Teach for America---might it hurt? Forum

[BlueGiraffe]

I know TCR on TLS is that Teach for America might not help much as a soft (well, does anything short of curing cancer), but do people think for HYS it might hurt a bit actually because it's so common? For example: http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... essay.aspx

[haus]

I know TCR on TLS is that Teach for America might not help much as a soft (well, does anything short of curing cancer), but do people think for HYS it might hurt a bit actually because it's so common? For example: http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... essay.aspx

I doubt that it would hurt. Try to avoid writing a personal statement that sounds like a cheesy young teacher television after school special. Then again, maybe you should try that curing cancer thing, that might help.

[BillPackets]

I know TCR on TLS is that Teach for America might not help much as a soft (well, does anything short of curing cancer), but do people think for HYS it might hurt a bit actually because it's so common? For example: http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... essay.aspx

Moral of the story: don't be a cookie cutter TFA applicant.

[mx23250]

I know TCR on TLS is that Teach for America might not help much as a soft (well, does anything short of curing cancer), but do people think for HYS it might hurt a bit actually because it's so common? For example: http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... essay.aspx

I doubt that it would hurt. Try to avoid writing a personal statement that sounds like a cheesy young teacher television after school special. Then again, maybe you should try that curing cancer thing, that might help.

I tried the whole curing cancer thing and actually published a couple research articles showing a potential new treatment for a specific subset of breast cancer patients (my doctoral work was in cancer). It did give me a boost in admissions

[Hat.trick]

I highly doubt it will HURT you and it will certainly look better as opposed to doing nothing for a year. Also, if you plan on pursuing public interest, TFA could be a great thing to highlight in your personal statement.