Hey everyone, I’ve been looking on this website for a long time, but I finally decided to create an account to ask for some advice with my own college admissions process. I am an upcoming HS senior who plans to take 1 or 2 (hopefully 2) years between high school and college to teach English abroad in Asia. I have worked hard to narrow down my list of colleges to 9 schools, but if there is another place that you think would be a good fit, please let me know.
My Current List:
Marquette University
DePaul
SLU
St. Olaf
Knox College
Kenyon College
University of Minnesota
University of Iowa
University of Wisconsin
I do not want to apply to 9 schools, so I plan to visit a few of these places this fall. I would really like help narrowing down this list to 5 or 6 schools with good English departments and solid teaching/education programs that would look nice on a resume for future employers. I know some of these places would not be affordable for my family without merit aid, but we have discussed this and agree that I should apply to some places that are financial safeties (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin) alongside other places where I might get merit aid.
What is your home state and what are your stats? If you are in the Midwest, have you looked at the Midwest Student Exchange program? Depending on your state of residence you might open up some options through that program. Google it and you can see what schools participate. Merit aide for OOS students isn’t as much as many people may think, even with aid OOS is still going to probably be more expensive than instate.
You plan to go to Asia but do you see yourself back in the states at some point? If so, go to a school in the state where you think you will teach. It will be much easier if you are certified in the state you plan to work as it will be impossible to work without state certification. Even private schools like to see that their teachers are certified.
I would also encourage you to look for a program where you can continue on quickly (often just one more year) to get your masters. You will be much more marketable with a masters and you will need it at some point so it’s easiest to just get it out of the way.
Lastly, it’s my suggestion to go to the school that will cost you the least because teaching will not pay well until much later in your career.
Minnesota, so I would have in-state at UMN, reciprocity at Wisconsin, and Iowa is still affordable even with OOS rates. Thank you for the tip about the Midwest Student Exchange Program. It looks like I would get a discount at SLU!
Yes, I see myself back in the States. That is a good point, but I do not know exactly where that will be. I do see myself back in MN at some point, yet I may want to teach elsewhere right out of college. Thank you!
Kenyon and UW (or um) are vastly different types of schools. Kenyon is one dirt path in the middle of nowhere. UW is a city onto itself. What do you like?
Kalamazoo College doesn’t have a teaching program. Students interested in becoming teachers get their BA in a subject and then continue elsewhere to get the education credits needed for certification or go into a master’s program.
@Eeyore123 , I know, and that is one of the things making this process so difficult. I have only visited UW. I thought it was a little big, yet the size is workable. Size doesn’t really matter too much for me. That is why I am seeking information about specific teaching programs/schools.
If you’re hoping to get a teaching license for secondary education as part of your BA, I think a lot of those colleges won’t work. I know the U of Minnesota only offers English education licensure as a separate program after you complete your 4-year degree.
A local option that I believe offers an undergrad program leading to a teaching license in English education is St. Thomas (offers merit aid but I think only up to about $30K). If you want something less expensive, maybe UW-River Falls.
If you’re looking to get a BA in English and then apply to teaching programs, that’s a different story.
Be aware that some districts will prefer to hire new teachers with only a BA, and no graduate-school credits, because then the pay is lower.
When you write that you want to teach English abroad, do you mean English lit and composition, or do you mean English as a second/foreign language? The preparation for those two are different and lead to somewhat different career options.
To teach English lit and composition abroad in private or department of defense secondary schools would require a US teaching certificate and at least two years of teaching experience in a secondary school here. Recruiters rarely (as in almost never) hire fresh college grads for those jobs.
To teach English as a second/foreign language abroad might not require anything at all beyond the willingness/desire to do so - this often is country-specific. For a better teaching experience, and a better pay scale, a college degree in anything and a CELTA certificate that takes about a month to complete will do. Many language schools will hire CELTA program graduates. For the best options, and best future employment options on return to the US, you want to complete a bachelor or master degree program in TESOL that leads to state teacher certification.
OP, you go to their online list of programs or Google a college name and ‘teaching certificate’ or similar. That’s a start.
I think youd be fine going away for a school year, if you and your parents maintain their state residency. Kids go abroad for other reasons and do it. You can check with state residency policy.
Your list is solid. Knox has an exceptional English Dept. They also offer excellent merit aid. My son is starting there in the fall.
Take a look at the College of Wooster, Kalamazoo College, Beloit, Denison, Lawrence University. The book Colleges that Change Lives has an excellent list of liberal arts colleges (many in the Midwest) that offer merit aid. There is also a website for this unofficial college consortium. Most of those schools are selective, but not insanely so. They take a broader variety of students and therefore high stats kids often get merit.
Kenyon, Grinnell and Oberlin are outstanding choices, too. They are , however, extremely selective.
If you would venture east, try Allegheny and Bard.
This partly refers to Middle Path, Kenyon’s signature central walkway, which is maintained in a natural condition under an adherence to tradition, and which represents one of the nicest collegiate spaces available anywhere. Regarding the village of Gambier, it can be viewed as either a tiny college town or a fantastic student center. For a large city, look to Columbus, about an hour away.