Your next two years can make an incredible difference.

Who we're looking for

We seek individuals—from all backgrounds and career interests—who have what it takes to excel as teachers and to ultimately exert broader societal influence in our nation.

We have discovered over time that successful teachers have achieved as leaders, and leaders come in many forms with varied experiences. Most of our corps members held leadership roles on campus and delivered significant results for their organizations or research efforts. A number of our corps members have excelled as team managers at work, coaches of athletic teams, or directors of community organizations. Many have demonstrated success in a variety of career fields, including business, law, medicine, and education. Some apply immediately after college, but others have achieved measurable results in professional jobs, military experience, or graduate school.

In sum, we recognize there is no one profile of an ideal applicant. Ultimately, we look for individuals who have achieved results and demonstrated a range of leadership qualities – not just in one particular area.

There are many ways to demonstrate leadership qualities, and we view applicants holistically by looking for evidence of:
Demonstrated past leadership and achievement: achieving ambitious, measurable results in academic, professional, extracurricular, or volunteer settings Unrelenting perseverance in the face of challenges Strong critical thinking skills: making accurate linkages between cause and effect and generating relevant solutions to problems Proven ability to influence and motivate others Superior organizational ability: planning well, meeting deadlines, and working efficiently Utmost respect for students and families in low-income communities Thorough understanding of and desire to work relentlessly in pursuit of our vision

There are many ways to demonstrate leadership qualities, and we view applicants holistically by looking for evidence of:

Demonstrated past leadership and achievement: achieving ambitious, measurable results in academic, professional, extracurricular, or volunteer settings
Unrelenting perseverance in the face of challenges
Strong critical thinking skills: making accurate linkages between cause and effect and generating relevant solutions to problems
Proven ability to influence and motivate others
Superior organizational ability: planning well, meeting deadlines, and working efficiently
Utmost respect for students and families in low-income communities
Thorough understanding of and desire to work relentlessly in pursuit of our vision

Finally, we seek evidence that applicants operate with professionalism and integrity, and meet basic writing standards.

Read about our applicant prerequisites and admissions policies
Read more about our corps members and what it takes to succeed in the classroom
Learn about professionals and graduate students who joined the corps
Meet a few of our alumni who are working relentlessly to close the achievement gap in communities across the country
Check out our 35 regions and 2010 expansion sites