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How to prepare

This page provides tips for ensuring your application is as strong as possible.

	General	Application
	Phone interview	Final interview

General

Learn about Teach For America by browsing our website, speaking with a recruiter, or requesting a copy of our brochure. It is important that you demonstrate an understanding of our mission in your application and interviews.

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Application

While this may sound obvious, we recommend that you complete your application carefully and thoughtfully, highlighting your strengths and avoiding typos or other errors.

The best way to begin is to start an application and review the questions. Knowing what is required and not required will help you allot enough time to complete it. As a quick preview, you will be asked to submit personal information as well as:

• Résumé (one page)
• Letter of Intent (500 words)
• Essay (500 words)
• Academic Information

Unlike most graduate schools, we do not require recommendations at the application stage, though we do collect Online Recommendation Form(s) if you are invited to a final interview.

Writing
Given that most corps members are required to pass teacher entrance exams in reading and writing skills regardless of the grade level taught, we do evaluate level of proficiency in writing. Before submitting your application, we encourage you to review your application against our writing proficiency standards. Applications that contain multiple errors may be rejected on this basis.

Writing Proficiency Standards

Not acceptable

Exemplary

Essays or letters characterized by any of the following: Does not answer the question or significantly veers from initial point No clear thesis or point Paragraphs include unconnected ideas No logical transitions Short undeveloped paragraphs Inadequate reasons, examples or details to explain ideas Contains multiple errors in word usage, grammar, and mechanics

Essays and letters characterized by all of the following: Clearly answers application questions, makes a profound point; stays on topic Has a logical and insightful progression of ideas throughout the essay Clearly explains key ideas, supporting them with well chosen reasons, examples, or details Varies sentence structure effectively Chooses words carefully and correctly Contains no errors in word usage, grammar, or mechanics

Résumé
An effective résumé will highlight your achievements in clear and specific language, and will not exceed one page. Be sure to address each of the following areas:

• Academic Achievement: You should include name(s) of degree(s), major(s), minor(s), cumulative GPA, and GPA in major. You should also describe any other academic achievements (thesis, honors program, academic awards, etc.).
• Extracurricular Activities: You should include information about your recent involvement in extracurricular activities (if applicable). If you have served in a leadership role in an activity (e.g., founder, vice president, executive board member) describe the nature of your role and the size of the group (i.e., number of members) you led. Please also include any specific, measurable achievements and awards (if applicable).
• Work Experience: You should include information about your recent work experience (if applicable). If you have served in a leadership role at work (e.g., manager, trainer, supervisor) describe the nature of your role and the size of the team you led. Include any specific, measurable achievements and awards (if applicable).

Letter of intent
All applicants write a 500-word letter of intent that asks:

Why do you seek to join Teach For America? What would make you an effective corps member?

We recommend outlining your response to the letter of intent question before beginning to write. This will ensure that you've answered the question thoroughly and that you've structured your response logically. We will evaluate the quality of your writing in addition to the substance of your response. Given this, we also recommend that you proofread your letter carefully before submitting.

Essay
All applicants write a 500-word essay in response to the following prompt:

Describe a time when you encountered serious obstacles to success while working on a project. You may choose any academic, professional, or extracurricular project you have worked on during the past four years.

Your essay should address all of the following questions:

• What was the aim of the project?
• What were the specific obstacles that arose, and why did they occur?
• How specifically did you respond to those obstacles? What specific actions did you take? You may describe more than one approach, if relevant.
• What was the ultimate outcome with respect to the initial aim of the project? Why did this outcome occur?

While you should completely describe the obstacle(s) you faced, please do not focus your essay primarily on the obstacle(s); it is more important that you thoroughly explain your reaction and describe the steps you took in response to the obstacle(s). The experience you choose to describe may relate to any academic, professional, or extracurricular project.

It is important that you choose an essay topic that allows you to answer all of the questions provided in the prompt. We will not evaluate whether your essay relates to children or low-income communities; therefore, you should not choose an essay topic solely because it reflects an interest in these areas. As with the letter of intent, we will evaluate the quality of your writing in addition to the substance of your response.

Academic Information
To see the complete list of information you are required to submit, start an application and click "Academic Info." You will enter information about your education background, including your undergraduate university/universities, major(s), and cumulative and yearly GPA. If applicable, you will also submit information about any graduate schools you have attended. This section allows you to demonstrate your academic achievements.

You will also have the chance to explain any extenuating academic circumstances such as transfers, withdrawals, or low grades. You should explain these situations fully and clearly, and know that your application will be reviewed carefully and holistically even if you have received low grades or withdrawals in the past (provided that you have an undergraduate, cumulative GPA of at least 2.50). For example, we may accept an applicant who has a below-average GPA, but who has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills outside of the classroom. Conversely, having a high GPA alone is not grounds for acceptance. You will be expected to demonstrate your strengths in other regards even if your academic record is exemplary.

That said, applicants who have demonstrated a consistent pattern of very low grades (Ds, Fs) over time may have difficulty passing our bar for an acceptable level of achievement, regardless of leadership roles.

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Phone interview

The phone interview is designed to give members of the selection committee an opportunity to get to know you better. To prepare, you should review your application and be ready to comment on specific experiences discussed within it. You will also complete a short pre-reading assignment that should take 30-60 minutes and be prepared to discuss your reactions. You can download the pre-reading materials on the Interview Preparation page of the application.

Some applicants will not be required to participate in a phone interview, and will be passed directly on to the final interview. However, due to the short notice between this notification and the scheduled phone interviews, we encourage you to prepare for this step even if you are not ultimately required to attend.

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Final interview

Applicants selected to advance to the final interview stage will be given additional, detailed information about how to best prepare for it when they are notified of their interview status. Below is a list of general best practices when preparing for the final interview:

• Plan and practice a 5-minute sample-teaching lesson. Specific instructions on how to plan the lesson will be available on the Applicant Center to applicants invited to interview.
• Read pre-reading materials carefully.
• Ensure that your recommender(s) submits your Online Recommendation Form(s) by the deadline, in advance of your interview. You are required to submit one Online Recommendation Form and are encouraged to submit a second, optional form.
• Collect required paperwork in advance. This includes:
  • Two official transcripts from every college or university that you have attended, including study abroad, summer coursework, co-op programs, and all other credits applied to your bachelor's degree. If the course names, credits, and grades from your study abroad program appear on your transcript from your degree-granting institution, then an official transcript from the abroad institution is not required.
  • Photocopies of documentation that proves your identity and your citizenship status.
• If applying for transitional funding, send supporting documentation according to the instructions on the transitional grants and loans application.
• Review the directions to your interview site and make transportation plans in advance.

Professionalism
It is important to us that applicants appear and act professionally. Applicants should make certain that they:

• Arrive to the interview early and prepared with all required documents
• Dress professionally
• Many applicants wear suits though it is not required. Professional dress may also consist of a button-down shirt, tie, and slacks for men; and a skirt of a reasonable length or slacks and blouse, or a dress for women. Casual clothing such as jeans are not considered professional. As is typically recommended for job interviews, we recommend you use your best judgment and err on the conservative side when making decisions regarding dress. Many online job search resources provide guidance on this subject: check out about.com.
• Speak in a professional manner
• Profanity or cursing of any kind are not considered professional. Again, we suggest you use your best judgment and err on the conservative side.

Applicants who do not meet basic standards for professionalism (due to an egregious violation of one of the above or by consistently demonstrating a lack of professionalism) may not be selected for the corps regardless of other strengths.

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