How to Complete Your Maryland Corps/Service Year Application

Service Year Eligibility: 18-24 years old as of August 3, 2026; HS diploma/GED (or higher)

Maryland Corps Eligibility: 18+ years old as of August 3, 2026; no education requirement
NOTE: Thread may be able to offer some placements as Maryland Corps positions for young people who don't have their diploma/GED and/or are 25+, but Maryland Corps positions are extremely limited so we cannot guarantee them.

STEP 1: Create your BuildWithin account

1. To create your account, you will need to be ready with:
   • Full Name
   • Address
   • E-mail address -- make sure you use an email address that you can log into/check immediately (you'll need to verify your account)
   • Phone Number
   • A password for your account
2. Once you enter your email address and password, you need to validate (click the checkbox) all FOUR of these statements to set up your account:
   • By creating an account, I agree to  BuildWithin's Terms of Use, BuildWithin's Privacy Policy, and Maryland.gov's Privacy and Security Policy and that my data will be used to assess and improve the program.
   • I will be 18 years old by August 3, 2026.
   • I certify that the information submitted in this application is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented. I understand that providing false or misleading information may result in the disqualification of my application or termination of my participation.
   • I understand that the application and matching portal utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) tools to process information and facilitate matching. Should I require reasonable accommodations to use the portal or participate in the application process, I will have the opportunity to request such accommodations within the application.
3. Click on the "Create Account" button, which also confirms that you agree to:
   • By signing up, you opt-in to receive email and text updates regarding your application. You can unsubscribe at any time. Data rates may apply. Max 10 msgs/mo.
   • I agree to  BuildWithin's Privacy Notice. You can reply STOP to opt-out.
   • By signing up, you opt-in to updates and announcements related to service and professional development. You can unsubscribe at any time.
   • If you need to edit your personally identifying information, you can either do so in your Profile or by emailing applytoserve@maryland.gov.

STEP 2: Begin your application

You will be asked several short answer questions. For questions 1 & 2, minimum length is 200 characters and for 3 & 4 there is no minimum. All questions have a maximum of 1200 characters including spaces.

1. What is one thing you are passionate about (this can be a hobby, sports, family, your job, social issues, etc.) and how are you using this passion to get closer to your long-term education and/or career goals?
2. What skills have you learned in school, a previous job, or from your life experience that will help you succeed in this program? Explain how these skills will lead to your success.
3. Tell us about a time you’ve overcome a challenge. It could be work, school, relationships, etc. Talk about the challenge, how you overcame it, and what you learned. (No minimum length)
4. What type of job/position are you looking for and why? Do you have experience in this role or is it something you're looking to learn more about/ gain experience in? (If you aren't sure what you would like to do - that's okay - please share some of your interests that may be relevant in the workplace. (No minimum length)

[We'll keep adding details to this page for the additional steps to completing your application and getting placed in a Service Year or Maryland Corp position! For now, remember to take a look at Thread's positions catalog to see which specific positions you're interested in and what you need to do to qualify for those!]