At the culmination of four years of college, students are expected to do something with their degrees. Generally, students feel as though their options are limited to either finding a job or continuing on to graduate school. What students may be unaware of, however, is the fact that numerous post-grad service opportunities exist.

The Peace Corps is the most well known service opportunity and serves in 139 different countries. According to Christine Torres from the Regional Peace Corps Office, there are currently 11 Saint Louis University graduates serving in the Peace Corps, including Matt Rysavy who is teaching biology at a high school in Mozambique. A total of 291 SLU graduates have served in the Peace Corps since its formation in 1961.

From 2007 to 2008, the number of applicants for the Peace Corps has increased 14 percent, which Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter said, “demonstrates that the Peace Corps’ mission still appeals to young Americans.who are continuing to answer the call to service.”

Once accepted to the program, volunteers are placed in a specific work area, and then sent to one of the program’s host countries. In addition, the Peace Corps helps its members with job placement once they leave the program and offers tuition aid for advanced degree programs.

“In the Peace Corps I have learned to work in a foreign setting, language and culture. I interact with people from all walks of life . and I have learned that from each walk comes a different perspective and every perspective merits my understanding,” said Rysavy.

Unlike the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is strictly a domestic program. Within AmeriCorps, programs are split into several groups, such as AmeriCorps National, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps Vista and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). AmeriCorps National works to sponsor service programs across states, while AmeriCorps State works just within one state. AmeriCorps Vista is a program specifically geared toward fighting poverty, while AmeriCorps NCCC is a team-based residential program for leadership development.

Teach for America is the most local of the organizations, with a program right in St. Louis.

Teach for America is a two-year program aimed at changing educational inequity. It is now the country’s largest provider of teachers to low-income areas.

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps is a Catholic lay volunteer program. The JVC serves both in the United States and in seven other countries, with a one-year commitment required for domestic service and a two-year commitment for international programs.

“It’s an intense application and discernment process, but it’s an intense year so you need to make sure it’s a good fit,” JVC Central Recruiter Tony Mazza said.

The JVC has a strong emphasis on the community, and “tries to put volunteers right in the neighborhoods,” said Mazza.

Representatives from both the Peace Corps and Jesuit Volunteer Corps will be on campus Oct. 12-14.