• How does the application process work?
• When are the application deadlines?
• What is the advantage to applying at the first deadline ?
• What is the advantage to applying at an earlier deadline?
• What should I do if I want to apply at a certain deadline but I have a conflict with the interview or matriculation dates for that deadline?
• If I'm accepted to the corps, can I get an extension on my decision to join the corps?
• 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?
• If I'm not accepted, can I apply again?
• Can I defer my acceptance?
• Can I teach for only one year?
• I'm still an undergraduate and not graduating this year. What can I do to be involved in Teach For America?
• Do you only look for graduating college seniors?
• Can I apply to Teach For America if I'm already certified to teach?

How does the application process work?

There are three steps.

1. Applicants complete an online application where they submit a resume and letter of intent, as well as personal and academic information. The application usually takes two hours to complete.
2. Selected applicants participate in a 30-minute phone interview with a Teach For America representative.
3. 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. Some applicants may be invited directly to a final interview without attending a phone interview. This happens when a candidate's application provides us with enough information to determine a high likelihood of reaching the finalist round.

Note that all applicants invited to attend an interview are required to complete the Online Written Activity. Learn more about the application process here.

When are the application deadlines?
Applicants have five opportunities to apply to the 2011 corps. The application deadlines are:

• August 20, 2010
• September 17, 2010
• October 27, 2010
• December 17, 2010
• February 4, 2011

See a complete timeline.  

What is the advantage to applying at the first deadline?
If you apply for the first deadline, you will learn whether you are advancing to the next stage in the process three weeks before second 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 second 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 second deadline applicants.

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:

• Earlier notification of your admissions status
• Access to more available phone and final interview time slots
• Guaranteed transitional award on acceptance notification day if you complete a transitional funding application by the Assignment Preference Form due date
• 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.

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 for the deadline at which they apply. To avoid conflicts (e.g., exams, work-related obligations, travel outside of the country, or faith-based obligations), it is important that you consider the interview dates and decision-making dates for each deadline and choose the one that works best with your schedule. Select the appropriate 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.

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 for applicants who have other competing offers that they are considering. To request an extension, an accepted applicant should send a detailed e-mail to admissions@teachforamerica.org explaining the reason for the request.

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 the resources for friends and family section on our website. You will find interviews with parents of corps members and alumni as well as safety information and other program details. You can also review 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.  

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. We encourage you to seek out challenging leadership opportunities before you reapply.

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.

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. You can also help with our on-campus recruiting efforts (please reach out to your career service office for your campus recruiter’s contact information). 

Learn more about additional opportunities for underclassmen to get involved.   

 Do you only look for graduating college seniors?

No. 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. Graduate students and working professionals are encouraged to apply to 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.

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 are assigned to a state 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.