• Who is eligible to apply to Teach For America?
• Can I apply if my GPA is below 2.50?
• What qualities do strong candidates express?
• Does my age play a factor in the admissions process?
• I've already served as an AmeriCorps member for one or two years. Am I eligible for Teach For America? Am I eligible for additional educational awards?
• I already have experience working with children or teaching. How does this impact my admission into the corps?
• I have a track record of success in my current field (e.g., business, law). How does this impact the admissions decision?

Who is eligible to apply to Teach For America?
In order to apply to Teach For America, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the first day of summer institute, you must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.50, and you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent legal resident. Teach For America accepts applicants from all academic majors, programs, and professional backgrounds and experiences. A degree or coursework in education, however, is not required and has no bearing on a candidate's chances of admission.

Read more about Teach For America's eligibility requirements.

For international students:
On a limited, trial-run basis, Teach For America will accept applications from foreign citizens with a math or science background and currently attending a U.S. college or university on an F-1 visa. Applicants who are accepted to the International Students Pilot Program will teach math or science in Houston. 

Read more about Teach For America’s International Students Pilot Program.

If you are not from the U.S. and are from a country that is part of the Teach For All network, you may be eligible to join one of our partner programs. 

Learn more about Teach For All.

Can I apply if my GPA is below 2.50?
No, you must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale (as measured by the institution awarding your degree) at the time we receive your application, as well as at the time of graduation. There are no exceptions to this requirement. The GPA requirement is mandated by the school districts and credentialing programs with which we work. Graduate school GPAs should not be used or averaged in with undergraduate GPAs. If you are accepted into Teach For America and your final GPA falls below a 2.50, you will forego your position with Teach For America. Applicants must also pass any coursework indicated on their transcript as “in progress” at the time of their interview.

What qualities do strong candidates possess?

We seek individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in academic, professional, extracurricular, or volunteer settings.

• Read more about who we're looking for.
• Learn more about the 2010 corps.
• Read about diversity in the corps.

Does my age play a factor in the admissions process?
A candidate’s age has no bearing on admissions decisions. We evaluate all candidates by the same standards. Our admissions model is grounded in research into corps member effectiveness. Our corps members include outstanding leaders of all ages and experiences, and we encourage anyone who meets our eligibility requirements to apply. See our nondiscrimination policy. 

I’ve already served as an AmeriCorps member for one or two years. Am I eligible for Teach For America? Am I eligible for additional education awards?
Yes, you are still eligible to apply. However, your AmeriCorps experience may impact your ability to receive additional education awards. Starting in the 2010-11 grant year, AmeriCorps members are eligible to earn what amounts to two full education award vouchers in a lifetime. If you have already received two full AmeriCorps education awards, then you are not eligible for any other AmeriCorps benefits,such as loan forbearance and interest accrual payments. 

Learn more about AmeriCorps member benefits.

I already have experience working with children or teaching. How does this impact my admission into the corps?
Experience working with children or teaching does not directly help or hurt a candidate's chances of admission. The admissions process is grounded in our research about the skills and attributes that differentiate our most effective corps members. Therefore, it is possible to have significant experience working with children and/or teaching and still not be admitted into the corps.

Read more about who we're looking for.

I have a track record of success in my current field (e.g., business, law). How does this impact the admissions decision?
Our admissions process is designed to give applicants the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths across a range of leadership qualities, including achievement in past or current roles. Since we are evaluating a number of different competencies, it is possible to have significant accomplishments in your current occupation and still not be admitted into the corps.