<p>Okay...explain this RA thing to me. When can you be one? Do you have to go through some application/screening process? Keep your grades up to get to be one? And why would you want to be an RA? Do you get paid, or free dorming or something, or does it vary from college to college? Are there usually a lot of people lining up for the position?</p>
<p>Deal with annoying people every day.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people who did it because you get a free single, and at my school, with AC. Plus you basically get to make people be friends with you.</p>
<p>Here's how it works at my school...sophomores and up can be RA's, and the application process consists of an initial application with a few essay questions. Then there are 2 interviews...a single and a group with various RC's. Then they select you for the position and you have to go through quite a bit of training. </p>
<p>I personally wanted to be an RA just for the responsibility, and the fact that you're someone people look up to when they're just getting to college...it's nice to share your knowledge with them.</p>
<p>I'm not an RA, but from what I understand...</p>
<p>You get paid, naturally. You put in work that others don't.
You have to go through a decent training process, learning how to handle the various situations that might occur.
Here, you get a larger room, essentially a double with no dividing wall.
You get perks like free meals during some breaks.
You have to open peoples' doors for them if they ask you during a set of hours.
You'll act as arbitrator for basic disputes.
You'll hold the vomit powder bag, just in case.
You'll hold house/hall meetings, depending on how large your dorm is.
You'll have to stay longer as the semester ends, so that you can check people out, and get their keys.
You'll also have to check everyone's rooms, not necessarily in your dorm, to see if they've passed fire regulation. You also have to check rooms during things like winter breaks.
You'll have to go on rounds on assigned days. Check that doors are locked, fire alarms untampered with. You'll probably get a set area of the campus to check.
You'll probably become pretty popular, assuming you're not an ******* RA. But usually the popular ones become RA in the first place.</p>
<p>It's a pretty sought after job, and a good experience from what I've seen. RAs continue/have continued for an additional year.</p>
<p>You only need put into it as much effort as you want. Compared to other jobs, the actual work you need to do isn't much nor continuous. Depending on your situation, however, it can get more intense.</p>
<p>These are all based on my own experience; yours may vary.</p>
<p>Oh, and about the keys thing. I heard that if you lose the master key, you're charged 2,000 dollars, as each lock has to be re-keyed. Don't lose the master key.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for replying. I'm going to be dorming for my first year of college. My family and I have come to the agreement that they are willing to pay for one year of my room and board. I know it's way too early to be thinking about it, but I was wondering about the RA position because I heard you get to dorm for free. A bad reason, maybe, but I'm just trying to see what options I have. Thanks for answering!</p>
<p>I don't think you can be an RA in your first year anyway.</p>
<p>The following is from the perspective of UVA:</p>
<p>2nd years and up can be RA's.
Application process begins in the spring smester and consists of two multiple choice (both testing your knowledge of RA policies and the school in general), recommendation letter from a current RA, and a couple of interviews.
RA's do not get paid in general - you do get a free single room (typically not air-conditioned as that's the case for most of 1st year dorms), and a few discounts (cable for instance is slightly cheaper). If you're a senior RA, basically in charge of the whole building, then you do get a small stipend in addition to the free room.
Major duties include a fairly tedious first week (ranging from meetings with yoru residents over policies to otherwise getting them to go to certain required events), about once a month being on "coverage" for a weekend night (i.e. not leaving the building, and making three trips throughout the entire building at 10pm, midnight, 2am), plus hosting a minimum number of required "programs", meditating conflicts, and writing up people for violating the rules.
RA's do not have keys to anyone else's rooms. Fire inspections at least at UVA are not done by RAs.
You do have to get to the building before your residents, and leave only after them, which does eat some of the vacation time.</p>
<p>At my school the RAs get a free double room to themselves and free food (unlimited plan at the cafeteria). They do have shorter breaks because they have to be there early in fall and before and after winter break, and after finals, and have a summer training. Also, several nights a week they have to be on "duty" for anyone that might need them (like 6pm-midnight) and make the rounds of their area every hour even if it's cold. Besides that, they have a lot of paperwork, inspections of rooms, meetings, etc. It sounds like more work than it's worth to me, as the campus housing sucks and so does cafeteria food. For some people, it works well though. If you want to stay on campus, and especially if housing is expensive (realtively, here it is not) then it could be a great option.</p>
<p>RAs at Wake get a free single plus $2700 a year for first year RAs and $3000 a year for second year and up.</p>
<p>They're on call in a room off the dorm lobby at certain times and handle all the usual RA tasks like discipline, problem solving, etc. Our RA gets the hall together once in a while to go out to dinner or a movie.</p>
<p>Wake also has a unique program sort of like RAs - the RTA or Resident Technology Advisor. There's one or two per dorm and they're the first line to problem solving residents' computer issues with the university-issued ThinkPads. It's a pretty cool job and pays good money (but no free room, unfortunately).</p>
<p>At my school the RA's are a lot more hardcore it seems like.</p>
<p>In order to become an RA you must first take a one unit class. It meets every friday for 3 hours for about three months. You have to buy a 40 dollar RA book, THEN you apply! After that you go back and do all sorts of training again. Once you make it(and the process is pretty competitive), the perks are pretty good.</p>
<p>-Free Single
-Free Food
-Free Parking
-8 hours a week at front desk getting paid 7.25 an hour.
-If its your first year of being an RA you get your second semester tuition paid for free, if you are a returning RA you get both semesters free.</p>
<p>They have enormous responsibilities, however. They are fully expected to ketch people with alcohol and I've been told they have quotas. At the very least they are referees between people fighting in the dorms and at the very most they act like the gestapo. Definately NOT a job I would like to do, but it seems like half of the RA's all return, so it sounds like they think its worth it.</p>
<p>Oh, dukeclassof09, I meant that I was thinking of being an RA my second year and up... I have my first year dealt with already.</p>
<p>is it really hard ot become an RA in the snes that a lot of peopel want it and not too many ppl get it? Like If I do well on the exam or whatever and fill out the application carefully and stuff do I have a good shot at it or is it random and rare to get this positon? Also can you have a paying job and still be an RA or does being an RA require full dedication?</p>
<p>stargirlx, just go to the websites of the colleges you're considering and look up RA on the housing site. You'll find out the requirements.</p>
<p>Oic, thanks a lot everyone!</p>
<p>At University of Florida, freshman's can apply to be an RA. The only requirement for them is that you have lived in campus housing for a semester. The process here is pretty competitive and there are a lot of things that you have to do once you are chosen to be one. It includes an RA leadership class and a week long intensive training.</p>
<p>My daughter is an UGA undergraduate advisor (this is what her school calls RAs). She has approximately 16 residents, all sophmores (as is she). She said the upside to this is that she knew a lot of her residents before they became her residents, so for the moment she is enjoying it. </p>
<p>School recieves a lot of applications and turned down over 100 applicants for the UGA position even though there is no free room and board just stipend of 3000 yr and you do get a single. </p>
<p>UGA JOB DESCRIPTION </p>
<p>There are six primary areas of responsibility for the UGA position. For each responsibility below, we have listed examples of specific tasks and outcomes that UGAs are expected to execute in order to fulfill the primary responsibility. This job description is a supplement to the UGA contract; each UGA will be expected to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities outlined in both documents, as well as specific expectations communicated by your supervisor.</p>
<p>Promote and Support the Health and Safety of Residents</p>
<p>Facilitate the Development of a Sense of Community</p>
<p>Develop Individual Relationships with Residents</p>
<p>Be a Productive Member of the Staff Team</p>
<p>Foster Learning & Development Among Residents</p>
<p>Develop and Demonstrate Leadership and Professional Skills</p>
<p>The process at her school:</p>
<p>All prospective UGAs (RAs) had to attend a campus-wide information session</p>
<p>Complete application</p>
<p>obtain 2 recommendations</p>
<p>Complete a group activity</p>
<p>Interview</p>
<p>when applying the student states their preference (first year, upper class, mixed housing, sub free, affinity program, special interest housing).</p>
<p>Being an RA will develop some great transferrable skills that will help you in the world of work and in life (interpersonal and leadership skills, managing crises, etc). But just as in most things concerning groups of people a lot depends on the group dynamics. Many people who do the job enjoy it. worse case scenario, it becomes an excellent line on your resume.</p>
<p>It also looks excellent on your resume!</p>
<p>Whoa, Shagpin, where do you go to school?</p>
<p>When can you be one?
- usually when you're an upperclassmen, although some sophomores might get selected</p>
<p>Do you have to go through some application/screening process?
- usually before junior or senior year. you might go through a similar process applying for a PA (program assistant) position maybe for your soph year. </p>
<p>Keep your grades up to get to be one?
- not necessarily. they're looking for people who have people skills, leadership, maturity, etc. </p>
<p>And why would you want to be an RA? Do you get paid, or free dorming or something, or does it vary from college to college?
- free housing and free food
- good leadership position</p>
<p>Are there usually a lot of people lining up for the position?
- it's somewhat competitive, but i think it varies by school. usually some good applicants get denied, but most of the good ones make it.</p>
<p>My RA is going for her third year of RA. That equals a total of ~$35,000 of room and board savings! Plus they get a sofa, microwave and mini fridge in their single room.</p>