<p>Thanks @iTeachBio, @flossey, and @inspirechange7!!! 
</p>
<p>Just got done with my phone interview and I felt that it went great! My interviewer was so nice, so genuinely interested in what I wanted to say, and took so much time to answer my questions in detail. Although interviewing can be so nerve racking, I really feel that the TFA interviews are really the most enjoyable part of the application process.</p>
<p>On that note, I thought I might make a few comments about the in-person interviews, since it seems like many of us are already starting to prep our lessons. When I interviewed last year, the most enjoyable lessons were those that were geared towards the lower grade levels because they involved A LOT more teacher-student interaction than those that were geared towards higher grade levels. It is also important to note that you will have a very short amount of time to prep your lesson once you get in front of the class, so making sure that you are making the best use of the prep time is a good idea. For example, making a poster board that says your name, grade level, and subject, in addition to bringing tape or magnets to hang that poster up is extremely beneficial. A lot of the other people I interviewed with, spent a big chunk of their time actually writing those three things on the board and were forced to use some of the time allotted for their lesson to finish prepping, which is a horrible situation to be faced with especially when you only get 5 minutes to teach your lesson in the first place. </p>
<p>For you science people, (I am also science as well, along with social studies), I would suggest not being so focused on science. Explore every option possible. Think of something engaging and possible hands on. The lesson is only 5 minutes, so you do not need to be an expert in that field. Iām excited for my to give my lesson! I feel like my courses have helped me out so much!</p>
<p>If you buys donāt mind me asking, what are your current careers? Are any of you still finishing up school?</p>
<p>Iām still in school, I graduate in May with a BS in Criminal Justice and Political Science.</p>
<p>@Inspirechange7 Nice! Iāll be graduating in May as well with a BA in Middle Grades Education</p>
<p>I have recently graduated on April 2014 with my BS in Biology and minor in Psychology.</p>
<p>So what made you all interested in teaching?</p>
<p>I was a class of 2013 graduate with a BA in Geoarchaeology. I got into education through the National Park Service - Iāve done two education internships in the parks since I graduated.</p>
<p>I worked in a lab after graduating college and realized I loved science but didnāt want to spend the rest of my life doing it that way. I wanted to help and Iāve tutored for many years sooooo long story short I ended up realizing I wanted to teach. </p>
<p>For those of you planning your lessons, keep them as simple as humanly possible and donāt try to reinvent the wheel. I saw so many people try to do waaay too much in terms of information, which is a killer. Think adding and subtracting, or states of matter, or identifying parts of speech, things on that level</p>
<p>I was actually thinking about doing States of Matter because it is the simplest thing to do in science. Thanks for the conformation! </p>
<p>I actually jut did an activity today in class that I might steal. It deals with appealing to different learning styles. </p>
<p>I just accepted an Paraprofessional position!!! </p>
<p>Today, I confirmed that I will be joining TFA 2015 in the Bay AreaāOakland! I applied during the third deadline last year, and was placed in TFA-New York City. I wasnāt sure if it was the opportunity for me at the time, so I deferred my admission. I decided, later, that the East Coast, simply, was not for me (Iām from Los Angeles), and during August, I applied for transfer from NYC to the Bay. Welp, it all came full circle today. I canāt wait to move (back) to Oakland. Itās an amazing area!!</p>
<p>Hi All,</p>
<p>Just signed up! Anxiously awaiting to hear if I got a final interview (should find out Friday around 6PM EST). While we wait do people have any ideas where they will want to be placed if they get accepted? Iād like to get a general idea of the places people would like to go. Cheers!</p>
<p>Congrats @iteachbio ! What are the details of the position? Welcome @hockeykid. If i get accepted, my #1 choice in placement will be Seattle. This by far is my top preference. My number 2 and three are Phoenix and San Diego respectively.</p>
<p>@iTeachBio Congrats! Very exciting!</p>
<p>I would like to be placed somewhere in the south. Memphis was my first choice on the survey we completed after the application. I think my second choice was Alabama. </p>
<p>@BeTheChange22 I think Seattle is my top choice too! After that Iām not quite sure, maybe Colorado or Bay Area. I am from the Northeast so I would love to branch out and go out west!</p>
<p>@Hockeykid I am from Ohio but currently go to school in NC. Colorado is also up there in my choices as well. Hopefully weāll both get in and maybe end up in the same placement.</p>