TFA targets specific students
With a new recruiting method, TFA has become more prestigious and accepts fewer undergrads
Kristina Meyer
Issue date: 2/12/10 Section: News
In previous years, Teach for America (TFA) has recruited openly on Trinity's campus, holding numerous information sessions for interested students. Recently, however, TFA has opted for more targeted recruiting practices, consulting with professors, alumni and even current students to determine who is worth approaching individually.
"TFA had not held information sessions on campus since the fall of 2008," said Twyla Hough, assistant director of Career Services. "I actually contacted them to find out what was going on-we had them on campus every semester prior to that. I was informed that they have a new recruiting style; it is more targeted, not widely publicized and is reliant on referrals from alumni and faculty."
TFA is a renowned program among American undergraduate students and seeks to recruit outstanding college students from all fields, who commit to teaching in at-risk schools for a two-year period. According to its Web site, TFA's mission is to "build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders."
Hough says that by keeping recruiting sessions private and limited to a few students, other students are denied a valuable opportunity to learn about the program.
"My concern is that the students who are unaware of when recruiters are coming, but are still very interested in Teach for America, will not have that opportunity to meet with the recruiter," Hough said. "I do not know when they're on campus, and that means I can't give that information to the students I meet with, students I think would be good candidates for Teach for America."
The growing prestige of the program, a surge in number of applicants nationwide and a weak economy have made the admissions process for TFA extremely competitive this year.
Ryan Smith, senior recruitment director for Teach for America, says targeted recruiting accommodates this growth in applications.
"TFA had not held information sessions on campus since the fall of 2008," said Twyla Hough, assistant director of Career Services. "I actually contacted them to find out what was going on-we had them on campus every semester prior to that. I was informed that they have a new recruiting style; it is more targeted, not widely publicized and is reliant on referrals from alumni and faculty."
TFA is a renowned program among American undergraduate students and seeks to recruit outstanding college students from all fields, who commit to teaching in at-risk schools for a two-year period. According to its Web site, TFA's mission is to "build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders."
Hough says that by keeping recruiting sessions private and limited to a few students, other students are denied a valuable opportunity to learn about the program.
"My concern is that the students who are unaware of when recruiters are coming, but are still very interested in Teach for America, will not have that opportunity to meet with the recruiter," Hough said. "I do not know when they're on campus, and that means I can't give that information to the students I meet with, students I think would be good candidates for Teach for America."
The growing prestige of the program, a surge in number of applicants nationwide and a weak economy have made the admissions process for TFA extremely competitive this year.
Ryan Smith, senior recruitment director for Teach for America, says targeted recruiting accommodates this growth in applications.
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