<p>I am going to be a Residential Assistant this Fall and will be working as one until the Spring, and I have only a vague idea on what to expect for the upcoming year. If there is anyone with experience as an RA, I would appreciate it if you could give advice on what to do as an RA and successfully work as one while keeping grades up. If any of these following questions strikes you, please feel free to answer them: Should I take morning classes? How much time will I have for myself, really? How can I prepare? How do I deal with unexpected crisis? Crazy roommates? Office politics? What are some things that you wished you could have done after being an RA for a semester? A year?</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to read and give some wholesome input; I'm sure plenty of other future Residential Assistants will be able to take away good advice from this thread.</p>
<p>Sorry, no help here. But I have a question. My neighbor is going to be an R.A. next year and she says they don’t recieve any form of compensation (or free room and board). She said it’s really an honor to be chosen so kids do it for free. I’m having a hard time believing this!</p>
<p>that sucks. being an RA is something you would put on resumes/applications though. you should get paid, but i bet a lot of schools could get away with that policy.</p>
<p>Please don’t be one of those overzealous irritating as hell RAs who want you to bake brownies with them and host Friday Night Floor Origami sessions.</p>
<p>^ Haha at my college the RA’s are required to schedule “floor events” and “be there for you” so chances are they’re secretly hoping no one shows up for Origami so they can go out. </p>
<p>I’m thinking of becoming an RA next year, they train you at my school. RA’s get free room (single)/board/meal plan which is a big deal in Manhattan. This year i’ve got to lug my ass from Morningside Heights to the Village each day, so it sounds like an amazing deal!</p>
<p>Anyway, from what I hear it’s really time-consuming, you have to plan events, spend a certain number of hours in the dorm, etc. My RA friend had to quit her part-time job because she didn’t have enough time on top of everything else. So good luck :)</p>
<p>Won’t you be going through some training? I thought most schools had training - sometimes for like a week before the other students return to map out much of that stuff you asked questions about. </p>
<p>As an RA, do you get a room to yourself? Many do. That would help with “time for yourself”. Also, I think that most dorms work it out so that there is always an RA on call - even if it isn’t their floor…stuff like that.</p>
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