Just out of pure curiosity I would like to know if a teacher assistant position makes you look lazy. I’m a junior and in my small school we only have 5 classes. The TA position will give you a “P” grade. Is it a bad idea to TA?
Nobody can provide you with any worthwhile information or suggestions unless you provide more information. What type of college do you hope to attend? What are your other credentials like? If you are not striving for a very competitive college and your grades and scores are great, this might be fine. But we can’t be helpful without more information.
I want to go to the university of Washington. I have a 3.7 GPA. But really I just want to know if a TA position is looked down upon since it’s basically like a free period.
As long as you have your five core classes (English, Math, science, social science, Foreign Language) with 3-4 at the highest level offered, you should be fine if your 6th period senior year is TA instead of an elective. TA shouldn’t replace a core subject.
TAs in our high school are electives, but hardly free periods. The teachers (usually gym teachers, but a few other classes use them too) pick from among the students expressing interest. It is considered a “peer leadership” role of sorts. The kids most likely to do it are future teachers or those going into sports-related fields, so it could actually look good on THEIR college applications. We have a big high school with an incredible number of choices, though, so for a kid going into, say, fine arts or journalism, there are more relevant ways to spend an extra period.
My daughter (senior) is TAing for her Physics teacher as that is one of her favorite subjects and teachers. Additionally she is taking 4 AP classes and a community college course. She was admitted ED to Rice so in her case it didn’t have an impact.
Yesw with 5 core academic classes being a TA for the 6th is perfectly ok.
I have five periods in total, if I TA then I’ll have four classes that matter and the TA period. This is for next trimester. My schedule is 1. Spanish 2. Chemistry 3. TA or some elective 4. Pre calculus college class 5. Business law
@Th12321 “I’ll have four classes that matter and the TA period.”
I would definitely treat the TA as a class that matters. Make sure your attitude changes before doing this job. If not it won’t be a pleasant experience for you or your teacher. If it is anything like it is at our local high schools, it is leading kids, grading papers, making tests, helping others, running in school errands, and helping the teacher. It is a leadership position and is certainly not a “free period” Here you choose the subject matter so a TA working in say AP Biology looks good on their applications. It is an elective so like art or fitness or photography or anything else, it is what you put into it
On the transcript it won’t even say for what class I will TA for, and will only have a P grade. I have also seen on the paper to sign up that if I TA, some colleges or scholarships might see it as a part time enrollment. Would that hurt me in any way? I think it would but my goal is to Graduate with little or no debt
Only 4 academic classes, and only 3 core courses, would be light.
What’s your full year schedule looking like, Term per Term? Is this a sort of modified block scheduling?
I found that many colleges consider a TA to be the same level as study hall and similar classes - it doesn’t help or hurt. However if your teacher writes a nice letter of recommendation that can be a great help. However make sure your covering your core classes, graduation requirements and college recommended classes.
We go by trimesters. I have honors english a and b. Chemistry a and b. Pre calculus a and b. Spanish A and b. Two history classes. Human body systems a and b. I go to a small school with about 400-500 students so I really don’t have much options. Only advanced thing we really have is honors English which I am taking for college credit, same with pre calculus.
Seems like you’re covered for core classes, so there should not be a problem taking a TA period, especially if the teacher knows you well.