Let’s see a virtual show of hands—how many people, at least at one point in their lives, wanted to join the Peace Corps? Now how many actually did join? Yeah, me neither.

It was always a huge dream of mine to join. I thought I’d get to use my Spanish, help rebuild communities, or at least teach little kids to read. Little did I know that I’d have a kiddo of my own before I graduated college! Still, it remains on my Living To Do list, as someday when my child is grown I could still possibly serve in the Peace Corps with my husband.

Yes, you can serve with a spouse—but no guarantees are made for friends or boyfriends/girlfriends. You can also pick where you want to serve, to an extent. If you’d like to serve in the Peace Corps, I highly encourage you to start researching and applying as soon as possible! Here are some things you might want to know before applying.

You’ll be required to serve for 27 months as a volunteer. You do receive a small stipend that will enable you to live at the same level of the people you are serving with. The Peace Corps also provides medical and dental care, transportation costs to and from your country, and $6,000 when you return home to cover for transitional costs back into your life in the states.

Most positions (90%) do require a bachelor’s degree, so college background is almost a must. Positions without degrees are available, however, for those who qualify and have a strong background in a relevant field (such as business, health, construction, or agriculture).

You don’t have to know another language to serve! You can receive training before you serve from the Peace Corps.

There is no maximum age to serve, but the minimum age is 18.

Though volunteers sometimes work together, the Peace Corps advises potential volunteers to expect to work without other volunteers.

There is no application deadline; the Peace Corps uses a rolling enrollment policy. However, it’s good to apply at least nine months and up to a year before you are ready to serve because it is a lengthy process. After you’ve applied, a recruiter will contact you within two to three weeks.

If you’re worried about your qualifications, you can take a quick quiz here to see if you are qualified to serve in the Peace Corps.