Looking to join a coalition of extraordinary trailblazers? Teach For America has cultivated amazing change agents for nearly three decades. Learn how you can join our community of talented professionals.
When you apply to Teach For America, you’ll share more about your experiences, strengths, and passions. To get started, here’s what you need to do to get started.
1. Review TFA Eligibility Requirements
Our coalition of corps members comprises leaders like you, from hundreds of universities, representing dozens of college majors and countless backgrounds. In order to be considered for admission to TFA, you must have:
- A bachelor’s degree
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (most candidates have 3.5 or higher)
- U.S. citizenship, national/legal resident status, or be a DACA recipient
Get a better sense of what we require from applicants, common TFA qualification questions, and the characteristics of successful corps members more on Eligibility.
2. Determine the Best Application Deadline For You
We have five separate application windows, which means you can select the deadline that best matches your needs. The full application process takes approximately eight weeks. Learn more on Deadlines.
If you’re applying to the corps as a college junior or co-terming senior, your application deadlines are a little different. Here’s what you need to know about Early Admissions.
3. Apply Online
Create an account, fill out your online application, and submit it to join the corps during one of our five application windows. It takes less than an hour to complete and includes:
- Uploading a resume
- Providing your school history and transcript details
- Discussing your interest in joining TFA and your leadership experience
Read more details on our application process.
4. Sign Up & Prepare for Your Interview
The interview stage requires you to complete some additional steps, including:
- Uploading your official transcripts
- Providing two professional references
- Signing up for a virtual interview
- Creating a sample lesson plan
Our interview process allows you to share more about your background, your passions, and why you want to work to make the future more equitable for all children. Find more about our interview process.
5. Attend Your Interview
The TFA interview is a distinctive part of the TFA application process and consists of three major components:
- Teaching a sample lessons
- Participating in a case activity
- A personal virtual interview
More information about what you can expect in your interview.
“The corps was one of the most transformative periods of my life. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and encouraged to take an active role in my development as an educator and beyond.”
6. Select Your Teaching Preferences
After your interview, it’s time to select your location, grade, and subject preferences in the Applicant Center. This will help us determine the best fit for you when we’re looking for your placement. One of the best ways to narrow down your list is by using our compare regions tool.
7. Acceptance
Within two weeks of interviewing and submitting your preferences, you’ll find out your acceptance status and placement information. You’ll then have about 10 days to decide whether or not the TFA corps is right for you. Learn more about life in the corps.