Fall 2018 EPIK Timeline

My intake’s timeline was a little different.

In the past, applications for the English Program in Korea (EPIK)'s Fall intake opens officially in February, and those with recruiters start to get considered around March 1st.

This year, though, EPIK decided to push back the whole process for a month to give applicants more time to work on their applications. This meant that direct applicants started in March and those with recruiters (like me) got sent in April 1st, since EPIK generally gets to direct applicants first.

So even though I had sent in my initial docs to Korvia super, super early, it took forever to get my application in EPIK's hands. And I started to think maybe my docs got all mixed up in this process, because people who applied after me were hearing back by the end of April, and I didn't hear back until the first week of May.

But so it goes.

Everyone's timeline is going to be different. Some people get their application in later than others, but get an interview earlier. Some get their interview later, but get their final docs in faster.

And for placement? Well, that all depends on the region/city. Different cities have different deadlines for their current EPIK teachers to resign their contracts, meaning they don't always know how many spots they have open. Plus, the schools need to pick you, and if the first school rejects you, it takes time for EPIK to present you to another school.

Next intake might be similarly delayed, or it might not. Keep this in mind as you look at these dates and always, always remember: this process requires a ton of patience. You will often wonder if you're doing it right. I read blog after blog telling me this, but I wasn't prepared for the killer wait. And I got my placement relatively early! But, just remember, it will be worth it!

If you're interested in costs associated with each document and process, see my EPIK Costs post.

Timeline:

2016 September-ish -- I started thinking about post grad plans and started to research EPIK. This was pretty early on!

2017 April -- Met with a CELTA instructor at my university, even went through the whole interview process, but ultimately decided to buy a cheaper 120 Hour TEFL.

2017 July 31 -- Bought my TEFL access from Asian College of Teachers and began my course.

2018 Jan 9 -- Applied to Korvia, my recruiter, and had a short interview the next day (Jan 10th). Around this time I asked my former supervisor and one of my professors to write letters of recommendation for me.

2018 Jan 30 -- EPIK Fall 2018 App opens. I begin work on the lesson plan and personal essays.

I also finish my TEFL course! Yay!

2018 Feb 4 -- I complete my application and send it in to Korvia..

2018 March 4 -- My recruiter told me that the senior recruiter at Korvia was reviewing applications since EPIK had asked for more requirements, so the process was slower. This is when I learned my app wouldn't be sent to EPIK until April 1st. Cue frustration.

2018 April 2 -- My initial docs officially are received by EPIK. At this point I'm feeling pretty checked out. I'd started to slump on my Korean studies and focus on trying to finish up my last semester. I also started applying to other jobs since I was getting a liiittle nervous.

2018 April 25-ish -- This is when applicants who went through recruiters started getting interviews.

2018 May 9 -- Finally FINALLY I get my interview scheduled! I had another interview for another job literally the next morning, but I have to say I definitely prepared more for the EPIK one.

2018 May 15 -- My interview was at 9:30 at night. I was pretty relaxed until about a half hour beforehand. The interview itself went fine, but afterwards all that pent up nerve came crashing down and I felt pretty bad about it.

Also on this day I went ahead and ordered the FBI background check from Accurate Biometrics (a channeling service that expedites the process). I was tempted to wait until I saw if I passed the interview, but I'm glad I went ahead and ordered it.

2018 May 17 -- I heard back that I passed!!! Now time to kick getting those final documents into high gear. Literally as soon as I heard I passed, both Korvia and my personal recruiter were asking me when I could get those documents in. Talk about stress.

2018 May 22 -- Received PDF of my Background Check from Accurate Bio and emailed it to Monument Visa (an apostille service).

2018 May 24 -- My apostilled FBI background check came back. With that, I sent off all of my final documents through Fedex that day.

2018 May 28 -- Korvia received my final docs and that same day I was told they were in the hands of EPIK. More waiting.

2018 June 4 -- With my first package, I had to use placeholder docs for my diploma and transcripts. Once I received my diploma and my transcripts were updated, I got my diploma apostilled in person at the Secretary of State (I live in the capital of my state) and sent them off through Fedex that day.

2018 June 13 -- I got a job offer from a company in Austin. It paid really well, but I had to make a decision: either that job or EPIK. I'd wanted to go to Korea for so long, my heart was too settled on it. With much, much difficulty, I turned the job down.

2018 June 15 -- Placements start getting announced. This is mostly for direct applicants, since their timeline is a bit faster.

2018 June 21 -- Bought my plane tickets a little prematurely. I planned to arrive 3 days early (August 16th) so I could adjust and see Seoul.

2018 June 22-23ish -- Booked an Airbnb in Seoul to stay with a few other new teachers from the intake Kakao chat. A bit premature still, but since when has that stopped me?

2018 June 28 -- After so long, I RECEIVED MY PLACEMENT EMAIL! I got placed in Daejeon, my preference!

2018 July 9 -- Received my NOA package! With this, I could now apply for my visa.

2018 July 11 -- Korvia announces a Pre-Orientation party in Busan, plus a discounted stay at a hostel the night before orientation. Those same teachers and I decide to book the hotel for one night, meaning we'll leave Seoul a little early so we can go.

2018 July 12 -- Went to the Dallas Korean Consulate to apply for my visa. I also stop by my local clinic to get an updated shot record so I can check if I need to update any vaccines.

They text me three hours later to say my visa was done. I was shocked, that only took 3 hours. Everything was done by that point.

2018 July-ish -- Signed up for a temporary sim card through Korvia, continued packing and started saying goodbye

2018 August 10th/11th -- Last day at work and finished packing up my apartment! My parents moved my stuff back home. I finalized my packing.

2018 August 15th -- I left for Seattle from DFW at 6am. I had breakfast with my friend in Seattle, then left for Korea at 2pm!

2018 August 16th -- Arrival in Seoul! Woo!

2018 August 19th -- EPIK Fall 2018 Daegu Orientation starts.

2018 August 27th -- First day of work at my new school.