Only applicants for the long-term programs need to be interviewed; summer program applicants should bypass this part of the application.
There are 3 ways to complete the WorldTeach interview, listed in order of preference. We have a new policy that we must receive your Application Part I (webform), essays, and resume in the WorldTeach format before giving you contacts for an interview. As with other parts of the application, you may send them to us electronically at admissions@worldteach.org, via fax or regular mail. Arranging an interview can be time-consuming, and may hold up the completion of your application. We cannot review applications until the interview report has been received. Please contact us if you have any questions.
I. Interview with WorldTeach Alumni (preferred)
We recommend that all applicants interview with a Returned WorldTeach Volunteer. Interviewing with a returned volunteer enables you to get a first-hand perspective on participating in a WorldTeach program, and allows us to gain a better perspective on your application from someone who has the knowledge and experience to evaluate whether you will make a successful WorldTeach volunteer.
In some cases (because of geographical limitations), we will refer you to a Returned Volunteer who may not have served in the same country/region to which you are applying. WorldTeach relies on the alumnus/a's broad understanding of what it takes to succeed as a WorldTeach volunteer in a developing country. In cases where your Returned Volunteer interviewer did, in fact, serve in the same country to which you are applying, we encourage you to maintain contact with this person as a resource and mentor if you are accepted to the program.
1. When you are ready for an interview, please request a referral to a Returned Volunteer by emailing admissions@worldteach.org with your current location and the program you are applying to. We will provide you with contact information, and then you are responsible for arranging a time to meet with your interviewer. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to arrange a time when both you and the WorldTeach alumnus/a is available-leave yourself plenty of time. We have a new policy that we must receive your Application Part I (webform), essays, and resume in the WorldTeach format before giving you contacts for an interview.
2. Once you have successfully arranged an interview, contact us at admissions@worldteach.org so that we can send your interviewer the relevant materials and interview report.
3. After the interview is complete, ask your interviewer to send the completed interview report back to you, or directly to WorldTeach (if possible, bring a stamped envelope to the interview to facilitate this process).
*Note: Your interviewer should sign the envelope across the seal before returning the completed report. If the application deadline is close, the interviewer can fax a copy of the report to WorldTeach at (617) 495-1599.
4. Occasionally, an interviewer delays sending the report or forgets to send it entirely. Please follow-up with WorldTeach within two weeks of your interview to verify that we have received the completed report. If there is a delay, we recommend that you call your interviewer and politely inquire whether the report has been sent.
II. Phone Interview with WorldTeach Staff
1. If you contact the office and determine that there are not any Returned WorldTeach Volunteers in your area, you can arrange a phone interview with a member of our admissions staff. Most of the Admissions staff have in-depth knowledge about each of the WorldTeach programs. Phone interviews typically take 30-45 minutes.
2. If you have a phone interview, we encourage you to also contact alumni references from the program to which you have applied, so you can hear about their experiences and ask program-specific questions.
III. Arrange Your Own Interview (must be approved by the Admissions Coordinator)
If you would prefer to interview in-person rather than having a phone interview, and there are no Returned WorldTeach Volunteers in your area, there are some occasions when we will accept an interview with someone who is not affiliated with WorldTeach. This person must have significant experience in the region to which you are applying, and must be someone you do NOT already know (this is essential so that WorldTeach receives an objective evaluation-an interview is not meant to be just another personal reference). In the past, WorldTeach applicants have successfully interviewed with college/university professors (in History, Political Science, Anthropology, or African, Latin American, or Asian Studies), returned Peace Corps volunteers, and individuals who have volunteered or taught with other programs in the region to which they were applying.
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