<p>DD has passed the first 2 hurdles on the way to being an RA. The big positive for us is that she gets a free room and a small stipend which we could really use.</p>
<p>However, I don't want her to do it if it's going to negatively impact her studies and her ability to continue in her big EC. </p>
<p>I'd like to hear if anyone has some feedback about their child's experience as an RA. Was it worth it?</p>
<p>My niece loved it and stayed summers to work summer programs. My DDs weren't interested due to other commitments, but both said they would never have wanted the job after seeing what the RAs had to do.</p>
<p>Different at different schools/dorms, I would say.</p>
<p>Depends. For example, I live in the smallest building on campus, and my RCA is responsible for only this building. An RCA's biggest responsibility is his or her Z group here - that is, the group of incoming freshmen in the RCA's building. Out Z group is 5 people. Not a lot of work. Also, since we all like to party on our own terms, and really aren't high maintenance (also because all of us are in singles), there is essentially no personal strife or other issues to deal with. The most our RCA has to do is spend the free money he's given for snacks. :)</p>
<p>It's funny, because our building is traditionally the last to be picked by an RCA, because it contains an 11 person suite that is the biggest party room on campus, and no RCA really wants to deal with that. Well, this year, between a party email warning list, a line to call to ask them to quiet down, and great hallmates, it's a total non-issue.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there are Z groups here with 20+ people, including large suites, so there's obviously potential there for high maintenance people and lots of effort required. As a general answer, I think being an RCA is worth it - I'm probably going to try to become an RCA myself, because between free room and board and pick of all the best rooms, including rooms that are normally doubles or triples, I think it's a sweet deal - but your mileage may vary, and workload certainly will depending on who has to be dealt with.</p>
<p>It depends a lot on the school, what an RA is expected to do, but I've never heard of RA responsiblities interfering too much with schoolwork or other activities. The biggest complaint (from some other schools--not mine!) is that sometimes RAs are expected to do a lot of enforcement re: substances, and that can get really unpleasant. But most RAs apparently love it--especially at a school like mine where RAs plan hall activities and mediate roommate disputes and help people who lock themselves out of their rooms, instead of writing people up for having illegal substances in their rooms...</p>
<p>DD did the RA thing for 2 years, enjoyed her time. Really not alot of problems with her girls in the hall. Just a few visitors. (being loud after hours)</p>
<p>If she does get to be a RA, budget for her to have money for decorations and money for a few partys. My DD did a unbirthday Pooh Style for everyone then an Easter egg hunt, halloween decorations and a movie night. </p>
<p>She would have a schedule for the month of who was on call that night. Weekend duty she had to walk the halls during the night checking the doors and halls. If something would come up she was able to which days/times. </p>
<p>Only downside was always first one there last one out. Graduation move out for RAs crazy stuff.</p>
<p>If our S gets to be an RA next year (hope so!!!), there goes August! A month of training. But that might account for why his RA handled things so very well. </p>
<p>OP, your screenname: are you writing lots of checks, or are you a fan of my hometown NFL football team (Buffalo Bills)? Either way, it can be frustrating. :p</p>
<p>A positive consideration is her job resume for after college-- I used to hire college grads for a large corporation's entry level position.Having expereince as an RA on a resume demonstrtated leadership and ability to accept responsibility beyond one's years-- definitely a quality we were looking for in our hires. Definitely an advantage in the business world.</p>
<p>Good luck to your D. Mine applied but did not get selected. I was an RA back when the dinos roamed, and I LOVED my job.</p>
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OP, your screenname: are you writing lots of checks, or are you a fan of my hometown NFL football team (Buffalo Bills)? Either way, it can be frustrating.
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<p>Patriots fan - sorry!</p>
<p>What do most RAs find to be the weekly time commitment? I'm trying to stay out of it by not asking her too many questions!</p>
<p>I know some of the assignments that my son's RAs seem to have had: sending regular emails about room checks, warnings about any security issues, upcoming dorm events, fire drills etc.). They also are responsible for organizing some social activities for either the dorm or their floor (not sure), several times throughout the year. These amount to BBQs which sound like a lot of work, some Halloween activity, pizza parties. I think the U. provides them with some funds for these. I know that my son was the last to leave for one of his breaks and the RA was almost the last one out (he left a few minutes before my son did) and he instructed my son about lights and locks. They also have to report drinking/drug issues. They organize and run floor/dorm meetings.</p>
<p>i too was an RA back when the dinos roamed, and as I recalled the time committment was sporadic, some weeks nothing but living there, some weeks more intense. The hardest thing I had to deal with was a suicidal student on the floor, getting them services etc. I'm a psychologist now, so I guess I got on the job training. It depends on your kid's personality if they take this kind of responsiblity in stride.</p>
<p>I'm an RA, and at my school they tell us to plan for a twenty hour work week. Truthfully, there have only been a few weeks this semester with that much work. Most of my job is planning programs, dealing with roommate conflicts, helping out students and attending meetings. Also, I have duty two to three times a semester, which requires me to stay on campus for the night and walk by all of the rooms in our area either before or after quiet hours, to make sure that nothing crazy is going on. </p>
<p>Personally, I love it. Not only do you get a private room with free room and board, but you get to make great relationships with the students in your hall. It can be incredibly rewarding. The first in first out thing is very true. We move in two weeks before everyone else, and I remember sitting in my room before winter break, waiting for 5pm to come so I could leave :) </p>
<p>If you have any other questions about it, you could pm me!</p>
<p>Actually in my dino land, we had 8 RA's in the building. One of us was on duty each evening in the front desk. In addition we had floor meetings each week, and once a month RD meetings (meetings with the resident director). The desk duty time was about 4 hours in the evening. Remember, back then, the dorms were locked at midnight. </p>
<p>We also had quite the commitment prior to school beginning, and we had to stay until the dorm was emptied out for vacation and be amongst the first to return when breaks ended. We did check in for the dorms, and check out. I don't think the RAs do that anymore.</p>
<p>Nope, we certainly still do check in and check out! Lots of the RA duties depend on the school. We certainly have weekly and monthly meetings as well.</p>
<p>I know a lot of RAs--most love it, but some have said that it's had a negative impact on their grades/general time. One dropped an EC leadership position (president) midsemester due to lack of time, and one dropped RAship entirely because it was hurting his GPA more and more and making it hard for him to work for the campus broadcast station (journalism major). That said, there are definitely upsides--a friend of mine said RAship has not only saved her a ton of money for grad. school but also helped her decide her career path (she's applying for a masters in Higher Education and hopes to work in student life and programming after that).</p>
<p>Good luck to your D with her decision!</p>
<p>Many people have stated the clear positives. As negatives:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Depending on what the RA's duties and privileges are, it can isolate you from your peers.</p></li>
<li><p>Do RAs have legal protection if something goes wrong (e.g. a student on the floor committing suicide)? You would want to find that out, because you don't really want to get sued.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I don't think you can sue RAs. If people want to sue, they have to sue the organization that employs these people, in this case it's the college that employs these RAs, not the RAs themselves. A side note on suing, before suing someone, you also want to make sure they can pay for the damage if you win, otherwise winning the lawsuit does not mean anything.</p>
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I don't think you can sue RAs. If people want to sue, they have to sue the organization that employs these people, in this case it's the college that employs these RAs, not the RAs themselves.
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<p>Hmm, really? I know that university employees (such as a university med center psychiatrist or a dorm housemaster) can be named individually in lawsuits in cases like this, so I'm not sure why RAs couldn't be.</p>
<p>It depends on what the dormmaster did?Was he being malicious?Neglectful? Not follow guidelines? I found MIT lacking something in its process as far as security is concerned. I'm referring to last year's incident regarding a Wellesley student stabing an MIT student in the dorm. The security guard gave the Wellesley student a key to the MIT student's room. He thought they were still dating. That is a no no as far as process is concerned. But then again if this person is poor as in case of a student, you waste your own money by suing people. I would go after MIT people because they have more money and they hired this person as a guard.</p>
<p>Thank you all. I feel like we're waiting for fat or skinny envelopes again!! A girl she knows from class is an RA who was helping with the group process part of the interviews, told her that the RDs were impressed with her. That has her hopes up - I'm not sure if that's good or bad!</p>