@dtfa20 I haven’t been accepted yet, but from my research it seems like TFA is looking for a certain type of person that shares TFA’s values. I read an article that talked about how it’s not really a competition among applicants, but it’s about whether you’re a good fit for TFA so there’s more of a focus on you individually rather than you in comparison to other applicants. I don’t think a background in education would hurt you at all, though. It shows you’re committed to wanting to teach, and commitment seems like a big part of being accepted. Hope that helps a little! As for the region question, I’m not sure. My cities have stayed the same. Maybe just a glitch or maybe it took awhile for the eligibility tool to load your info? Hope it all works out for you! Best of luck!
Joining in! I submitted for the Jan 31 deadline and I’m super nervous about getting into the interview. My resume is interesting, to say the least. Good GPA from a good school, worked extensively via a non-profit I founded in one of TFAs high needs regions (not connected, just an extension of the work I already do). I’ve been in several media publications and come from communities TFA serves.
Anyone else applying to the Jan 31 deadline? I’m SO NERVOUS.
December applicants-- has anyone been checking their codes? I know people have said they’ve changed the codes so you can’t tell your acceptance, but I’m super excited/nervous and don’t know how I’m going to wait another week so I’ve been looking for any little clue. Today I checked for the first time in a few days, and there’s now a code for Assignment Decision which wasn’t there before. Anyone else have that/notice any changes?
@tfaonlyaccount Hi! I applied in December, but I just wanted to say best of luck! Your resume sounds very impressive. I had a high GPA, a lot of leadership experience, and experience working in a community TFA serves, and I got invited to an interview so I would say your odds are pretty good from what you’ve written here. The wait during the application process definitely feels long in the moment, but looking back, the past two months have gone by pretty fast. You seem really passionate, and I’m wishing the best for you!
@futureteach2k20 Thank you!! A few more days and you’ll find out, yea? Where are you hoping to go? Wishing the best for you as well!
@tfaonlyaccount I find out February 10th, so it’s about a week away! Definitely feeling the nerves. I’m from Cleveland, so I’m hoping to stay here. I ranked Dallas, Houston, and Nashville/Chattanooga high as well. I have friends in Texas, and I’ve always wanted to visit Nashville. I’m honestly willing to go anywhere, though. Have you started thinking about regions?
@futureteach2k20 I have! If I get in, I’d really love to go to Houston. If not Houston, Philly, Miami or Nola 
But I have to get in first nerves
@futureteach2k20 hey! What are you referring to by “codes”? I don’t know anything about that.
I also find out in a week and I’m really nervous about it.
I checked my source code and it says oneononeinterview false
Does that mean I wont advance past the initial application round…?
@dontrejectme101 Hi! So if you’re using Chrome, right click on the page and then select “view page source.” It’ll bring up a bunch of codes. You can make out what some of it means, but it seems like a lot is hidden.
@tfaonlyaccount My friend who does coding said “true” or “false” usually just refers to whether something is shown on a page. I didn’t know about the codes before my interview so I didn’t check them prior. My oneononeinterview says true, but that may be because I already had it. Have you been created a dispositionId? Mine was first created about 5 days after I submitted my application according to the codes. I’m not sure if it really means anything, but the codes in that section show your steps. Mine is Final Eval and was updated on 1/23 after my interview. Not sure what it said before that. I wouldn’t stress too much about the codes. They’ve really made it so it’s difficult to get any type of read about your status.
Hello everyone! Wishing you all good luck. I applied in December and I will find out 2/10. I’m really nervous. Hoping I get Chicago or Dallas.
Did anyone have a one on one interview with no group activities???
I’ve also checked my codes and I can’t really tell anything as well.
@TFAChiGirl2 that’s strange because every interview has a group element so you can do both a teaching sample lesson and a group activity to create a solution.
I also find out February 10th! I just might not even look until the day after. Hoping to get NYC for history.
There is a new type of virtual interview, the One on One, that they tested last year and seems to have become a permanent feature. You can see its existence reflected in the “OneOnOneInterview” code in the page source.
Do you have a “previous disposition” code and number as well?
In any case, it doesn’t look like the codes can now anticipate any decision, they probably remained unchanged until the very day of the decision when the timeline changes of necessity
Don’t be nervous, start preparing for the interview. The sample lesson is actually the easiest part (if you do the virtual interview you are in control, and should have practiced well for it, making sure not to go over 5 minutes including the inevitable question/s from “students”). The Role Play is pretty dumb, just make sure you know every premise by rote and don’t accept the interviewer’s offer to “go over” the scenario again - both on Sample Lesson and Role Play they are testing you on preparedness. The most important part of the interview are the “free form” questions that are designed to probe for the traits they look for, leadership, accomplishment, alignment with TFA’s mission (you need to drink their Kool Aid like you are in Guyana with Jim Jones), perseverance, handling of diversity, organizational skills, conflict resolution, ability to take feedback, teamwork, etc. Be sure to have at least two well structured (STAR method) anecdotes for each of those traits grounded in your resume, and have plenty of measurable accomplishments for each resume entry, they want numbers, tangible things to show you get things done. They are going to probe your resume entries and then they are going to elicit a situation where the desired traits are displayed. All through the interview, “little details” matter, for instance during the sample lesson you are going to be instructed to type in the chat the subject matter, grade and objective of your lesson… and then they give you more instructions so that you tend to forget to actually TYPE using the chat… yes, it’s the same if you saying aloud (they are recording the whole thing for later analysis) but they are testing you on your ability to actually follow instructions to the T.
I would recommend applicants to do a Google search “site:teachforamerica.org filetype:pdf” to uncover information about the region they are interested in, you may uncover valuable information on things like testing requirements, which vary widely among regions. On some regions TFA imposes testing way beyond what is necessary to be certified in your subject and classroom preference. For instance in Greater Cleveland, they make you certify in at least two different subjects (plus core skills) so as to make you more “marketable”. Since passing those tests is your responsibility, this is something you may want to weight when choosing your region.
@TFAChiGirl2 Hi! I also had a one-on-one virtual interview with no group activity. I really enjoyed that format so I hope they continue to use it in the future. I also ranked Dallas pretty high on my list. What subject are you hoping for?
@tfarican20 Hello! I definitely can relate. I’ve made myself so nervous about the results that I don’t even know if I want to know if I got in. I’m hoping for an English subject placement. Good luck to you!
@futureteach2k20 Awesome! I’m hoping for elementary/early childhood or special education!!
@Stealth22 Hi! I do have a previous disposition code. Hoping it’s a good sign, but who knows. I scrolled down to the bottom of the page and clicked the hyperlink which took me to another page with even more code, but it didn’t seem to be anymore helpful. It just basically laid out the codes for all possible scenarios. Guess we’ll just have to wait a few more days.
As a Clevelander, I just wanted to add a bit to your Cleveland comment for those interested. It’s a state requirement that all middle school teachers are able to teach two subjects, so that also applies to those in the Southwest Ohio region as well. Most public schools won’t have you teaching multiple subjects, but charter schools most likely will. For high school, you only need one subject for a license, but the exams are a bit more thorough. At my university, education students actually majored in their content area and minored in education for that reason. I can definitely see why they’d want you to certify in more than one content area though based on how schools are set up here, especially charter schools.
@TFAChiGirl2 That’s awesome! I am currently a literacy tutor for preschoolers, and they’re wonderful. I just wish they could give me some of their energy sometimes. Best of luck to you!