<p>It seems like most kids these days aspire to lofty or well-paid careers, but I've never seen a CC student say s/he wants to be a teacher. What do you think: is teaching such a passe career goal that highly selective colleges would ignore the applicant's passion, or would it be so unusual that it might provide a significant boost for either admissions or merit aid? This would be for a kid whose EC's tie in to this passion, whether through sports/coaching or tutoring/community service. Any insights or theories?</p>
<p>S1 has, after completing his premed requirements, changed his concentration and has decided he wants to go into education. Either teaching, research, public policy, or some of each. I also understand that Teach for America recruits from many of the top colleges, so one would not be alone.</p>
<p>My AP Biology teacher had degrees from Harvard and Princeton. It may not be common, but it is possible.</p>
<p>I think in many cases it is a lot more economical to go to one of the state schools that have excellent education programs. Western Kentucky comes to mind. The price is right. That is probably why you don't hear as much about teaching as a profession on these forums.</p>
<p>I know that the one TA I had last year had her undergraduate degree from Yale and that she was in Columbia's teaching school program.</p>
<p>Like a high school teacher or a professor? I don't see why you would spend $50k a year for an education when you would be making the same amount of money as the next teacher who went to the state school.</p>
<p>I can't speak for other colleges, but Swarthmore has an Educational Studies program, so I can't imagine they'd mind. I doubt it would be a significant boost, though--not more than any other career goal or interest.</p>
<p>My Jr D is interested in teaching. She isn't sure, who is at 16 years old. However she would be interested in teaching at a private school like the one she attends, or maybe a boarding school. The school directory does list the undergrad and grad schools for the teachers, and almost all are top tier unis or lacs, many ivies. Not that this matters, how good a teacher they are is what matters, but this is common in our school.</p>
<p>As for how the colleges regard this, I haven't a clue. I am suggesting she note the colleges which do offer the option of a teaching certificate. Not that one is required at private schools, but it would give her options.</p>
<p>It seems like a lot of Williams grads wind up teaching at prep boarding schools.</p>
<p>Teach for America recruits at all of the elite colleges, but Teach for America has very little to do with teaching as a profession. Its conversion rate to actual teachers is very close to 0%, although it does a bit better at producing administrators and education policy wonks. Its biggest success is creating a very economically successful alumni network that gives it contributions and hires its "graduates".</p>
<p>The problem with elite colleges and teaching is that almost none of them offers a program that will credential undergraduates. Columbia may have one (I'm not sure), and Chicago has a five-year option that attracts a tiny handful of kids. If you are a student and you truly have a passion to teach somewhere in the preK-12 world, you would almost certainly be better served by attending a college that can ensure that you will graduate with a teaching credential. (Not that credentials have a whole lot to do with becoming a great teacher, but as a practical matter they have a whole lot to do with expanding one's options for employment and target salary.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments - I didn't know that about Chicago. jackief is right - who knows at 16? This is a girl who would choose a college for its academic opportunities and environment over the availability of a teaching certificate, but could easily end up teaching at an independent school or perhaps a college or university. Not an entirely practical idea, but a way to pursue interests in history/politics/English and still have some options for employment she would enjoy. The for-profit sector has no appeal for her!</p>
<p>Interesting comments about Teach for America. I know a lot of participants end up going to law school - maybe on the way to being policy wonks after a few years suffering in a law firm :)</p>
<p>FauxNom, even if she changes her mind, the fact that her ECs tie into her current thoughts for a future career are a plus. My D has ECs that are in the teaching and working with younger kids areas also so I think that helps that they show her interests and aren't totally random. </p>
<p>So I don't think the fact that her "passion" is teaching related is a plus (because it is unusual) or minus (because it is passe) as you ask, I would put it on equal footing with other students who show commitment in some other area. Have her show her passion in her essay and tie it all together through her application. Good luck.</p>
<p>Swarthmore has a Pennsylvania secondary school certification program, including student teaching. Some Education majors do the practice teaching spring of senior year. Others do it as a ninth-semester, paying pro-rated tuition for one course (the student teaching course).</p>
<p>A good liberal arts education is always an asset in a teacher. The best teachers are much more than an ed degree (not to denigrate that; what I'm saying is that this is just part of an education.) So I don't think that getting an education at a socalled "elite" school is in any way a waste of the money if the student plans on teaching. I'd imagine that others besides Swarthmore offer similar programs. It's also easy to find an inexpensive post-bac program, or teach at an independent school that doesn't require teaching credentials.</p>
<p>Just as an aside, the two TFA folks I know both have continued in public school teaching after they finished their TFA appointments.</p>
<p>Princeton has a teaching preparation program that students take in addition to their major. Student teaching is required and you can earn certification to teach in New Jersey. Doing the program is one of the few reasons that you can get an extension for financial aid for an extra year to do the program. The resources and opportunities are there for students who want to be teachers. The problem is many students are not interested.</p>
<p>That's interesting . . . so a number of colleges have extra-time certification programs.</p>
<p>TFA: My info comes separately from (a) a former administrator with the program, (b) what my daughter's TFA interviewers told her, and (c) state education officials. It is also consistent with what I observe. There are other, less glitzy programs that do a better job of producing actual permanent teachers. Not to diss TFA too much -- I think what it is actually trying to do is to create a critical-mass cohort of movers and shakers who feel a personal stake in the success of public education and are knowledgeable about the challenges, and it has succeeded pretty well at that.</p>
<p>I don't think elite colleges pay much attention to career goals as most will change a few times before graduation.</p>
<p>JHS--my comment wasn't a refutation; just a disinterested observation.</p>
<p>
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Teach for America recruits at all of the elite colleges, but Teach for America has very little to do with teaching as a profession. Its conversion rate to actual teachers is very close to 0%, although it does a bit better at producing administrators and education policy wonks.
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Agree. I think its way to "punch your ticket" for those aspiring to policy positions in gov't. To be able to throw down a "I was there" retort. Or maybe part of the appeal is to assuage a bit of guilt over a (expected) future life in the elites of the country. Indeed, far from being surprised when alumni pursue non-educational fields instead of a classroom career, they seem to anticipate it. This is from their website
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Career and Leadership Center: Our center provides career and job search resources to support corps members and alumni through the entire career development process and to help them achieve their personal and professional goals after their corps experience. The resources, including strength finder tools, career guides, alumni mentors, a job board, and resume toolkits, are available to corps members and alumni through TFANet, Teach For America’s internal website, which also allows alumni to find, network, and collaborate with each other.
Teach</a> For America - Career services
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<p>Another factor is that for someone who really wants to teach it may make more sense to get the degree in the state where you want to teach. The certification requirements differ from state to state. Not to mention that the pricetag of the elite schools may not be justified for the salary of most teachers.</p>