Some questions about being an RA

<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>I was interested in applying to be a Sixth College RA next school year. Does anyone know who sort of benefits we get from being an RA? I heard that being an RA covers your housing and dining costs at school... is that true? Any input or comments would be greatly appreciated! </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Yep that’s true. Those are your benefits. I’m an RA currently in training right now for Warren! Exciting huh? Did you just want to be a Sixth RA because you can apply to be an RA for any of the residential communities on campus. I personally would recommend applying to all of them to increase your chances and to keep your options open. And if you have any other specific questions I’ll be happy to answer them. Just keep in mind that I haven’t technically really started the job yet. Ha ha. There is still a lot I know though.</p>

<p>To be an RA at some colleges, you need to fit the mold that they want. If you don’t fit, you won’t do well in their interviews. But if you do, then more power to you. I personally tried applying and I just didn’t fit with what they wanted, so any experience or academic success did not really matter. Try to become really good friends with current RA’s so you have an in because I noticed that all of my friends who hung out with the RA’s or got along very well with them got the job, even if they weren’t the brightest or most welcoming.</p>

<p>Thanks for the response guys! They’re super helpful.
@KingsElite: Wow that is exciting… I had no idea that you could apply to RA positions in all the colleges… I kind of just assumed that it would be in whatever college you were currently in. But yes, I’ll definitely have more questions in the future… just a heads up. lol
@UCSD2013: Oh thanks, that’s a good suggestion…maybe its because by hanging out with the RAs they are better able to understand what an RA does? I don’t know.</p>

<p>Well, for the Warren application, the previous RA’s actually did the first round of interviews so I imagine if you are good friends with them, you have a huge advantage.</p>

<p>^The other colleges don’t even have first round individual interviews and anybody who gets the job has to interview with the res deans regardless. The RAs can say whatever they want but res deans are ultimately the ones who pick. I’m not saying it’s impossible that having friends as RAs could help, but I didn’t know the people who interviewed me either. And let’s compare this to the College Ambassador interview process. There is only one interview which is a group interview and you LITERALLY answer three random questions and that’s it. That’s the entire interview process.</p>

<p>You seem a little frustrated for not getting hired as an RA but I totally understand. I was upset when I didn’t get the College Ambassador job. It was always something that I thought would be really cool. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time on this website just helping people learn about UCSD because it’s just something I really enjoy doing and I was really excited that I could do that as a College Ambassador. I always thought of it as a really honorable position to get to represent the school. I had been on three UCSD tours and people got hired who had never even been on one. Even one of the tours I went on the guy seemed pretty pessimistic towards UCSD. I don’t know what they were looking for.</p>