Nearly one in four Americans is an enrolled student at any given time. Education is among America's largest industries, valued at $2.2 trillion and employing more than 15 million people. Nearly 9 million teachers and related professionals are employed in the U.S.
Teachers end official days ~3 PM but start early and spend significant time grading, planning, emailing parents. High burnout rate but rewarding for passionate educators.
Summer vacation, same schedule as children, holidays off
Limitless responsibility for grading and planning, emotional investment in students, demanding energy
Wear business-appropriate attire even though teachers dress casually on the job
Bring portfolio with sample curricula, lesson plans, and examples of student achievement
Research the school's educational philosophy before the interview
Be prepared for scenario-based questions about classroom management
Have a multi-step disciplinary plan ready to describe
Show how you differentiate instruction for different learning styles
Demonstrate willingness to lead extracurricular activities
Convey sincere enthusiasm for the specific school
Identify schools matching your educational philosophy before applying
Visit schools, network, do classroom observations
Schools in wealthy suburban areas are most competitive; urban/rural may have shortages
Contact administrators directly even without posted vacancies
Have all documents ready in electronic format for quick submission
Look at school report cards and review sites like insideschools.org
Comprehensive application guides sourced from Harvard University's Mignone Center for Career Success
Harvard University — Mignone Center for Career Success
A law degree opens doors to diverse careers beyond traditional legal practice, including business, government, public service, and more. Law schools evaluate applicants holistically — GPA, LSAT/GRE, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations all matter.
LSAT (score range: 120-180) or GRE accepted by some schools
Apply in fall of junior/senior year or post-graduation
LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
~2 double-spaced pages for personal statement
1-2 letters typically required
freshman sophomore
junior fall
junior spring summer
senior fall
senior spring
Harvard Gazette — Harvard Faculty Insights
Harvard faculty emphasize that a 'good student' is more than high grades. True excellence is driven by deep curiosity, rigorous thinking, integrity, and a commitment to genuine learning over performance.
A love of learning and discovery that extends beyond core subjects. Motivates through difficulties and enables nontrivial connections leading to breakthroughs.
Ask 'why' and 'how' constantly. Don't be satisfied with superficial answers.
The ability to formulate carefully reasoned arguments from clearly stated premises to precisely argued conclusions.
Practice constructing arguments. Analyze premises and conclusions. Engage with complex ideas critically.
Holding oneself to high moral standards, doing work honestly, and earning the trust of peers and colleagues.
Uphold ethical standards in all academic endeavors. Avoid shortcuts.
A consistent, genuine desire to understand rather than just perform well on assignments or exams.
Seek understanding for its own sake. Find intrinsic motivation in the learning process.
Driven by passion for discovery, willing to take risks, learning from both successes and failures.
Connect learning to a larger purpose. Embrace challenges and learn from all outcomes.
Taking charge of your own learning, actively using your environment to support it.
Take ownership of your learning. Proactively create an environment conducive to growth.
Good students ask questions that lead to deeper understanding, following threads beyond requirements.
Ask probing questions consistently. Embrace the process of inquiry.
The ability to notice what others miss, sustain close reading, and uncover new insights.
Develop observational skills. Practice close reading and nuanced analysis.
Considering alternative viewpoints, being open to feedback, and willing to revise views based on evidence.
Engage respectfully in debates. Listen actively to understand opposing views.
Believing intelligence is learnable, embracing challenges as opportunities, and learning from mistakes.
Analyze mistakes constructively. Be resilient and practice self-compassion.