Questions Regarding Teach For America

[DiamondBar]

Hello, SDN
I made sure to use the search engine to read up on all of the threads, and I am posting this in hopes that I get additional up-to-date info/advice/opinions for me for Teach For America.

I just received an email from this organization offering me the opportunity for an interview.
I have never heard of this program, and it seems to me that this is a great opportunity after reading different websites.
I am currently a fourth year in UCSD, and I plan on studying the MCAT next summer after I graduate, and then take it the exam in the sometime in the fall. (Sorry, an offtopic quick question. When would I start applying for medical schools for the best chance?) I believe that means that I will have 2 years before medical school.

I also found that TFA programs last a minimum of two years. TFA possibly coincide or have conflicting schedules with my plans on taking the MCAT, or application process for medical schools (interviews, etc.)?

Once again, any opinions about this program and its relation to medical school would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much

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[pineapplepancakes]

Hi DiamondBar, regarding the when to apply for medical schools during TFA question – I've read around here that you should apply during your second year of TFA, rather than defer medical school for TFA (although contrary to that advice there are many schools that offer 2-year deferrals so see here). I think the only option that is a big no-no is applying during your first year and then ducking out of TFA before your second year to go to medical school.

I have several friends/colleagues who went through TFA, and although it is definitely a grueling, challenging job and you should only do it if you're passionate about teaching and your students, most of them have said it's been worth it and it has had a big (generally positive) impact on their life.

 

[red doctober]

Right, this isn't something you just waltz into. It's a huge commitment as it is a full-time job. You should be comfortable teaching a class of K-12 kids as well as with the underserved neighborhood you'll be placed in. If you're not, they will most likely be able to sniff it out during the application/interview process. If you're up for the challenge and do it, it looks amazing on a med school application, right up there with the Peace/Ameri Corps.

 

[LizzyM]

My niece did Teach for America and while she was doing it I became familiar with this blog: http://teachforus.org/ Read it and put yourself in those teachers' shoes before you decide whether or not to pursue it.

I have had excellent med students who have done it. I also interviewed at least one TFA corps member who dropped out mid-year because the school was too dangerous and terrifying (risk of physical harm causing emotional damage).

If you think that you might be happy as a teacher in an impoverished area with kids who are below grade level, do consider it. Sometimes I think that teachers, literacy and numeracy can do more for American's health than all the doctors and medications in the world.

 

[HughMyron]

It does look great on a resume, but you also need to have a great résumé to even do it. In any case, it's a ton of effort for questionable gain. If you're the kind of student who can get into TFA, you probably have a 3.8/36 and can go to any med school anyways.

The reason I say the gain is questionable is that, well, it is. You spend 2 years of your life making a pittance just to boost your resume. Your peers will have gone to medical school 2 years sooner, and become residents/attendings faster than you. They will start making good money before you.

Don't do it for medical school. Do it because you love teaching, and you love it enough to sacrifice enormous time, money, and energy for something that will probably be futile and pointless to everyone involved anyways. I say this as someone with years of tutoring experience in a low income high school.

 

[Praefectus]

If you went to private school from K-12 and then to a small liberal arts college, I wouldn't recommend doing it. You'll experience a HUGE culture shock if I just described you to a T.

 

[DiamondBar]

Thank you all for such helpful replies.

I just want to assure you that I am passionate about teaching - it has been my hobby since high school. I have TA'ed a couple quarters, am a president for a tutoring community service organization, and tutor peers as well.


I just received a message from someone saying that TFA WILL create some conflict with my MCAT study schedule during the summer because that's when all of the intense training begins...

 

[pineapplepancakes]

It was by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and was MUCH harder than medical school so far. I'm tremendously glad I did it. Aside from the great relationships I built with students and other teachers, I learned a lot of skills that have helped me in medical school so far: time management, perseverance, interacting with people from a different background than where I came from, and mostly keeping things in perspective (and realizing how lucky I was to come from a safe community without violence and poverty).

I am a member of an organization abroad similar to TFA, and I completely agree with this. I'm in my second year, and when it gets rough, I can't help but think to myself that the skills I've developed to cope and (sometimes) thrive will enable me to make it through anything. While it can be really, really frustrating teaching students who don't want to learn or believe they can't or simply have never had the opportunity or resources to (especially when you're not teaching in your native language), it's even more rewarding when you impact even one student and s/he starts being able to spell vocabulary or pass a test. It's an empowering feeling.

Don't try and study for the MCAT the summer of institute, you need to work on being an effective teacher. Teaching is way hard, and your kids need a teacher that is devoting all their energy to being the best teacher they can be.

During our summer institute practicum, I think I slept an average of 3 hours per night. I could not imagine studying for anything so important (or even picking up a book, really) during that intense time. I would definitely do it once you're settled at your final placement and have learned the basics.