As a TA, you will serve as a mentor to undergraduates and a leader on your campus. There are many benefits to becoming a TA during your time in graduate school, some of which are described below.
If you hope to become a professor someday, you will definitely want to become a TA. You will gain invaluable teaching experience in a classroom and/or lecture hall. You will learn by trial and error how best to deliver a lecture, lead classroom discussions, field questions from students and inspire students to engage with the subject matter.
You will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the roles and duties of teachers. You will work with professors to plan lessons, grade assignments and administer tests.
Even if you do not plan to pursue a career as a professor, acquiring teaching experience as a TA can be beneficial because it enables you to commit subject matter to memory more firmly. Many studies have demonstrated that learning-by-teaching is one of the most effective means of boosting memory retention. By teaching others, you are giving your brain an exercise in memory retrieval, which will allow you to commit facts to memory more effectively.1
Regardless of your future career plans, becoming a capable and confident leader will undoubtedly be important. All sorts of workplaces rely on leadership — from hospitals to human resources firms. When you become a TA, you will have ample opportunities to refine your leadership style and become a true servant leader.
Many people are nervous about public speaking. In fact, some people get so nervous about speaking in front of a group that they develop physical symptoms, such as butterflies in the stomach and shaky hands. However, practice is a sure way to calm the butterflies.
When you become a TA, you will speak in front of small classes and large lectures on a regular basis. This public speaking practice will enable you to become a polished communicator who can deliver lectures and field questions with confidence. This skill will serve you well no matter which career you choose.
College does not offer students only an invaluable education and the chance for personal growth but also the opportunity to grow their professional networks. This is particularly true for TAs. As a TA, you will work closely with professors, departmental staff, their professional contacts and, of course, your fellow students, with all of whom you can cultivate a working relationship and add to your professional network.
It is challenging for professors to write letters of recommendation for students whom they barely know. It is much easier to write a meaningful and impactful letter of recommendation for a TA, as TAs interact and collaborate with professors outside of the classroom. As a TA, you will find it much easier to acquire the recommendations that you need.
Among the many benefits of becoming a TA is the financial incentive. Graduate schools typically pay TAs a stipend, which helps them pay for their education. Those that do not offer a stipend opt for other financial incentives, such as discounted tuition.
