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Why You Should Consider Applying Early To Teach For America

Start your final year of school with a job offer in hand. Connect with our vast network of changemakers and access leadership development opportunities and paid internships available only to early applicants.


Apply early

Ready to secure a meaningful career before graduation? Juniors or co-terming seniors who feel they have the unique skills necessary to change lives are invited to take the next step and submit their early application to become a 2019 Teach For America corps member.

Early applicants are evaluated on the same criteria as all other applicants. For those admitted early to TFA, training to begin teaching starts the summer after graduation. Until then, here are a few added benefits and opportunities available exclusively to early admitted applicants. 

Network with Alumni and Future Education Leaders

By joining TFA as an early-admitted applicant, you’re able to connect with a diverse network of leaders who are shaping the future of our nation.

Beyond having a full year to prepare, early admitted applicants can meet and hear from top alumni leaders across a variety of sectors during their senior year. Signing up for an Alumni Mentor is a great opportunity to gain valuable career advice and learn more about what it’s like to lead in the classroom.

Early admission also gives you access to Inside TFA Webinars where you can connect with organizational leaders, specialists, and teachers about important issues. You can also join identity-based groups like LGBTQ and Allies, White Allyship, AANHPI Leadership, Black Leadership, Latinx Leadership, and Native and American Indian Leadership, which are led online by alumni, so you can start building community early.

“Applying early to TFA gave me the opportunity to hear from amazing Teach For America alumni leaders. I’ve also been able to meet with other early admits who will become future education leaders. The opportunity to bridge past and future leaders gives me great hope for the future of education.”

Pranav Nanda

Kansas City Corps Member 2017

Access Exclusive Professional Development Opportunities 

For juniors and seniors looking to accelerate your leadership potential, TFA offers paid internships and all-expenses-paid experiences.

Those admitted early to the corps can also enjoy the added benefit of honing new skills through tools available exclusively to early applicants. With these on-demand resources, you can explore topics including leadership development, diversity and inclusiveness, and teaching prep. Additionally, early applicants have access to test-prep opportunities and are able to take certification exams earlier. 

Take Your Leadership to the Next Level

Apply as a junior, and by your senior year, you’ll have access to leadership development opportunities available exclusively to early admitted applicants.

Some of these include taking part in workshops and projects with more than 100 other early admitted corps members at our Leadership Summit. You'll also have the opportunity to attend additional conferences, including the LGBTQ, Black, Latinx, Native, and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander corps member summits.

Early applicants may even have a chance to tour their placement region to observe classrooms, meet current teachers and community members. Whatever track you choose is a chance to be empowered and learn meaningful skills to prepare you to lead and change lives in the classroom.

“As an early applicant, I visited my region, connected with alumni mentors, took leadership development opportunities, and met other early applicants at the LEAD conference and through the TFA Latinx Community. Applying early equipped me with the confidence and passion that I know I will take into my classroom.”

Chloé López

Greater Tulsa Corps Member 2018

The early application for our 2019 corps closed in April 2018. Our corps application will re-open in August 2018.