A former Teach for America recruit who completed her training in a university-based program compares the two approaches to teacher preparation. In Teach for America, she learned how to design units and prepare lesson plans; in her university-based program, she had the time to learn from master teachers and build valuable skills, then practice those skills with support. The goals of the two programs differ. Teach for America aims to provide a classroom teaching experience for young people who are likely to leave teaching and enter other fields. In contrast, the goal of the university-based program is to prepare teachers for careers in the classroom. (Contains 1 endnote.)