I’m considering applying for an RA position at Parkside Arts & Humanities next year, but I’m not sure if the perks (free housing and meal plan) outweigh the time commitment. Can you actually have a social life if you’re an RA? I’m also a theatre major, so I’ll have a few times throughout the year where I’ll be in rehearsal from 6-10pm every day for three weeks. I’m also in a dance club that has 2-hour rehearsals twice a week, but they don’t conflict with the mandatory Wednesday meetings for RA’s. Anyone who has been or knows an RA at USC (or any college)- was it worth it? Are there a lot of late nights or times when you can’t go out of your room? Are there certain residence halls that I should avoid? Thanks!!!
I was an RA at Parkside A&H a few years ago, and it’s THE BEST THING I’VE EVER DONE. It changed my life, seriously. I could go on forever about it haha.
One thing I’ll start with is that you should not do it just for the free housing and meals. You’ll be miserable and it it will be very unfair to your residents.
The other thing is, if you’re hired, you don’t get to choose which dorm you’re assigned to. You do indicate preferences and might get the area of your choice (Parkside, West etc.), or even the building of your choice, but nothing is guaranteed.
Is it a huge time commitment? Yes, but it should be manageable. They actually just restructured all of Res Ed, so you no longer need to plan out your own programs and bulletin boards etc. which takes up a lot of time. That said, one of the other RAs on my team was actually a Theater major and he did a great job with balancing everything, but he did not reapply just because most theater rehearsals are on weekday nights.
Wednesday meetings are mandatory, and since there are 10 RAs at A&H, you can expect to be on duty at least one weekday night a week, and a few weekends each semester. Duty hours are 7pm - 8:30 am on weekdays, and 7pm - 7pm on weekends (so 24 hours, but you can get food). You are expected to be in the building those times in order to respond to emergencies, and you should also be holding “office hours” for your residents when you’re on call. Oh, and of course you need to show up three weeks before the year starts for trainings.
Honestly, other than that, it’s what you make of it. You’re expected to have a maximum of 10 hours of ECs, but I was also in marching band (which is at least a 15 hour commitment), and had another on campus job. I chose to hang out with my residents/fellow RAs pretty much every single night, and put on way more programs than required, but then again, I loved the job and was super close to my residents. Other RAs choose to do just what they are required and don’t really hang out with their residents – which is fine too.
The RA life is definitely a lifestyle, and you do live where you work, so bear that in mind. It can be intense (there are a lot of emergencies, you have to deal with mental health issues, shut down parties, deal with DPS), and it’s not for everyone. However, if you really do it FOR YOUR RESIDENTS, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience. 90% of my friends at USC I know from being an RA. My favorite memories all come from being an RA.
In terms of dorms to avoid, all I’ll say is that I was an RA for two years, and neither of those times did I get the housing choice I wanted. And yet I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. Res Ed knows what they’re doing when they place you in a community, so you should trust them. Even if it’s New/North.
If you have more questions, feel free to DM!