways to reach students. There’s an opportunity to really get to the heart of teaching, with more flexibility,” said Hogue.

Along with the positive things she had heard about Peace Corps, its recruitment strategies were another contributing factor in senior Kendra Vandree’s decision. For Vandree, Peace Corps staff seemed more supportive during the application process.

“In my experience I found Peace Corps to be much more accessible. In going through the application process with them, it cemented my decision that if given the choice, I wanted to do Peace Corps more,” said Vandree.

For senior Matthew Beckett, however, Teach for America’s recruitment strategies led to a personal relationship with Teach for America Recruitment Director Nathan Fitzpatrick, a 2006 Whitman alumnus. This connection ultimately became a motivating force.

“Nathan Fitzpatrick was a huge selling point for me,” said Beckett. “I knew that if I didn’t go directly into business school I wanted to do something service-oriented, and I didn’t know what was out there or what I really wanted to do. When Nathan visited he was so high on Teach For America that it got me excited.”

Beyond an organization’s philosophy and the recruitment process, the factors that affect each student’s decision vary widely.

Senior Autumn McCartan was motivated to join AmeriCorps not only by her desire to serve, but also by its location close to home and by positive feedback she has heard.

“AmeriCorps offers so many diverse programs in the Seattle area that I couldn’t pass it up,” said McCartan in an e-mail. “I have several friends who participate in education-based programs who could not stop raving about it. They all claim that they feel like they are really making a difference in the communities they are in.”

As students go through the selection process, weighing these options, they often hear criticism of the organization they have chosen and must learn to deal with these accusations.

McCartan has heard claims that AmeriCorps participants are sometimes self-serving and unproductive. While she worries about this problem, McCartan keeps a positive outlook.

“AmeriCorps has so many programs that not every single one can be equally constructive,” said McCartan. “I just have to trust that I can make my AmeriCorps experience positive and productive.”

Beckett agrees that the best approach is to be realistic with expectations and goals when going into a program like Teach for America.

“I feel like my education here has prepared me to be an educator, but I don’t feel that the Whitman experience as a whole has prepared me in any way for what I’m going to face when I get down to Phoenix,” said Beckett. “The Whitman ‘bubble’ is drastically different than the low income communities that corps members will be teaching in. You just kind of have to jump in, from what I’ve heard. It’s definitely not supposed to be anything that I have experienced before.”

Ultimately, the decision-making process is a highly personal one that varies according to the needs and ideologies of each student. While interviews are important for the organization itself, they are just as vital for applicants trying to find the right fit.

Although Matthew Hogue represents the Peace Corps, he stressed the importance of getting to know any organization well before committing.

“There are a lot of options; people just need to weigh them all out,” Hogue said.