Your next two years can make an incredible difference.

FAQ - Applying

How does the application process work?
There are three steps.

  • Applicants complete an online application where they submit a resume and letter of intent, as well as personal, academic, and/or professional information.
  • Selected applicants participate in a phone interview with a Teach For America representative.
  • We invite the most promising applicants to a full-day, in-person interview, which includes teaching a sample lesson, completing a problem solving activity, participating in a group discussion, and interviewing one-on-one with a Teach For America representative.

Learn more here.

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When are the application deadlines?
Applicants have five opportunities to apply to the 2010 corps. The application deadlines are:

  • August 21, 2009 (summer deadline)
  • September 18, 2009
  • October 28, 2009
  • January 8, 2010
  • February 19, 2010

See a complete timeline.  

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What is the advantage to applying at the summer deadline?
If you apply for the summer deadline, you will learn whether you are advancing to the next stage in the process three weeks before first deadline applicants. The next stage in the process will be either a phone interview or a final, in-person interview. If you are invited to a phone interview, you will have the opportunity to sign up for your interview dates and times before first deadline applicants. As a result, you will have access to more available time slots, which gives you greater flexibility with scheduling. Please note that you will follow the same interview timeline and acceptance notification timing as first deadline applicants.

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What is the advantage to applying to an earlier deadline?
Although our final admissions criteria are the same at all deadlines, the primary advantage to applying before the final deadline is more time. Specific advantages to selecting our earlier, lower-volume deadlines are:

  • Early notification of your admissions status
  • Access to more available phone and final interview time slots
  • Additional time and flexibility to prepare for the transition, which can include planning for a move, passing required tests, completing pre-service reading and classroom observations, and interviewing with school districts

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 your selected deadline.

See a complete timeline.

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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. If you have a conflict (e.g., taking exams, out of the country, or have faith-based obligations), 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. Some helpful tips when choosing a deadline:

  • You can apply for any future deadline and do not need to wait to submit your application until the previous deadline has passed.
  • You can begin to fill out an application and return to it at a later date. All of your information will be saved.
  • If you have questions about which deadline to choose, please contact us at admissions@teachforamerica.org.

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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.

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My family has 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 our website. On these pages, you will find interviews with parents of corps members and alumni, as well as safety information and other program details. You can also find media coverage of Teach For America, read what school administrators, graduate schools, and employer partners say about us, and learn about the benefits offered to corps members. 

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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. Additionally, we encourage you to seek out challenging leadership opportunities before you reapply.

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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).

Learn more here.

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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.

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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. You can also volunteer to help with our on-campus recruiting efforts (please reach out to your career service office for your campus recruiter’s contact information). For more information, contact staffing@teachforamerica.org or visit our current job opportunities.

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I am currently in a graduate program or have prior professional experience. 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. In fact, working professionals and graduate students comprise approximately 15 percent of the 2009 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 college graduate or working professional.

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Can I apply to Teach For America if I’m already certified to teach?
Yes. Teach For America accepts applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, including education majors and certified teachers, although we do not require any previous education coursework or teaching experience of our applicants.

The application process for certified teachers is the same as for all applicants, and it is required that all corps members participate fully in the professional development opportunities available at the summer training institute.

If you are certified to teach in the state where you are assigned, you will not need to retake any certification exams that you have already passed, but will most likely need to submit a copy of your score reports. If you areassignedtoastate where you are not certified to teach, you can take the certification tests and participate in the coursework or apply to transfer your license on your own.

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