Most people have a perception that people who teach abroad are free spirits who go with the flow and live a relaxed life. While this might be true, the process to start teaching abroad, specifically in Korea, is anything but relaxed. I completely recommend teaching abroad if you have the privilege to do so. However, I think some might underestimate the time, money and effort that goes into applying to EPIK. You need to have strict organization and high motivation otherwise, to be frank, it might not be for you. That is not to dissuade anyone from applying just more of a heads up that it won’t be a super easy process.
But for those that are serious about applying, I created a comprehensive timeline of my application.
Some disclaimers:
- I applied as a direct applicant and not through a recruiter. This is personal preference. Recruiters are meant to be guides for those who want that extra help. I am usually very organized and wanted to be the first to get information directly from EPIK instead of a recruiter. However the timeline of a direct applicant will differ from that of a recruiter applicant.
- Changes to the application process happen all the time. My process might be different from future applicants. In addition, I applied during the pandemic so for someone who might read this in a couple years, all the quarantine stuff will (hopefully) be irrelevant.
- I applied for the Fall 2021 intake. There is always a Fall and Spring intake which makes the timeline differ.
Ok, now let’s get into it:
Initial Application stage
10/1/2020: Made initial plan for application to gather the four main components of the application: letters of recommendation, lesson plan, essays, and the general application
11/1/2020: Started researching TEFL certificate programs to take
12/15/2021: Asked my academic advisor for a letter of intent to graduate as a placeholder for my diploma
12/16/2020: Bought online TEFL course through MyTefl
12/18/2020: Wrote first draft of essays
12/19/2020: started on lesson plan draft
12/20/2020: finished lesson plan drafts
12/23/2020: Completed my 120 hour TEFL course*
* At the time of my application, the TEFL certificate did not need to be complete by the time of initial application. However, I was in college at the time so I wanted to complete it during my school break.
12/23/2020: Asked my employer and a professor for a LOR
12/27/2020: Downloaded the EPIK application and filled it out ahead of time.
*When you actually apply, you will need to refill a blank application on the portal. I just downloaded a blank application pdf ahead of time and filled it out so I would have it ready to go with all the right information filled out for when the portal opened. But this is optional.
1/1/2021: Finalized essays
1/3/2021: Finalized lesson plan
1/9/2021: Received both LORs
1/29/2021: Did one more final check that I had everything I needed to apply ready to go
1/31/2021: Applied for EPIK through their website at 6:00 pm*
*The portal technically opens on Feb 1st, but since it goes by KST, I actually applied on Jan 31 since Korea is ahead of Colorado time.
In between the interview
2/2/2021: Scheduled an appointment to get my fingerprints done through Fieldprint.
2/5/2021: Went to get my fingerprints done and received my clean background check on the same day
2/5/2021: Sent my background check to Monument Visa to apostille my background check
2/5/2021: Ordered my unofficial transcripts as a placeholder for my official transcripts
2/10/2021: Received unofficial transcripts
2/22/2021: Received my apostille background check (WAY faster than expected. This is usually what takes the longest time to get back so expect long wait times)
3/5/2021: Got the amazing news that I passed the initial application stage and will be given an interview!
The interview stage
3/7/2021: Tried to schedule an interview and was unable to due to lack of spots available
3/8/2021: Scheduled my interview for March 15 at 8:00 PM (pretty lucky to get this time since many have interviews in the middle of the night due to time differences)
3/8/2021-3/15/2021: LOTS of interview prep…probably more than I needed
3/15/2021: My interview! I am told at the end of the short interview that I will hear back within a week or so
3/22/2021: YAY! YAY! Got the email that I passed my interview and will be moving onto the document submission and recommendation stage
Documents, documents, documents
3/22/2021: Realized a mistake on my letter of intent to graduate so I contacted my academic advisor and received a new one
3/22/2021: Went to walgreens and got passport photos printed
3/23/2021: Printed off copies of my application form, letter of intent to graduate, background check, TEFL certificate, LORs, and my passport
3/24/2021: Sent off all my documents after checking 10 times to make sure all was in order
*You do NOT want to mess this step up. If things are wrong or missing you have to send more off to Korea which is $$$
3/30/2021: Was notified by EPIK that my documents were received and everything was in order for recommendations.
More documents and lots of waiting
5/7/2021: Graduated from college, yay!
5/15/2021: Applied for the tax form which will make me tax exempt in Korea for 2 years
6/5/2021: Final transcripts are posted so I ordered my diploma and final transcripts with expedited shipping
6/7/2021: The first batch of people start hearing back on their placements…not me though :’)
6/9/2021: Received my transcripts and diploma
6/9/2021: Put in the request to apostille my diploma through Monument Visa
6/16/2021: Received my apostilled diploma
6/17/2021: Sent off my apostilled diploma and final transcripts to EPIK’s office
6/18/2021: The email I had been dreaming of for months finally arrived…MY PLACEMENT! I was placed with the Jeonnam Office of Education. Time to do major research about the entire process!
It’s all happening!
6/22/2021: Received confirmation that my final documents had arrived in Korea and all was set.
6/30/2021: Got EPIK email with details of arrival and the next steps
7/1/2021: Went all in and bought my one way ticket to Korea!
7/2/2021: Received guide to applying for my visa
7/5/2021: Received the documents needed to apply for my visa from EPIK
7/6/2021: Mailed off my visa application to the San Francisco consulate
7/7/2021: Ordered a temporary sim card for my phone through Trazy
7/21/2021: Got an email from EPIK outlining quarantine details
7/27/2021: Received my visa!
7/28/2021-8/3/2021: Packed and took care of many small errands (dentist, doctor, last minute purchases)
8/3/2021: Got a COVID test per the flight rules for entering Korea
8/4/2021: Had a goodbye party :,(
8/5/2021: After a lot of stress, I received my negative COVID test results which allowed me to actually board my flight
8/6/2021: Got on my flight for a bright and early departure time of 6:45 AM
I actually made it!
8/7/2021: At 3:15 PM, I landed at the Incheon Airport. Went through customs for hours and finally got to the hotel for quarantine late that night
8/8/2021- 8/21/2021: Quarantine…not much to say here. I was simply in a hotel room for two weeks
8/18/2021: Found out from my province’s coordinator that I will be teaching at an Elementary School in Jangseong County but living in Gwangju. SUPER happy with this!
8/21/2021: End of quarantine, freedom!
8/21/2021 – 8/26/2021: EPIK orientation. Normally, our province would have a separate orientation but we were all put together this year due to COVID (counter-intuitive, I know)
8/26/2021: Took a bus to the Gwangju Immigration Office to meet my co-teacher, apply for my ARC, see my school, and go apartment shopping. A very, very long day.
8/27/2021: First day of school but without students
8/30/2021: First day of school with students
9/13/2021: Received ARC, set up bank account, set up phone and internet plan
9/25/2021: First paycheck!
And so there you go. I am writing this as of 9/27/2021 so you are all caught up! I know there are so many little things I missed but I tried to be as comprehensive as possible since I know this process can be overwhelming. My hope is my timeline can be a guide for some people to check and make sure they are on the right track. Remember though, no one’s timeline will be the same. There are so many variations but it doesn’t hurt to have a vague guide to help in this crazy and convoluted process.
This process can be tiring and will definitely weed out the people who aren’t fully committed to this experience. This could seem terrifying but the process is also set up so in between each major stage, you have weeks to relax until the next stage. But when I look back on this all, I am immensely proud of myself for making it through the EPIK process. I was a senior in college, during a pandemic, balancing classes and an internship, all while maintaining a healthy social life and still managed to do it. Overall, I will say that if I could do it, you can too!
Carly in Korea 