<p>My DD is interesting in working as an RA in a dorm at college. While she's mostly interested in this as a career-developer (future social worker for children/youth), is it something to consider as a way to push down her room & board costs? Although she's only in HS, she's wondering about getting work as an RA in college (I guess after her own freshman year?). Any advice or insight? (Is this even the correct CC forum?)</p>
<p>RA positions are highly sought after at most colleges, AND are highly competitive positions to get. Some schools hire RAs as sophomores, but many do hire juniors or seniors only.</p>
<p>As a matter of insight, my daughter is an EMT, and was also a student ambassador at her school. She made it to the interview round (2/3 of applicants were NOT interviewed) but did not get selected for an RA job. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m saying…it’s a great thing to aspire to be…if you want to be on the front line of dealing with roomate and dorm issues. But it is by no means a guaranteed slam dunk for any applicant.</p>
<p>Bottom line, it’s a job. She’s getting the free room in return for something. If that’s something DD is interested in, she should pursue, but as thumper1 pointed out, it is competitive.</p>
<p>Also, you should check the compensation. It varies from college to college. When I was an RA back in the day, I did NOT get free room and board. I got a paycheck every two weeks. Most RA jobs do not include free board, at least not on my experience.</p>
<p>And it IS a job, a rather time consuming one too. </p>
<p>When I was an RA, I got a free room but no pay.</p>
<p>The jobs are not something one can count on getting. Students APPLY for them and there is a selection process. I cringe when I read folk suggesting this is a cost cutting measure in the future. It’s very much contingent on chance. ALso, as others are saying, the benefits can vary from school to school. My friend’s son was the student RA at his school, and he did not get a whole lot of financial benefit at all. AT his school, there are a number of such positions, and an adult RA who ran the thing for several dorms. The student RAs got paid for time on duty, It was a paid job, and because there were a number of such RAs, it’s not like it was that many hours. At my alma mater, it meant one did get get a single and a suite of sorts and the room was free. It was also a heavy duty responsibility which curtailed a lot of outside activities as the RA did have to be available most all evenings with some trading off with other RAs located in other “houses” for one or two nights a week. They did earn their keep. Not something many wanted to do, as it cut your options on what you could do evenings severely. Restricted library, research, other activities. </p>
<p>Not so with the my friend’s son’s school. I think he got like one night a week when he was “on duty” officially, though he was unofficially “on” for questions and referral for any issues 24/7. He did get a single room, I believe and the room came with the position. Didn’t have to enter the room lottery, but it also meant he lived in the freshman dorm, and there weren’t that many uppperclassmen who wanted to live in straight out dorm rooms anyways. </p>
<p>Do check at what the responsibilities, time commitments, benefits, pay and likelihoods are at various schools’ RAs. They can truly vary widely.</p>
<p>My D was an undergraduate advisor (RA) at her school. Extremely competitive , no free room , just stipend. Lot of responsibilities and big time commitment </p>
<p>Is it not bad to consider being an RA position in your daughter’s time in college. What is bad is counting on that RA position. RA positions are competitive; however, this does not mean there are not things you can do to better your chances. </p>
<p>Check up on her university’s requirements. At my university, sophomores and up can be RAs. They look for the applicant’s success in their academics, involvement on campus, and leadership skills among other things. </p>
<p>Also know that being an RA is not a cake walk. They dictate a great deal of your free time and where you are throughtout the school year. </p>
<p>These are great. I’ll share this info with her as she researches schools. Because she spent junior high in boarding school, she has a bit of an idea of the work an RA would do. But on the college level, I’m sure it’s a whole 'nother ballgame. Personally, I hadn’t thought of the possibility of how an RA job might limit her own study time. Thanks!</p>