How To Apply

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Applicants to Teach For America must submit an online application by one of our five deadlines (August 19, 2011; September 16, 2011; October 26, 2011; January 6, 2012; February 10, 2012). Applications are non-binding. Subsequent rounds of the admissions process can include an online activity, phone interview, and final in-person interview.

If you are accepted to the corps, you will attend our summer training institute in summer 2012 and begin teaching in fall 2012 regardless of the deadline by which you apply.

Select an application deadline to view its admissions timeline, then click on a milestone for details.

Timeline for     deadline

  • Submit personal, academic, and/or professional information
  • Upload resume: one page strongly recommended, two-page limit
  • Submit letter of intent: 500 words; review questions here

Learn if you’ve been invited to an interview on August 26.

Please note: Candidates are sometimes invited directly to the final interview round. Anyone invited to either a phone or final interview must complete the Online Activity.

  • Access two-part Online Activity
  • Allot two hours to complete activity in one sitting by September 26

  • Sign up for a phone interview timeslot by September 24
  • Participate in a 30-minute phone interview between September 24-27

Learn if you’ve been invited to a final interview on October 5

Before October 17

  • Sign up for an interview location and date
  • Prepare a five-minute sample teaching lesson
  • Read assigned articles
  • Complete Assignment Preference Form: Submit your regional and subject and grade-level preferences
  • Complete Coursework Information Form
  • Upload official transcript from every undergraduate/graduate university you have attended
  • Upload documents proving that you are a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
  • Ensure recommenders submit Online Recommendation Forms

Participate in a day-long final interview between October 17-21

  • View your acceptance status
  • If admitted, receive details about where you’ll teach and what subject and grade level you’re tentatively assigned to teach

Accept or decline our offer by November 21

Choosing When to Apply 

Please ensure that you will not have any scheduling conflicts with required phone or in-person interview dates before you select when to apply. While you should choose a deadline based on the timeline that works best for you, there are specific advantages to selecting an earlier deadline, including:

  • Earlier notification of your admissions status
  • Access to more available phone and final interview timeslots
  • Additional time to prepare for your transition, which can include relocating, passing required tests, completing pre-service reading and classroom observations, and interviewing with school districts

First Application Deadline Advantages

Applicants who submit their online applications at the first deadline will participate in phone interview and/or final interview rounds with applicants who submit their online applications at the second deadline. There are, however, specific advantages to applying at the first deadline. You will learn whether you are advancing to the next stage in the process three weeks before second deadline applicants. 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 timeslots, which gives you greater flexibility with scheduling.

Preparing for the Application Process

 

WHO WE LOOK FOR

Learn about the strengths that we look for in applicants to the corps.

Find out who we look for »

WHERE WE WORK

Learn about the 43 communities nationwide where our corps members, alumni, and staff members partner to close the achievement gap. 

Check out our regions and the corps members, alumni, and supporters who live there »

Teach For America thanks our National Partners for their generous support.

Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.

Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.