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[wert3813]

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[EvilClinton]

I'm white, male, straight, from a upper middle class family and good looking. Thoughts?

Why do your looks matter?

[wert3813]

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[TheThriller]

only pretty people go to T14s so I would say you're a lock at CCN on down.

Unfortunately you stated that you are middle class, which means you will probably miss the HYS boat.

[wert3813]

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[EvilClinton]

I'm white, male, straight, from a upper middle class family and good looking. Thoughts?

Why do your looks matter?

Its why LSAC sends your picture....It was (not that funny) joke (I took the LSAT this morning so a little grace). Back to the original question?

Cool well the truth is that it doesn't look good but that your numbers will dictate your cycle not your TFA experience. The bigger problem will be explaining it to future employers.

Of course this could vary by individual. If you have nothing else on your resume this will be a bigger deal than if it is one of many things.

There have been several other threads about this on TLS before. Use the search function.

[emkay625]

You were never employed by TFA. You were employed by the school. TFA is just a program, not a job. You don't technically even have to put it on your resume. It would just look like you were a teacher for a year and then decided to do something else.

That said, it seems a little unethical to leave it off. But I don't actually think you can get in trouble for it. It would be the equivalent of someone leaving off an extracurricular activity or volunteer program. You are only required (on the apps) to report prior employment. TFA is not your employer in any way, shape, or form.

That said, I would put it on there and then just explain it wasn't for you if anyone asks. I doubt they will. You didn't leave in the middle of the year and abandon your kids, so I don't think people will be up in arms about it. Tens of thousands of first years teachers do this every year.

Really though, your resume will likely only get a passing glance. Put it on there. It is unlikely that people will notice it is only for a year. Your number will be 95% of the decision.

[TheThriller]

only pretty people go to T14s so I would say you're a lock at CCN on down.

Unfortunately you stated that you are middle class, which means you will probably miss the HYS boat.

Do you actually have an opinion on the TFA thing or just messing?

My actual opinion is that it will probably hurt you more during your job/OCI search then admissions. What employer wants to see that you broke contract a year into a job? What firm would hire a SA only to know that they may be around for only a year?

[Bildungsroman]

I'd be much more concerned about how potential employers will respond.

[WanderingPondering]

You have to be able to make up a decent reason for the TFA thing.

Luckily it won't really matter for your cycle. If you have a 4.0/167, you'll do great.

[emkay625]

only pretty people go to T14s so I would say you're a lock at CCN on down.

Unfortunately you stated that you are middle class, which means you will probably miss the HYS boat.

Do you actually have an opinion on the TFA thing or just messing?

My actual opinion is that it will probably hurt you more during your job/OCI search then admissions. What employer wants to see that you broke contract a year into a job? What firm would hire a SA only to know that they may be around for only a year?

He didn't break a contract....TFA is not an employer. All TFA corps members work for the school they teach in, not TFA.

[emkay625]

I'd be much more concerned about how potential employers will respond.

TITCR.

[TheThriller]

only pretty people go to T14s so I would say you're a lock at CCN on down.

Unfortunately you stated that you are middle class, which means you will probably miss the HYS boat.

Do you actually have an opinion on the TFA thing or just messing?

My actual opinion is that it will probably hurt you more during your job/OCI search then admissions. What employer wants to see that you broke contract a year into a job? What firm would hire a SA only to know that they may be around for only a year?

He didn't break a contract....TFA is not an employer. All TFA corps members work for the school they teach in, not TFA.

But it's a 2 year contract with the school if I am correct

[emkay625]

But it's a 2 year contract with the school if I am correct

Nope. First-year teachers are probationary and are on year-to-year contracts. This probationary status ends after anywhere from 2 -5 years, depending on the state.

[wert3813]

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[wert3813]

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[TheThriller]

But it's a 2 year contract with the school if I am correct

Nope. First-year teachers are probationary and are on year-to-year contracts. This probationary status ends after anywhere from 2 -5 years, depending on the state.

I learn new things every day lol. So with a good explanation to employers OP really isn't facing a employment death sentence

[wert3813]

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[emkay625]

Thanks all. Seriously thanks. Couple a questions stemming from this:

How can the numbers be 95% of it at H/Y/S/C/C/N & (Virginia and G'town) when they get so many high numbers?

So I'm hearing that my experience of finding many employers have no clue TFA is a two year commitment is atypical?

And whoever posted that TFA wasn't my employer is correct--I feel like 5 years from now I could just put teacher at XYZ school for a year. And be like the huge portion of people who teacher a year and then stop. No?

1. They do get a ton of high numbers. But they are what matters. Hence why a 169/3.6 at Georgetown is a WL and a 170/3.6 is in.

2. I have no idea how many people know that TFA is a 2 year commitment.

3. Why do you have any obligation to put it on there now? You are obligated to report your work history. You never worked for TFA.

That said, as a former corps member, if I were interviewing you and found out you had made it through year 1 but not year 2, I would be pretty judgmental. You need to come up with a great answer for why you left, other than "I didn't like it."

[emkay625]

But it's a 2 year contract with the school if I am correct

Nope. First-year teachers are probationary and are on year-to-year contracts. This probationary status ends after anywhere from 2 -5 years, depending on the state.

This is correct. The only thing you sign is a non-binding letter of understanding. 40% of all TFAs don't finish the two years (NOTE BEFORE THIS BLOWS UP TO WWIII: this number is people who accept and don't finish, institute attrition, quit in the middle of year one, after year one, and during year two).

Where are you getting this 40% number? The number is 7%. I'm looking at the internal annual report as we speak.

[emkay625]

But it's a 2 year contract with the school if I am correct

Nope. First-year teachers are probationary and are on year-to-year contracts. This probationary status ends after anywhere from 2 -5 years, depending on the state.

I learn new things every day lol. So with a good explanation to employers OP really isn't facing a employment death sentence

I'll just say in interviewing for jobs since TFA it hasn't been. "I was teaching an ESL history class to kids that didn't speak English, I don't speak Spanish, and really had no clue how to be anything other than a babysitter... Transition to how much I grew professionally..." usually works quite well.

How did you pass the fluency test to teach ESL if you don't speak Spanish? What crazy state was your region in?!

[wert3813]

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[EvilClinton]

If you were a former corps member I would look you in the eyes tell you what I said above (which is true) and then tell you that I felt like I was making the problem worse not better (true), that 76 teachers applied for the job I got (true), that at the end of the year I could come up with a lot of reasons to teach a second year but none of them involved me thinking I could in any way be transformational towards my kids.

While this is probably true, this is a really shitty interview answer. No one wants to hear that shit in an interview. Just say a close family member died and you needed to return home to take care of your family. HTH.

[wert3813]

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[wert3813]

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