How does the application process work?
There are three steps.
When are the four deadlines?
Applicants have four opportunities to apply to the 2009 corps. The application deadlines are:
• September 19, 2008
• November 7, 2008
• January 7, 2009
• February 13, 2009
See a complete timeline.
What is the advantage to applying to an earlier deadline?
Although our final admissions criteria are the same at all four deadlines, the primary advantage to applying before the final deadline is more time. Selecting an earlier deadline provides you more opportunities to engage in thoughtful and thorough planning and to receive support during the admissions process and your transition as a corps member should you be accepted. Specific advantages to selecting our earlier, lower-volume deadlines are:
That said, it is most important that you choose a deadline according to the timeline that works best for you. Please consider the dates scheduled for the phone interview and final interview to ensure that you do not have a scheduling conflict with the required interview dates for the deadline you select.
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What should I do if I want to apply at a certain deadline but I have a conflict with the interview or matriculation dates?
Applicants must follow the published timeline according to the deadline at which they apply, so it is important that you consider the interview dates and decision-making dates for the deadline that works best with your schedule. To do this, you should select that deadline on the "Interview Info" page of the online application, so your application can be reviewed along that timeline. Applicants can apply for any future deadline and do not need to wait to submit their application until the previous deadline has passed. In addition, you can begin to fill out an application and return to it at a later date and all of your information will be saved. If you have questions about which deadline to choose, please contact us at admissions@teachforamerica.org.
If I'm accepted to the corps, can I get an extension on my decision to join the corps?
Matriculation extensions are granted on a case-by-case basis. To request an extension, an accepted applicant should send a detailed e-mail to admissions@teachforamerica.org explaining the reason for the request.
My parents have questions about my decision to join Teach For America. What resources can I share with them to help them understand my decision?
Send your parents, friends and family to our resources for friends and family section. On these pages you will find interviews with parents of corps members and alumni, as well as safety details and a variety of other information.
If I'm not accepted, can I apply again?
You cannot apply more than once for the same corps year, but we welcome you to reapply for future corps years. Before you reapply, we encourage you to seek out challenging leadership opportunities.
Can I defer my acceptance?
Accepted applicants may submit a request for a one-year deferral. Members of the selection committee will review and evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. Though uncommon, deferrals are typically granted for accepted applicants who have serious family emergencies or have offers to pursue one-year opportunities that cannot be deferred (e.g., the Fulbright Program). Candidates granted deferrals are recommended for acceptance for the following year, but are not guaranteed the same regional and subject assignment they were offered in the year they originally applied. Learn more here.
Can I teach for only one year?
No. Teach For America corps members make a two-year commitment to Teach For America, as well as to their students, communities, and schools. Corps members that do not complete their two-year commitment do not become Teach For America alumni.
I'm still an undergraduate and not graduating this year. What can I do to be involved in Teach For America?
Teach For America offers internships, part time, term-time, and summer employment opportunities for undergraduates. In addition, Teach For America is a placement site for the Public Service Internship Program (www.everettinterships.org). For more information, contact staffing@teachforamerica.org or visit our current job opportunities.
I graduated from college a few years ago and I am in a graduate program/working professional. Can I still apply to Teach For America?
Absolutely. Teach For America invites outstanding leaders of all backgrounds with a variety of experiences to apply. Each year college graduates who have spent time working, attending graduate school, or participating in other post-graduate activities comprise approximately 15 percent of the corps. If you have already graduated from college or graduate school, you are still eligible to apply and join the corps; you will follow the same application procedure as all other applicants. Learn more about applying to Teach For America as a graduate student or working professional.
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