If you are a teacher, can you explain your choice of the college you went to?

Question

If you are a teacher, can you explain your choice of the college you went to? I am young enough that I don't need to decide which college I want to go to, but I am really interested in becoming a teacher because they are a great role model for childeren and can make a huge different in someones life. I was interested in knowing what steps you went through to become a teacher, and what college you went to. Thank you!

Answer 1

I live in an area with 8 colleges within an hour driving time. Three of them are public which are cheaper and have a good reputation. I already had my degree and I was making a career change so I could choose the program I was most comfortable with. I eneded up choosing a private college which cost more but was definitely worth it. It was extremely challenging which is what I wanted. I wanted to have as much squared away before I walked into a classroom as possible. Being in a classroom is challenging enough! So, I wanted to be ready. I probably lost .25 to.5 on my GPA but i breezed through my interviews. I got my teaching cert in December and had a job as a long-term sub in January. When I went for a full-time job before the next school year. I had 19 second interviews and eight job offers. Most of my competiton went to public universities which seem to have a different philosophy. They focused on subject matter and less on pedagogy. It shows. You see teachers who know their material--which helps them pass their professional tests--but they don't know how to present it. This is the fundamental point of teaching...the transferrence and presentation of knowledge. That's what I thought and that's the type of program I got into. You can always learn more about your subject while you're a teacher. I get new ideas for resources all the time. But, if I had to search for strategies or communication techniques--ways to reach the student--i'd be in trouble. So, heavy on pedagogy and light on subject matter. You can always take electives regarding your subject matter in college.

Answer 2

Well I am not sure if this will help because I am in Canada and the criterias for acceptance may be different from the U.S. But I can say this, when I decided that teaching would be my vocation I had other careers before. I realized that I was a life long learning and I enjoyed imparting knowledge to others to empower them and teaching I feels does this and more. The university I decided on, which is York University in Toronto, Canada had a concurrent program (doing your undergrand and your bachelor of education at the same time). I felt I didn't want to reapply for teacher's college when the undergrad degree was over and I didn't want to go to two graduations. I also went to my university because they had one of the best social history departments in Toronto and also the archives of Ontario is at York as well, in other words it was a one stop shopping deal. Anyways I hope this helps and if you go into the teaching profession, teaching is what you put into it.

Answer 3

I attended Hofstra University on Long Island in New York. I chose to go there because of the location as well as it had my major health education. I would highly recommend my Alma matar. I got a great education and had a great time.
If you are considering becoming a teacher I highly recommend going the specialty route as compared to general elementary ed. Laws like no child left behind have made teaching much more difficult and stressful. I love being a health teacher and not teaching for a standardized test.

Answer 4

I have my teaching degree from Calvin College, because I wanted to be/have become a Christian school Physical Education teacher. Calvin is one of the best colleges for a career in Christian education and has a well-respected PE program as well. It did not hurt that it is in my hometown either.
I hope you are able to be the role model for kids that you dream to be.

Answer 5

I earned a Bachelor's in Social Science, and it was years later before I decided to teach.
I went to The University of La Verne because all but two of my Ed. classes counted toward a Master's Degree, and then when I finished my Ed. classes I only needed 4 more classes for a Master's. So it was like many of the classes were earning to a credential and a Master's.
There are many programs like that out there - you many want to be sure that you get into one if you pursue teaching.

Answer 6

I was lucky enough to have one of the best teaching colleges (James Madison University) in my state just down the road from my hometown. I went there for location as well as their education program.
It's a great school--I highly recommend it.

Answer 7

properly you may besides stick the direction out and get the qualification...despite if its hell on a similar time as ur there, yet another qualification cant be a bad element, and as quickly as you have earned it, you may go away those chavs in the back of you're start up working in a salon. yet no way might desire to you drop out after one week!! you cant understand!! I felt like i had to drop out of uni, yet I caught at it and nevertheless have a level....the college experience is basically area of it, what you're able to do with the qualification is the main extreme reason to stay and get it!! stable good fortune!! or you ought to communicate to a careers consultant at school and notice in case you may circulate to a diff direction! yet dont drop out altogether! as quickly as you're over 18, it expenses lots money to take college classes, I dont understand how previous you're, yet its maximum suitable to apply the possibility you have x

Answer 8

I had to choose a college due to location. BUT I reccomend checking into the schools you're interested in (whether it be ones nearby, ones in a location you want to go to, ones you have a scholarship chance for, etc) and ask for info from their school of education. Specificy what degree program you're interested in. If you can go take a tour, go! Then you can talk to people in that area (school of ed building) and ask their opinions. Most schools are the same though.

Answer 9

I went to the University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh. It is primarily a "normal" school which means it creates teachers. I majored in library science, history and social science, took education classes and student taught at both the high school and a grade school level.