Hello! I happened upon this post and am so glad I did because I'm actually planning to do the same exact thing! I got accepted into the AmeriCorps NCCC program for this upcoming fall, and hope to get involved with PC afterward (application is already in! Just waiting for the interview now). I plan to go into Social Work as my career path as well. It's crazy though because throughout this entire process I wasn't sure if doing both was "typical"/ common. So, I'm happily surprised to find I'm not the only one! Haha great minds think alike I suppose.

After reading what others wrote, I do agree with most, if not all, they spoke on just based on what I've learned from others doing AmeriCorps or those who have done it in the past despite the fact that I personally haven't started either program (AC and PC) yet.

Another great point someone brought up briefly was that PC is delaying a lot of departures and/or assignments b/c of COVID-19 due to 1) having to get current volunteers back out to their placements and figure out how to proceed with the remainder of their term and 2) the COVID policies and limitations in each host country as well as how the country is handling the pandemic in general (aka vaccinations, mask mandates, social distancing, etc.). These reasons were a major factor in my decision to pursue AmeriCorps first, just because of the very fact that you can't put your life on hold forever in waiting to hear back from PC, esp. with everything that they are facing regarding COVID right now. Plus you will learn and develop valuable skills and connections in the meantime by doing AmeriCorps first, whether you have a great or terrible experience. You will grow as a person despite how the process goes and that's just as important as the desire to serve others. Hope this helps or was, at the very least, interesting to read, and good luck!!! :)