<p>I am now being a pessimist. I was just thinking about how my final interview went (from start to finish) and I think I did a lot worse than I had expected. ugh. It now seems evident that I am not getting any updates. Oh well. Come on rejection letter. I await you. LOL.</p>
<p>@TFAhopeful I am also becoming less and less hopeful as the time passes by. I’m trying to keep a little there though because you just never know until that rejection letter comes, lol.</p>
<p>I’m just assuming that I didn’t make it. The process is so competitive and I’m just happy I did my best. I figure if I get it, it’s an awesome surprise and if I don’t make it, I will just move on to different things and be proud that I made it to the final round.</p>
<p>@NerdGarcon: that’s exactly the same outlook that i have now. </p>
<p>@lushly: haha. yea.</p>
<p>Whatever happens, happens right? I’m so so optimistic for tomorrow but at the same time trying to be realistic about it. </p>
<p>We should all be proud that we even got this far. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll all share a good cry and move on with our lives. And if we did, congrats. Life has different things in store for each one of us. At least we gave it our best and learned a thing or two. :)</p>
<p>What’s everyone’s back up plans? Anyone applying to any other teaching programs if TFA doesn’t work out?</p>
<p>I might apply for NYC Teaching Fellows or keep my current full-time job. Though, I’ll most likely keep my current job and reapply for TFA next year.</p>
<p>I think I am going to apply to Philadelphia Teaching Fellows, or like TFAhopeful, keep my job and reapply… we will see!</p>
<p>I found this to be a really useful link to a bunch of alternative teaching programs</p>
<p>[Overview</a> | Teach | The New Teacher Project](<a href=“http://tntp.org/teach/]Overview”>http://tntp.org/teach/)</p>
<p>From the TFA Admissions blog tonight! </p>
<p>Monday, November 7, 2011</p>
<p>All About Assignment</p>
<p>With final notification day for our first and second deadline applicants coming up tomorrow (some time after 8 p.m. ET - please be patient, there are lots of details to work out!), we thought it would be appropriate to answer some questions about how we determine regional and subject assignments for accepted applicants. There’s no one better than Johann von Hoffmann, Managing Director of Matriculation on Admissions, to answer those questions.</p>
<p>So, let’s say I’m an accepted applicant (hooray!), how did you determine my regional and subject assignment?</p>
<p>Your region and initial subject assignment are a factor of placement availability, local teacher certification requirements, and your preferences to teach in a specific area. Our Assignment team works with Teach For America regional staff to align these three areas and provide an optimal assignment.</p>
<p>I say your subject assignment is initial, because it’s not possible for us to precisely predict where teaching openings will be next fall. After confirming your offer to join the corps, you will apply for open teaching positions and complete work in order to be certified to teach in a specific region. While many corps members obtain a position in the subject area where they are initially placed, others are hired to teach a subject different from their initial assignment. When you are notified of your acceptance to the corps, Teach For America staff from your specific region will be able to provide significantly more detail about this process.</p>
<p>Why didn’t I get a region I highly preferred or a subject I highly preferred?</p>
<p>Thirty-three percent of first and second deadline accepted applicants highly preferred teaching in Greater Boston this year, which, historically, has had about 1% of our placements nationally. Similar gaps in applicant preferences versus placement demand exist in places like New York City, DC, the Bay Area, Seattle, and for popular subjects like history/social studies.</p>
<p>Given that, we assign many corps members to teach in regions that were initially unfamiliar to them. Did you know that Teach For America – Memphis is the top teacher preparation program in the State of Tennessee or that three-quarters of Mississippi Delta corps members hold leadership positions or are involved in extracurricular activities at their school? The achievement gap exists in every region that we place teachers in, and if we assign you to teach in a particular region, it means that you are needed there!</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten to the final interview stage of the applicant yet, if I do, when will I get to tell you my preferences?</p>
<p>If you receive an invitation to a final interview, you get an opportunity to express your regional and subject preferences using the Applicant Preference Form. You’ll get specific instructions about that form when you receive access to it, and can learn more about it now on the Where and What You’ll Teach part of our website. This page also contains links to pages for each of our regions, so you can learn more about them prior to submitting your preferences.</p>
<p>Do my regional or subject preferences impact my chances for admission?</p>
<p>No, not at all! Neither your interviewer nor the Selection Committee has access to your Assignment Preference Form. Chances are, no one will even look at your preferences before we begin assignment, which happens after the Selection Committee has made their decisions. During years when we have a waitlist, we sometimes look at preferences to figure out which applicants might have interest in a specific region that has openings – but there’s really no way to know what regions those will be – so don’t worry about it!</p>
<p>We are excited to welcome the first group of 2012 corps members tomorrow. Hopefully Johann was able to shed a little light on how you were assigned to your region if you are one of those newly accepted applicants!</p>
<p>[Teach</a> For America - Admissions: All About Assignment](<a href=“http://tfa-admissions.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-about-assignment.html]Teach”>http://tfa-admissions.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-about-assignment.html)</p>
<p>I’ve been debating long and hard about whether or not I would do another teaching program and I haven’t really come to a resolution. I definitely want to dedicate my life in education but I just haven’t figured out how I want to do it. Do I want to teach? If so do I want to do K-6? 7-8? 9-12? Or do I want to work in college admissions? Or do I want to impact the retention of underrepresented students <em>in</em> college? Or maybe I want to do public policy in education?</p>
<p>Blergh. These are all questions floating around my head but until I hear tomorrow I’m not going to entertain them any longer. You know? I didn’t want to apply for jobs to only say, “Woops, nvm.” At the same time maybe I should get to thinking about them… (Deep breath)</p>
<p>Btw – 33% highly preferred teaching in Greater Boston??? Crazy. I put it under preferred. Guess I won’t be getting placed there if I’m admitted. :P</p>
<p>Still no changes in transitional funding to weird dollar amount the way it was last year? Anyone?</p>
<p>@thegirl08: Thanks for the update. I totally have forgotten to check the TFA blog. And, Greater Boston? I would think Hawaii or New York would be at the top preferences. That’s interesting to know though.</p>
<p>@dreamingirl I don’t even have a place on my funding page for a dollar amount. Just the document chart (with the–hopefully enthusiastic–YES) and the Status: Complete. Does anyone else have a place for a dollar amount? </p>
<p>33% put Boston as Highly Preferred? That’s INSANE. I’m one of those 33%. Guess I know where I’m not going… 
</p>
<p>Here’s hoping that at this time tomorrow we all have a huge decision to make!</p>
<p>Expecting to see a rejection letter in tomorrow’s inbox since my transitional funding status still says “Under Review”. :’(</p>
<p>For everyone accepted - please let us know where you will be teaching and what grade! Here’s to closing the achievement gap! :D</p>
<p>Good luck tomorrow, everyone! <em>crosses fingers</em></p>
<p>Good luck everyone!! Keep us updated. :-)</p>
<p>Good luck today!</p>
<p>How am I supposed to concentrate on class today??</p>
<p>Good luck, everyone! It’s been a pleasure stressing with you all. <3</p>