Did anyone else have someone from the admissions team reach out via phone call and/or email to offer support?
@TFA2016AJ I had multiple people (around 3) reach out to me via phone calls and email leading up to me submitting my application last month and I automatically was accepted to the final interview. However, I don’t know how common that is because a girl in my sorority who was accepted on the previous deadline did not have that happen with her. My admissions contacts are still communicating with me as we approach the final interview dates.
Were you recruited?
@TFA2016AJ I definitely wasn’t recruited. I hadn’t had any previous contact with members of TFA until someone reached out to me in December when I started my application.
@smilingsunflower That’s how it was for me as well. I’ve heard that TFA is big on application numbers so they really try to push you to submit one in order to boast about the statistics later on (# of applicants vs % of those extended a spot). I do not know whether it is true or not, but I was contacted after I started my application as well. It didn’t bother me even if the former is true. It was nice to have the support in my opinion. A new person has contaced me now after my final interview notification. She left both a voicemail and an email.
Just finished my online activity, sending positive vibes to those who haven’t completed it yet!
@TFA2016AJ I know that you have had a lot of contact with TFA, but I was wondering if you were invited to go out to a region near you to visit a regional office near you. I was just contacted about touring an office near me and I am trying to figure out if this is a common occurrence.
That sounds awesome @smilingsunflower !! No I wasn’t, but the area that I live in is still a fairly new region with TFA in a small town so I wouldn’t imagine that there would be anything like this available. I have read through almost all of these boards, and I haven’t read anything about this happening. I do know that applications have been declining so regions could be taking extra efforts to grab certain applicants up and draw them in since pickings are slim. At any rate, it sounds like you have a good chance of getting accepted and TFA has a high interest in you.
I’m really hoping that’s what that means! I mentioned it in a random offhand comment to one of the people TFA put me in contact with that I had an interest in the region I was invited to visit. Do you happen to know which regions have been receiving a lot of declines? I haven’t found too many forums where people are talking about TFA outside of this one. Nonetheless, I wish you the best of luck @TFA2016AJ! Also, really random, do you by chance happen to know already what you are going preference as your top regions and subjects/grades?
@smilingsunflower I think overall, there’s been a decline in applications. I’ve read a couple of articles on it, and I’ve also noticed this is the only active board- and look how dead it is compared to previous years. Even when I search the hashtag on Twitter, IG, etc, there aren’t many people talking about it which really sucks. I would try to search certain phrases on Twitter such as “TFA 2016 Corps” or “Teach for America phone interview” and almost nothing comes up.
I have all 10 regions mapped out haha. Piedmont Triad NC is my top choice! My s/o has an established job here, we just signed a lease in November AND I have special circumstances dealing with family that’s tying me here, so should I be accepted, I’m hoping to get placed here. My top subject choice is honestly elementary but this region doesn’t place in that area so I’m crossing my fingers for middle school English & REALLY praying I can stay clear of math haha.
I’ve been trying to do as much research as I possibly can about certification costs and such, and this region works out well for that. There’s even a three year option where if you stay teaching an additional year, you receive an alternative certification free of charge. I’m attempting to be cautious in any region I place because there’s always a chance I could end up actually getting placed there.
What about you?
Sorry for the late reply, @TFA2016AJ. My week became suddenly busy.
I am hoping to stay in Texas as I go to Baylor University right now, and I have come to love living in the state. That being said, my top choice is Dallas/Forth Worth. I would honestly be lying if I said I already had a preference for what subject I wish to teach, but a part of me wants to say science or math. I haven’t weighed all of the pros and cons I have, but I know my next two preferences will be South Louisiana and Eastern North Carolina. I specially put those two because with South Louisiana I would at most be only an hour and a half away from my family. However, I can’t deny that I have been drawn to Eastern North Carolina.
Certification costs are one of the main things that I am researching in deciding my regions and placement. I am also trying to figure out economical ways for me to move without having to worry too much when looking at placements. I have a lot of things in my apartment, and if I could manage to relocate the majority of it, I would not have to begin the process of furnishing an apartment again.
Best of luck on your interview, by the way! I am signed up to do a virtual one on the evening of the 25th. I am honestly so excited to do my presentation.
Hi everyone! I’ve been following this thread for a while and finally decided to jump in! Thank you all so much for all of your advice I’ve read; I’ll be heeding to as much of it as I can!
I applied for the 3rd Deadline and was invited to a final interview! The location of the interview is in Philly though, if accepted, I am praying to be placed in Charlotte. Is there anyone else seeking to go out there? So far I saw one person who is looking to be placed in the North Carolina Piedmont Area! 
Hi @shellijax223 ! Welcome welcome welcome!! My interview is actually in the Charlotte area. Are you ready for the interview?! Congrats on making it so far in the process.
Certification costs are a BIG factor for me in addition to cost of living (& my special circumstance) @smilingsunflower || i wish I could do a virtual interview, but I’ve already prepped and purchased materials for an in person lesson plan so it looks like I’ll be commuting interview day.
@TFA2016AJ Thank you! I hope I’ll be able to offer some assistance along the way as well. Are you originally from the Charlotte area or you’re just commuting there to have the interview?
I feel pretty ready, even though my interview isn’t until the end of February I already completed my little lesson plan and made the handouts. It took me about two weeks to come up with a topic!
@shellijax223 You joining the board was more than enough! Nobody understands how time consuming and nerve wrecking this process is besides others who are experiencing it as well!
I am actually from New York, but I’m an army brat and my family eventually ended up in NC. I attended college here. I lived in Charlotte for a while and have family that has relocated there. Awesome city! Perfect mix of “city life” + slow paced suburbia.
Hi everyone! Its so nice to find others going through this same process; the waiting is killing me and we still have so long to go! I’ve read so much helpful information here and thought it was time to jump in too I have my final interview set up on the 25th, but its a virtual interview. Anyone know much about what its like to do the mini-lesson in a virtual interview? I’m signed up for the prep session this week, but trying to get any information I can! Thanks for any help, and good luck to everyone!!
That’s awesome @TFA2016AJ ! Hi @TFA2016LD congrats on getting to the final interview too! the waiting is soooo long… I just want to know now lol it’s nervewracking. I go to school at Pitt but am traveling back home to Philly area to do the interview, I was too nervous to try the virtual interview. Please let us know how it goes!
@shellijax223 I’m so nervous about the virtual interview! I would have done the drive too to avoid having it online I live in Anchorage though, so there’s no interview sites I can easily get to. I will post how it goes- I’ve had online classes, but this seems like a whole new experience!
@TFA2016LD I wouldn’t be too nervous! TFA seems very put together with the virtual aspect of things. I had a this huge webinar thing with all of the regions in my state & it was really well put together. There was both an online meeting featuring a presentation + chat feature and there was the actual conference call via the phone in addition to the web aspect. If I hadn’t already moved into my new apartment & had my computer and wifi set up, I honestly may have opted for a virtual interview. I’m worried my nerves will get the best of me the day of.
@TFA2016AJ I’m sure you’ll be fine, do plenty of breathing exercises before you go lol. They do seem to be pretty up-to-date with the technology just judging from this application process. Since the virtual interviews seem to be earlier than some of the in-person interviews, do you get results faster or the same time? @TFA2016LD