Teach for America?

[Chemistry>Physics]

Has anyone done teach for America and what was the experience like? Did you enjoy it / did it help your application?

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[Planes2Doc]

I would only do it if you genuinely want to teach kids, and put your heart and soul into it. Too many people are using Teach for America as a stepping stone to bigger things that have absolutely nothing to do with education.

Thus, in my opinion, if you want to be a half-ass hospital volunteer that slacks off all the time, be my guest. You might piss off a few people, but that's it. It's a harmless way to check the box. But with Teach for America, these are real living children that are depending on the educational system to help them advance in life. Half-assing it causes collateral damage to the children, and that's not okay.

There are plenty of ways to check the boxes on your application which allow you to put forth far less effort and not have any significant collateral damage. Think wisely, and only do this if this is something you genuinely want to do. Put the kids first, not yourself.

 

[ridethecliche]

I would only do it if you genuinely want to teach kids, and put your heart and soul into it. Too many people are using Teach for America as a stepping stone to bigger things that have absolutely nothing to do with education.

Thus, in my opinion, if you want to be a half-ass hospital volunteer that slacks off all the time, be my guest. You might piss off a few people, but that's it. It's a harmless way to check the box. But with Teach for America, these are real living children that are depending on the educational system to help them advance in life. Half-assing it causes collateral damage to the children, and that's not okay.

There are plenty of ways to check the boxes on your application which allow you to put forth far less effort and not have any significant collateral damage. Think wisely, and only do this if this is something you genuinely want to do. Put the kids first, not yourself.

Argument here would be that people that get into TFA are 'better' than what the kids currently have. TFA's model doesn't breed long term teachers for the most part because that's not the goal. The goal is to use highly motivated and smart individuals to throw themselves at a problem and burn out in the process.

I almost did TFA and have a few friends that did. I have mixed feelings about the program, but some people I know did it and loved it.

 

[NickNaylor]

It will almost certainly help your application. I've interviewed and am in class with many people that did TFA. If it's something you're interested in, then do it. But I would do your research about it beforehand. I think it's a lot more challenging than what many people expect. It probably won't be what you're thinking it is if you haven't spent some time learning about the program. I was also interested in TFA but decided not to do it because of the less-than-positive experiences many, many people have had with the program.

 

[tiedyeddog]

It will help out but I am not sure it will help out as much misery as it can cause you. I have a family member who did it, it was pretty rough. You can get worked extremely hard at some sites so I would only consider this myself if I really, really enjoyed the work itself and not to only benefit an application.

 

[WingedOx]

Had a friend/classmate do it. Left the program early to start med school. Sated the reason was "I got tired of being called "bitch" by 30 15 year olds every day."

/I really wouldn't give anyone points for altruism for doing it though. If you really wanted to be "altruistic", you'd just become a teacher.

 

[sazerac]

TFA, from the children's perspective: http://www.theonion.com/articles/my-year-volunteering-as-a-teacher-helped-educate-a,28803/

Had a friend/classmate do it. Left the program early to start med school. Sated the reason was "I got tired of being called "bitch" by 30 15 year olds every day."

Yeah they wrote an article about that phenomenon too: http://www.theonion.com/articles/teach-for-america-chews-up-spits-out-another-ethni,1293/

 

[Chemistry>Physics]

I would only do it if you genuinely want to teach kids, and put your heart and soul into it. Too many people are using Teach for America as a stepping stone to bigger things that have absolutely nothing to do with education.

Thus, in my opinion, if you want to be a half-ass hospital volunteer that slacks off all the time, be my guest. You might piss off a few people, but that's it. It's a harmless way to check the box. But with Teach for America, these are real living children that are depending on the educational system to help them advance in life. Half-assing it causes collateral damage to the children, and that's not okay.

There are plenty of ways to check the boxes on your application which allow you to put forth far less effort and not have any significant collateral damage. Think wisely, and only do this if this is something you genuinely want to do. Put the kids first, not yourself.

Thanks for the response, and you're right! I'm asking about Teach for America not for personal gain, but to try and understand more about kids. I'm interested in pediatrics and children, but I've never spent (outside of my youth) more than 5 days with them. I think the role model aspect of the program is very interesting. Also I'm interested in it because I've been in a couple teaching programs (mentoring type) for younger inner city kids. I really enjoyed the experience, and I came from a public HS known for poor academics and something like a 70% minority population. I've liked the idea of being a teacher, but I know I would never want to get a career in it. I think it could be a great launch pad for pediatrics, and a more in depth look into children's lives. It'd be really fun to work with kids too. Not just ye olde box checking.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Thanks for the response, and you're right! I'm asking about Teach for America not for personal gain, but to try and understand more about kids. I'm interested in pediatrics and children, but I've never spent (outside of my youth) more than 5 days with them. I think the role model aspect of the program is very interesting. Also I'm interested in it because I've been in a couple teaching programs (mentoring type) for younger inner city kids. I really enjoyed the experience, and I came from a public HS known for poor academics and something like a 70% minority population. I've liked the idea of being a teacher, but I know I would never want to get a career in it. I think it could be a great launch pad for pediatrics, and a more in depth look into children's lives. It'd be really fun to work with kids too. Not just ye olde box checking.

Sounds like you might enjoy it.

I just want to play devils advocate here and say 99% of people going into pediatrics don't need/do TFA and they go on to become fine pediatricians. I think it would provide a very unique perspective, however.

 

[Chemistry>Physics]

Sounds like you might enjoy it.

I just want to play devils advocate here and say 99% of people going into pediatrics don't need/do TFA and they go on to become fine pediatricians. I think it would provide a very unique perspective, however.

Have you heard any of the stories from peds attendings explaining why they went into peds? I'm guessing you've had some experiences with them I could be wrong, but have any of them ever told you the defining moment for their decision into peds. It just feels atypical to take a pay cut and work with "runny noses" for the rest of your life. I think t4a could be a good place for me to have that moment like "I really like kids, maybe I want to do this for the rest of my life".

 

[tiedyeddog]

Have you heard any of the stories from peds attendings explaining why they went into peds? I'm guessing you've had some experiences with them I could be wrong, but have any of them ever told you the defining moment for their decision into peds

Most of the people I know in my class going into peds share these characteristics:
1. like kids/babies
2. like their patients to be pretty healthy in general/like well-child visits
3. don't mind/can tolerate dealing with ****ty parents
4. enjoy that most of their patients get better after being ill/hospitalized.
5. for general peds, hours usually aren't too bad post-residency if you join a big group.

For general pediatrics, its usually some combo above. Sub-specialties of peds are a whole different ball game. Pediatrics is pretty unique, most of the time kids aren't doing things to harm their bodies like adults do (drinking, unprotected sex, smoking, etc) or atleast they aren't presenting to the pediatrician with problems related to those things. It can get frustrating in adult medicine dealing with your 555th person with COPD who smoked a pack a day for fifty years and is now wondering why they are having shortness of breath.

I think as you go through medical school, especially the clinical years, that for most people there isn't one super special moment that automatically decides your specialty. Often it is going through a bunch of different rotations and figuring out the things you do and don't like.

 

[Chemistry>Physics]

Most of the people I know in my class going into peds share these characteristics:
1. like kids/babies
2. like their patients to be pretty healthy in general/like well-child visits
3. don't mind/can tolerate dealing with ****ty parents
4. enjoy that most of their patients get better after being ill/hospitalized.
5. for general peds, hours usually aren't too bad post-residency if you join a big group.

For general pediatrics, its usually some combo above. Sub-specialties of peds are a whole different ball game. Pediatrics is pretty unique, most of the time kids aren't doing things to harm their bodies like adults do (drinking, unprotected sex, smoking, etc) or atleast they aren't presenting to the pediatrician with problems related to those things. It can get frustrating in adult medicine dealing with your 555th person with COPD who smoked a pack a day for fifty years and is now wonder why they are having shortness of breath.

Hahahaha ah jeez. Yea, I was thinking those are probably the hallmark precursors to a pediatrics path. Have you ever met any pediatric hematologist/oncologists? I bet that would be a bit more dark, and different motives for joining that sub-specialty.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Hahahaha ah jeez. Yea, I was thinking those are probably the hallmark precursors to a pediatrics path. Have you ever met any pediatric hematologist/oncologists? I bet that would be a bit more dark, and different motives for joining that sub-specialty.

Yes, I did a rotation on peds heme-onc. That's very far down the line, I wouldn't worry too much about that right now.

 

[Chemistry>Physics]

Yes, I did a rotation on peds heme-onc. That's very far down the line, I wouldn't worry too much about that right now.

True, thanks for the insight though!

 

[sonofagrignard]

I did TFA for 5 years, it gave me a better perspective on both why education and why healthcare. It was also one of the primary things I talked about on my application/ during interviews, not because of the name, but because of what I learned and what I believe as a result. My advice, apply (feel free to PM me too). The application process takes a few months, and through it you learn (at least with 95% confidence) whether or not you want to do it.

 

[Atmosphere123]

Thanks for the response, and you're right! I'm asking about Teach for America not for personal gain, but to try and understand more about kids. I'm interested in pediatrics and children, but I've never spent (outside of my youth) more than 5 days with them. I think the role model aspect of the program is very interesting. Also I'm interested in it because I've been in a couple teaching programs (mentoring type) for younger inner city kids. I really enjoyed the experience, and I came from a public HS known for poor academics and something like a 70% minority population. I've liked the idea of being a teacher, but I know I would never want to get a career in it. I think it could be a great launch pad for pediatrics, and a more in depth look into children's lives. It'd be really fun to work with kids too. Not just ye olde box checking.

I did TFA. It is about addressing disparities in educational opportunity based on race and economics. I would not recommend it as an avenue to learn about children. If you are interested in social justice, I would consider it. Otherwise look elsewhere for all the reasons @Planes2Doc stated.

 

[darklabel]

Had a friend/classmate do it. Left the program early to start med school. Sated the reason was "I got tired of being called "bitch" by 30 15 year olds every day."

/I really wouldn't give anyone points for altruism for doing it though. If you really wanted to be "altruistic", you'd just become a teacher.

QFT, for the amount of **** they put up with at the pay they get, teachers deserve respect. Unlike most premeds, I don't roll my eyes whenever I hear future teachers say they're doing it because they want to help others.

 

[samac]

Everyone I know who is actually going to school to be an educator despises TFA. They throw people with no educational training into the areas that need people with the most training and go, "Alright. Get this **** done."
It's reputation is going slowly down hill as many organizations are now pulling their partnership from them because of their poor practices