I tracked down the recruiter because I wasn't in the target group and learned a lot about what they're looking for. I put a lot of effort into the online application and Letter of Intent so I didn't have to go through the phone interview and skipped to the final interview. On the day of the final interview I thought I did alright so I'm not really sure why I didn't get an offer (it's hard to know exactly what they're looking for, even if you do well) but there were definitely some things I noticed in others that I would avoid. First, show up early, composed, and well fed. About a third of the people in our group were late and frazzled but that's something to avoid. Next, make sure you consult some friends when planning your lesson and practice it with a group of friends. Several people were too ambitious with their lessons and didn't finish (especially when there were handouts) and others looked like they hadn't practiced when they were calling on volunteers. After that, I'd say to not only read the readings, but prepare notes on them for the group activity. Nobody in my section referenced the readings but I think that we were mistaken not to. Lastly, maybe have some specific questions about the program ready for your one on one interview, but above all show your not just how qualified you are but your enthusiasm for the program (I might have undersold myself by expressing concerns about some of the assignments - don't do that). And apply early!

The interview was very different from most interviews but I was definitely well-prepared with the resources that TFA had offered in preparation. My interviewer was very nice and it often felt like a conversation between us about whatever question was asked which was nice.