The University has dropped from first to second in a national ranking of the number of graduates from mid-sized colleges and universities serving in the Peace Corps. George Washington University claimed the top position with 68 alumni serving last year, edging out the total of 65 from the University.
Charlotte Williams, University Peace Corps representative, attributed this change to a larger interest from other mid-sized universities and colleges.
"There are schools sending a lot more volunteers, but it's not like U.Va.'s not sending anyone anymore," Williams said. "In terms of competitiveness, it's a rigorous process. ... Only a fraction of people that apply end up actually being in a country and serving as a volunteer."
Williams added that she feels University graduates' applications are very impressive.
"They tend to have done a lot of volunteer work which makes them competitive," Williams said.
Robyn Mofsowitz, recruitment coordinator for the D.C. Peace Corps recruiting office, said the number of alumni who serve from each school fluctuates from year to year.
"Even the number-one large school for several years has always been University of Wisconsin-Madison, but this year it changed to [the] University of Washington," Mofsowitz said. "Even for the smaller schools, the top spot has changed. ... It really is difficult to predict what makes the numbers go up and down each year."
Mofsowitz said one possible explanation for the University's drop, however, may be a short period of transition in which there was no specific recruiter assigned to the University.
Williams said her position was created at the beginning of last year.
The quality of applicants from the University has not declined, according to Mofsowitz.
"I don't want it to seem at all that we aren't getting enough good applicants from U.Va., because that is not the case," Mofsowitz said. "They are still really high-caliber students."
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