<p>@msmatt You mentioned the 2014 Institute Schedule but I don’t see it as being released yet. Have you seen anything about it? I am VERY eager to see where institutes are being scheduled; just out of curiosity. Thanks!</p>
<p>I stand corrected lol I can still delete transcripts and employment eligibility 
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<p>@NCSUTeach To answer your question, if I were accepted into TFA, I would definitely pursue my Masters. In fact, part of my regional preference research was based on where I could best live and have an opportunity to do just that. I think it would be an amazing chance to achieve a Masters and I cannot waste it if available.</p>
<p>@arkansas2014 I think I may be able to answer your question since I was notified of acceptance on early notification day. I still am able to delete my documents in the required section so I don’t think its an indicator of acceptance. </p>
<p>Thanks msammy, I have never heard of that theory and do not want people concerned about checking ANOTHER section of their TFA application. </p>
<p>They pretty much have to keep that open, because as I said before, things change. Thanks again! 
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<p>You’re welcome @hallas! Only a couple more days and you all will know as well! </p>
<p>Aww rats @msammy ! I thought I was truly on to something :). The colors on the CIF don’t seem to mean much either. Sorry guys! </p>
<p>How do you guys think TFA weights everything? I had a phone interview. In my final, the lesson went well, the group discussion was decent, but the one-on-one / role play was a disaster. Either way, I don’t like my chances, but I wonder if it’s possible for the recruiters to look past a bad one-on-one, if other portions were strong(ish)? </p>
<p>Go into more detail about your one-on-one. I would think it would be weighted the strongest. No one expects you to be a teacher (my lesson plan was quite messy, but my participation in group & my one-on-one were really strong), but they do expect you to communicate to them (the interviewer) why you want to be a member of TFA. </p>
<p>Also, the interviewer is a big part of the decision-making process. So, why do you feel your one-on-one was a disaster?</p>
<p>Ambernadeau, I googled 2014 Teach For America Institute schedule.</p>
<p>Here’s the link – <a href=“https://www.teachforamerica.org/join-our-staff/summer-institute-staff-opportunities/locations-and-assignments”>https://www.teachforamerica.org/join-our-staff/summer-institute-staff-opportunities/locations-and-assignments</a></p>
<p>Arkansas, what was disastrous about the role play? I wonder about that too. I heard that each thing you do is given a point value. I wonder what has the heaviest weight in the application package… </p>
<p>There is also the “Dates to Consider” document from the assignment preferences page of the applicant center, though it lacks a listing for the Jacksonville Institute, so I imagine msmatt’s link is more up-to-date.</p>
<p><a href=“http://image.email.teachforamerica.org/lib/ff2f16747c65/d/1/Dates.To.Consider.pdf”>http://image.email.teachforamerica.org/lib/ff2f16747c65/d/1/Dates.To.Consider.pdf</a></p>
<p>I also wanted to add that I read in an article (an interview with an interviewer) that an applicant has to hit on all of the right things in their interview. S/he stated they could tell the difference between a coached/recruited applicant and an applicant that had not been coached/recruited. That is why I feel as if the one-on-one would carry the most weight. The group activity demonstrates how well you can function in a group, if you speak on the right issues, and while I do think the lesson plan is important, I think it’s the least important. Maybe more important than the group, but I am even unsure of that, really. </p>
<p>Well I just hope that online activity doesn’t weigh too much. :-S </p>
<p>Were most people here recruited? I wasn’t so all my preparation came from what I read on the Internet. I’ve never spoken to a recruiter or really anyone associated with TFA outside of an interview.</p>
<p>I was recruited, but I never met with a recruiter. I have two different recruiters that have kept in touch with me, though I’ve only emailed one back haha. I had already planned on applying to TFA before a recruiter contacted me. I wasn’t coached, either. I literally just thought it’d be best if I went in and was myself. I am a Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies double major and felt that I could convey my ability to connect with students of diverse backgrounds considering my experience with mentoring low-income students, being a low-income person/student my entire life, and my liberal education. </p>
<p>I am no teacher, yet, but I know I have the skill and qualifications to become a great one with a bit of training. </p>
<p>@TFAKHILL Thanks for the link. I was not recruited. I honestly found TFA by accident by looking for non-traditional licensure programs. I have also been walking myself through everything through research online. I feel really good overall about the final interview. I do wish the phone interview had been more clear and confident. We’ll see! How did you feel about your process?</p>
<p>@msmatt Thanks for the link! I guess that would have been the smartest thing to do, Google it! That’s how I got through the rest of this process! :)</p>
<p>Hey everyone, I was accepted on 3DL so I know how it is right now. I was going crazy, just dying to get a yes or no. I know it’s hard, but try not to get too crazy and analyze every little thing because it’s probably going to make you nuts thinking about it haha. Try to take comfort in knowing that it’s completely out of your hands now and you have already done everything in your power to give TFA a reason to accept you into the corps. Keep calm and wait because that’s all you can really do! If you have any questions or need to vent, feel free to reach out. I’m rooting for you guys!</p>
<p>@hallas I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it basically felt like my interviewer was just going through the motions so they could move on to the next applicant. The interviewer sighed several times, and even rolled their eyes at one of my responses. </p>
<p>When it came to the role play, I said two sentences and the interviewer responded. When I tried to convince them further, they just said ‘no, the role play is over.’ …Not great lol, it lasted less than 60 seconds. </p>
<p>Oh no. That sounds like an awful interview experience. Did you note that on your post-final interview survey? Honestly, since apparently interviewers have a lot of power over the decision process, I probably would have reached out the day of my final interview and spoke with someone about that experience. My interviewer was totally opposite. :</p>
<p>@ambernadeau I felt very good about almost all aspects of my application. My phone interview felt stellar, despite the awkwardness of the scripted questions. The final interview didn’t quite live up to the level of the phone interview, but I connected with my interviewer and made sure to express how much I want to teach and my personal connection with being a low-income student. The role play was the best part of the day for me; I improvised and argued from multiple angles with little pause or awkwardness. My sample teach had a few problems. I was a little frazzled after my prep time because there wasn’t a table to put my poster on, so I had to put in on the floor and crouch in front (thank goodness I wasn’t in a skirt!) and I ran out of time on my last couple of sentences. My main concern is that since I wasn’t coached, I don’t have a great feel for what is an okay vs. an excellent application. I only have the five other people from my final interview to compare myself with.</p>