I'm about to start my 2nd year and Mac and was wondering ...how do you go about applying for a TA position? Do you just email the profs if your interested in being a TA for that course (like for labs) and what exactly do you tell them about yourself? Any help with this would be appreciated! Thanks!!

There used to be postings for first year biology T.A.s

I believe that happened in March/April or the beginning of the summer.

Most T.A.s are usually graduate students though.

Chemistry:

Teaching Assistant (TA)Positions
At the beginning of Fall, Winter and Spring terms, part-time TAs are needed for first year chemistry labs, 65 hours/term, lab hours 8:15 - 11:30 a.m. or 2:15 - 5:30 p.m. . TAs are to supervise the experiments, help students and mark lab reports. Lab groups are ~20 students. TAs must have WHIMIS training, a good knowledge of basic chemistry and some lab skills.
Please fill out this form (pdf file) and return to the First Year Coordinator, ABB-121or via e-mail to [email protected]

Can't really find anything else.

Thanks for all your help =)

Ya, I have a friend who is a T.A in his second year and he told me it was fun XD
How many T.As do they hire usually?

Depends on the size of the class, how many grad students they have already hired, how many spots are available etc

How many spots do they have? Like three? I'm just throwing a number.. I have no idea

It all depends on the department and for what class(es) TAs are required for.

We really aren't privy to a lot of this info as students.

True. I guess I'll just find out second year!

Ohh, so preference is given to graduate students?

Yes. They get paid for teaching and it can be considered part of the funding they get from the school

Yeah. Graduate students are employees of McMaster University...TAing is their main source of income.

So you can't really give it to an undergraduate over a graduate, for this reason. (Not to mention, a graduate is generally going to be more experienced/knowledgable...and though this may not directly translate into a 'better TA' it wouldn't hurt).

I know first hand how much this sucks for undergrads though...I was a TA in my 2nd year, and was informally 'promised' a position the next year...but then, in my 3rd year, they upped the number of grad students and I didn't end up getting another course until I was a grad student haha.

Just came back from my TA interview, I applied with grades, cover letter and resume. Meet with the course coordinator, answer couple of questions about being prospect TA, rules, conduct, etc. Then they will send you form and reorganize your schedule for TA lab or tutorial times to fit in. Submit and cross your fingers.


So in the end it all depends on your schedule and no conflict with the time they give you. The ratio is about 3:1. Considering if you pass the first part which is the interview.

I've had TAs in Linguistics who were in like 3rd & 4th year, so it's not necessarily graduate for all. My social science TAs were in 4th year, masters or PhD. For science I heard, as little as 2nd & 3rd year - probably because it's easier to mark things and it's not subjective.

I know for a Computer Science course I took in 1st year, the deadline for applying to be a TA is between now and August, when they start deciding who to choose and what not. My TAs for the course were actually all 3rd year students, which is interesting. But for the most part, my TAs for other courses have been Grad students or 4th years.