What would you say to DC considering teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you getting obsessively hung up on ECs apparently couldn’t be bothered to even read the topic of the OP’s post (which is about going into teaching). We get it, W&M is a reach. The student has other options they’re considering and maybe you could be helpful by suggesting additional schools. It’s sad to read so many parents trying to create mini-adults with complete resumes, curated story arcs, evidence of ECs aligning with majors, etc. OP’s kid sounds like a solid student and contributing member of society who would make a great teacher!

OP, what about Mary Washington as a safety? They have a good teaching program and are strong in liberal arts, English, etc. I also like Dickinson College as a possible target.

I'd be pissed if I paid private school tuition and ended up at MW tbh. It's an OOS private HS, right? And she's TO? English?

Davidson (my 3.83uw TO kid got in there as a humanities major)
Emory (Oxford College) - (my kid also got in TO here)
Wake
W&L
URichmond
Denison
Lehigh (my kid also got in here TO humanities major)
GW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you getting obsessively hung up on ECs apparently couldn’t be bothered to even read the topic of the OP’s post (which is about going into teaching). We get it, W&M is a reach. The student has other options they’re considering and maybe you could be helpful by suggesting additional schools. It’s sad to read so many parents trying to create mini-adults with complete resumes, curated story arcs, evidence of ECs aligning with majors, etc. OP’s kid sounds like a solid student and contributing member of society who would make a great teacher!

OP, what about Mary Washington as a safety? They have a good teaching program and are strong in liberal arts, English, etc. I also like Dickinson College as a possible target.

I don’t think it’s sad at all? Great / helpful info sharing for those new to the process like me. Isn’t that why we are all here?

[Anonymous]

Our DC area private high school has had students with 3.8 and 3.9 accepted to W&M. It’s definitely a reach but not impossible (check your school data for comparison points and admission history). I’m not certain if OP is in-state or OOS for Virginia.

[Anonymous]

WM is a pretty easy admit from our NJ public school with a 3.8uw or above. About 75% got in in the past 5 years with that profile, and most of the rest were waitlisted. Most had higher scores, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it!

I'm a high school English teacher, and I actively discourage any young person from following this path. Teaching and education have changed and devolved radically over the past 20 years. It is a difficult job and the behavior of students and disrespect from parents will have you questioning your life choices as you sit down for yet another multi-hour grading fest in the evening or on the weekend.

almost everyone these days would tell you not to do whatever career they are in. they think the grass is greener elsewhere. not true. every profession has changed and devolved radically over the last decade or so. not just teaching. all jobs are difficult. all jobs involving the general public will involve dealing with disrespect. all jobs will have you questioning your life choices. just because a job is tough and has changed and has to deal with people and pay has gone down and workload has gone up ...does not make it a bad job. all professions could have written the PP. choose what you love and what you think you'll be happy doing and do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Vanderbilt has one of the best teaching colleges/degrees in the US at Peabody school of Education--and its easier to get into than their other BA programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

Has she done any mentoring or peer tutoring? To tie into the education narrative? Stuff in libraries etc to tie into reading/literacy?

Assume 3.8uw? Private HS?

Private HS and yes, 3.8 is uw. Summer jobs a lifeguard and camp counselor. Also assistant coach/couch of younger team and ref for her sport.

If that’s all her ECs they are weak. Try applying as sociology?
Any ED?
Look st your schools data.

You are an idiot. First, she is not gunning for Harvard so doesn't need to have split an atom or cured cancer in her free time.

Second, they actually are great activities that fit in well with the teacher narrative. Being a camp counselor is incredible training for teaching. And being a youth sports coach is also great.

I interview for a top tier school and I would take a kid like this any day of the week over some kid with heavily curated activities that usually seem like they were just done for an application. Being a camp counselor is really hard work - you have to be "on" the whole time and put up with a lot of crap from kids and/or parents. It teaches a lot about humility and socializing with others, which so many super smart kids these days fail at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summers off still a wonderful job in the right school. Elementary school is probably better.

Definitely not in the primary grades. Those teachers bear the brunt of new students without a diagnosis or IEP. It can take years for that. Maybe grades 3-5. I teach kindergarten and we are getting more and more feral kids every year. I feel like I work in the junior ward of a psych hospital at times. Kids screaming, eloping from the classroom/building, destroying classrooms, kids needing to evacuate classrooms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

Per Reddit, lots of kids got in TO.

+1
These people who make claims like the PP are laughable. All those kids who go TO have much lower scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summers off still a wonderful job in the right school. Elementary school is probably better.

Definitely not in the primary grades. Those teachers bear the brunt of new students without a diagnosis or IEP. It can take years for that. Maybe grades 3-5. I teach kindergarten and we are getting more and more feral kids every year. I feel like I work in the junior ward of a psych hospital at times. Kids screaming, eloping from the classroom/building, destroying classrooms, kids needing to evacuate classrooms, etc.

Yikes. Low SES school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

Wrong. TO is real at W&M.
3.8uw at private? Yes even 3.7uw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is considering English degree with potential dual degree in Education or Publishing. Some program they did at school looking at strengths also suggested Marketing.
Publishing and Marketing seem to be on the AI cut list, but teaching for 30 years seems a very stressful endeavor.

Also, any suggestions for additional colleges for these majors for 3.8, 1310 SAT with fair ECs? Currently considering:
W&M
Elon
Fairfield

W&M is well out of reach. Elon is a great target and is great for teaching!

[Anonymous]

My daughter studied elementary ed at a small liberal arts college where she received a full tuition scholarship. She is very happily teaching under excellent conditions at a small international school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WM is a pretty easy admit from our NJ public school with a 3.8uw or above. About 75% got in in the past 5 years with that profile, and most of the rest were waitlisted. Most had higher scores, though.

I was curious and looked at Naviance from our CA public school. I see an ED admit with a 3.55 and 1340 from the past couple years. I also see a 3.80 and 1480 accepted. Then there are several more acceptances in the 3.93+ range. None of students accepted the offer and enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not getting into William & Mary with a 3.8 and a 1310 whether in state or out of state. It's not happening.

Sadly, this is true. Last fall's class had a 4.53 at the 75th percentile and a 1530. Even the median had a 4.35 and a 1470.