Forced out of Teach for America Forum

[midwesternerouteast]

There is one somewhat similar topic from a few years ago, but I think it is worth asking. I have a 3.86 UG GPA from one of the top handful of public schools in the country, 174 LSAT and 2 years WE. Other softs are moderate. As far as I can tell I would be likely reject at Yale, 50/50 at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and NYU, and very likely admit anywhere else with money likely from the bottom half of the t-14.

The hitch is that from UG graduation through December I was in Teach for America. I didn't quit by my own volition, my first-year charter school overhired and I was fired (as were a couple other TFA teachers and a couple other regular teachers) before completing my commitment. Didn't get placed at a new school since the cuts were based on the fact that we were below-average teachers not based on length of tenure. I started my current job around 1 February after about 1.5-2 months unemployed. I don't really think I can leave it off my resume since that would leave April 2011-January 2012 as a pretty big unexplained block. Will this hurt me? If so, can a block so large be left off a resume?

And please, I don't need the moralizing crap, this isn't even close to my biggest concern about leaving my kids, but it is the only question I have appropriate for this venue.

[094320]

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[Brassica7]

I think it would be appropriate to write an addendum saying that you were laid off from your job because the school overestimated its budget. From what you posted, it doesn't seem to me that you were fired (released from work for being terrible at your job). Yes, the school kept on the stronger teachers, and you were not among them, but it is not the case that you were so bad at teaching they would have fired you even if they didn't have budget problems. I think it would be reasonable, based on what you wrote, to portray this situation as a budget-related layoff.

[FinallyGoing]

So, with all due respect....I am confused. Were you fired for poor performance or laid off because of budget cuts?

[Kikero]

So, with all due respect....I am confused. Were you fired for poor performance or laid off because of budget cuts?

It looks like laid off, but "performance" was the deciding factor on who was kept instead of seniority, at least according to OP.

[FinallyGoing]

So, with all due respect....I am confused. Were you fired for poor performance or laid off because of budget cuts?

It looks like laid off, but "performance" was the deciding factor on who was kept instead of seniority, at least according to OP.

Does that mean that OP was terminated due to poor performance then? I don't know.

Is your termination documented somehow?

[kalvano]

It sounds like OP was laid off because of budget cuts, but performance was the deciding factor in who got laid off.

If that's the case, then it is appropriate to say in an addendum that (s)he was laid off for budgetary reasons, as that is the truth. Unless they said you would have been fired anyway.

[CanadianWolf]

Teaching isn't your calling so you're going to law school.

You cannot leave it off of your resume.

Whether or not it hurts you depends upon how you present it. You can learn a lot from being fired regardless of the reason.

[RoloTomassi]

I don't think an honest explanation of what happened will hurt you at all. Include an addendum with the details. I predict that your cycle will go as well as if this never happened. Get your apps in early for what will likely be another record low year for applicants and I think you have a very good shot at HSCC.

Also, ignore the haters.

[chasgoose]

Also, I wouldn't really worry too much about being let go. I mean it sucks, but teaching is hard and not everyone can do it. You were thrown into a difficult situation with minimal training and no experience whatsoever. People are bound to fail in those circumstances. I would worry more about making sure your application portrays a compelling reason to go to law school beyond: TFA sucked and I have high stats so why not. If your plan was to apply to law school all along, make your narrative more about how you viewed this as an opportunity to start pursuing your legal career earlier since you realized teaching wasn't what you wanted to be doing and it reflected in your performance or something like that. The more you get used to spinning this early, the better you will be at it once you are in law school and its time for job interviews...

I would say you are a lock at NYU with some money and have a good shot at CC and a decent shot at H (they can't really afford to ignore too many people with your numbers, especially those with WE). Throw apps to YS too, but this could hurt you more there since they can be more picky.

[boredatwork]

OP you need to clarify if you were fired for cause or laid off, they are very different.

[danielhay11]

I'm finishing up my second year in TFA, and I know several people (in my regions and in others) who have been let go for circumstances outside of their control - budget shortfalls, underenrollment, school turnaround, etc. It happens, and I'm sure you're not the first person applying to law schools in this situation. Provided you weren't let go fo rincompetence or laziness or anything (and the budget issue was just a contractual opportunity to do so), I doubt this will hurt you that much. The incomplete TFA term on your resume might look bad at first, but that's why there's addenda.

[09042014]

You got laid off, no shame in that, especially with unemployment so high. Do law schools even ask why you left a job? if they do it's deep in the application packet and it's not a factor. Just put "laid off" in the field.

If you are ashamed you didn't finish tfa, don't put that it was a tfa job. You work directly for, the school right? No need to say that you were set up by tfa.

Writing an addendum for getting laid off is weird.

[Doorkeeper]

You'll probably want an addendum explaining that you lost your position due to budget cuts and that you did not quit.

THIS

Also, you're a lock for the T6. You have a shot at HS.