Pros
- Good to do if you're debating a career in education
-Scholarship money (Segal Education Award)
-Professional Development focus so even if you find that education isn't your go too you can still gain a lot of transferrable skills and contacts in different industries (At least in Chicago, if whenever you see this review Dr. LaCael Palmer-Pratt is still working there, you are SET. listen to HER she WILL help you if you show initiative).
-Possible life-long friendships if you're willing & open to that
-You get what you put in. Pro bc if you put in a lot like I did in my first year you get a lot in return. Professionally & personally
-compensation & benefits - For me personally these were a pro, but that's because I believe I was the target demographic. A college dropout/career changer looking for steady income & educational career opportunities. I wouldn't recommend this job if you are in college full-time, have kids, or debilitating mental/physical challenges. They WILL try to accommodate though, & I am ONLY speaking for myself as there have been & even in my year, were corps members who had kids (CYChi 23-25 offered child care benefits), were in school, have physical or mental challenges etc. I mainly say that bc I know for me i would have never made it through my 2 years if i had any other commitments due past my own semi-debilitating mental health issues. Insurance was sick for those two years though, and I genuinely loved the work I did so like... mental health for me was actually way better than in previous parts of my life.
Cons
- semi-long term commitment for 'exploring a career in education' depending on your view of what 'long-term' is. (It's 1 academic year with a mandatory 1700 hrs to complete bc it is an AmeriCorps Program)
-Taxable scholarship money... so like they tell you not to use it all in one year bc you could owe a LOT during tax season.
-You get what you put in. I put this in both bc its a con due to folks who don't put in much affecting how your year ends up. Also a con because some people sign up thinking its an easy job w a steady check. it is not. If you don't like working with kids don't do it.
-If you have literally any personal time commitments (even if they are out of your control) consider something different. The silver-lining is that at least my leadership team was doing their best to accommodate where they could, but bc City year is an AmeriCorps program, the hours you are required to work by EOY are VERY strict.
-This isn't a con but just something I recommend for life & anyone considering ANY AmeriCorps position. Read the dang contract. This is more regarding my second year if anything so I wont say too much but the amount of people surprised by the work required of them when the AmeriCorps contract states most of it was wild. Yes, some partnerships have more or less responsibility demand so I cant speak for individual schools or teams, but the amount of folks upset by job responsibilities described in the contract they signed was wild to say the least.
-Compensation & benefits can be a con if you're looking for a full-time job type thing. This is not that, it is technically a 'year of service' so like you arent getting an hourly wage you are getting a 'living stipend' this is important to understand. Technically, I was 'getting paid' like 6 or 7 bucks an hour some weeks? but that was because I chose to stay late on those days. Like if you work over the amount of hours you were required, you are lowering your hourly bc it is a bi-weekly stipend that you signed a contract to accept, not an hourly job. I hope that makes sense.