Pros
I feel proud of what I have done for my community, and I get to interact with people that I would never meet otherwise. I do feel like I have grown as a person.
Cons
The salary is impossible to live on-- it comes out to about 2.00 an hour, and the government gets away with it by calling our wages a "Stipend" instead of a salary. Healthcare is paid for, but we have to pay for an Rx in full, up front, and then apply for reimbursement after. That can be a hardship. Finally, your experience largely depends on which organization hires you. You could finish your commitment in 9 months working for one group, or be still working through the last day of the year. Your AmeriCorps supervisor has very little contact with you, so you'd better make sure that you are happy with your onsite situation.