PeaceCorps is generally has you flying solo, maybe with a partner. And you'll most definitely be sent abroad (where is your choice). As you know it's a 2 year commitment in a place you're not familiar with, surrounded by foreign language and culture.
AmeriCorps is just an umbrella of "smaller" programs.
You have SeniorCorps (for the elderly to volunteer).
*NCCC, which is what I did, and one of the most populr. This is a 10 month term where you're put on a team of other 18-24 year olds from all over the country to perform anything from disaster relief, to trail building, wilderness firefighting, working in schools with children, or...well anything. *NCCC are the grunts of AmeriCorps. It's all about direct service with them (boots on the ground). However you do not decide what your projects are, or who is on your team. FLEXIBILITY is a common word in this program. You'll have a home base on one of 5 (maybe 6 now) campuses, given a uniform, provided transportation and food, and a very modest living stipend.
You can have your loans put under forbearance during your term, and unless they make a change sometime soon, will be awarded 4,750 taxable dollars for education at the completion of your term. Not as much as it used to be in the 90's, I know.
That's just a dust of information on NCCC.
There's also AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America). This is a 1 year commitment.
VISTA's are all about indirect service. The goal is to create programs that can sustain themselves after you leave. You create the programs, you make the phone calls, you recruit the volunteers. You need to provide your own housing and own food, and you'll still only be given a small stipend.
You can either opt for the education award (same as above), or you can take some 2,000 dollars or so (taxable) in cash at the completion of your term. VISTA programs were originally to combat poverty and homelessness, but the projects are extremely varied and including working under federal/state government agencies as well as non-profits like the Red Cross. When you start you won't be moved around like you are in NCCC. You're where you are for the long haul.
Here's a link [url]http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/ready/index.asp[/url]
If you have anymore questions we can continue here on this thread, or you can PM me and I'll give you my phone number.
(There are other umbrellaed programs like *State, *National, and *Teach for America)









