What perks do RA's get?

Depending on the college, you may get paid to be an RA. Many schools pay RAs an hourly wage or flat salary, which may come with additional perks like meal plan credits, a laundry stipend, and a single-occupancy room. Commonly, RAs get a full waiver for room and board.

What are three strengths of an RA?

RAs should also possess patience, a sense of humor, strong communication skills and the ability to complete paperwork in a timely manner.

What power do RAs have?

They can provide a sympathetic ear and practical advice for students who need help dealing with academic, social, medical, or personal problems. RAs also mediate roommate disputes and enforce residence hall rules.

Is RA position worth it?

If you are willing to work hard, learn about yourself and others on staff and challenge yourself with new experiences, then it is most certainly worth it. If you only want the RA job for the money and housing discount, then it may not be worth the time and emotional effort that you need to put forth.

Do RA's get better rooms?

Getting Free or Discounted Room and Board

One of the most appealing reasons for students to become an RA is a significant discount on housing. Many colleges pay RAs with free or discounted room and board, sometimes even including food from the cafeteria.

Is Being a Resident Assistant Worth It?

Can RAs go to parties?

You can still party, but you have to be smart about it. One of the nightmares all RAs have is seeing their resident at a house party. In that situation, we are trained to leave the party. But what training tells you and what you do is up to you.

Can RAs date their residents?

In keeping with the institution's Consensual Relationship policy (above), the RA should understand that they may not date residents for whom they are directly responsible in their employment capacity.

Do RAs get their own bathroom?

Not all RAs will get their own bathroom because not all buildings are the same.

Does being an RA look good on resume?

Being an RA can look good on a resume, as it gives you valuable work experience. An RA is a leadership role, so holding this position demonstrates you can effectively communicate with others and skillfully oversee a group of people.

Can RAs have roommates?

This housing can be either a single room, one-bedroom apartment, or two-bedroom apartment (shared space, own bedroom). Multi-bedroom Apartment RAs have a single bedroom in this shared living space and may share with two other roommates in the other bedroom(s).

Can RAs go through your stuff?

'They can and do observe anything in open drawers and closets and in plain view. ' There are times when an RA can enter and even search unannounced. The only time a container is searched without explicit consent is during 'announced safety inspections' and 'at every closing' of the semester or year.

Do RAs live alone?

One of the big perks of being an RA is that most schools reward you with discounted or free housing. In most cases, you will have a single room all to yourself, rather than having to share a room with another student. This can be great way to save money on college costs while still being able to live on campus.

Do RAs have keys to the dorms?

Residence Life

As part of the RA role you will have access to master keys. The use of these master keys must be taken seriously and any misuse is grounds for disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the RA position.

What do RA's do?

An RA has many roles and responsibilities, including building a residential community through programming, acting as a mentor for students, being a familiar first resource for students with academic or institutional questions, and enforcing residence policies.

What is the hardest part of being an RA?

“It's really a 24/7 position,” says Khurram. “You live where you work. This can create a challenge for personal relationships. There is a fine line you have to walk between being friends with your residents while still having them respect you.”

What should I say in an RA interview?

Is being an RA lonely?

More often than not, resident assistants feel overworked and underpaid. A good portion may feel isolated, lonely and left without a social life as the position takes priority over much of their lives.

How stressful is being an RA?

A study done about the role of RAs stated: “The resident assistant (RA) position was one of the most demanding assignments on a college campus.” It also said it was a 24-hour job, which I agree with. Sometimes it can feel like you're always “on” because you're always accessible.

Why do I love being an RA?

I enjoy being an RA because I get to meet new people and build connections with peers, residents, and the residence life staff. As an RA, I have learned how to work within a team and with many people with varying work ethics. I have also built upon my time management, organization, and social skills.

Can RAs go home on weekends?

RAs are allowed to use these nights away however they would like for the most part. A night away means that the RA will not be the building prior to 3 AM. Therefore, if you go home for a weekend, leaving on Friday and returning at 8 PM Sunday night, this is only 2 nights away.

Can I be friends with my RA?

Even if they've only been there for a year, your RA is going to know much more than you. Be besties with your RA so you can get first-hand tips on the best places to study and what foods you can actually get away with stealing from the dining halls. They are smarter than you. Trust it, accept it, use it.

How much do RAs get paid in college?

How much does a Resident Assistant make? Resident assistants make $29,971 per year on average, or $14.41 per hour, in the United States. Resident assistants on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $22,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $39,000.

Can you sleep with your RA?

This joint pain can be so intense that it interferes with your ability to sleep well. RA sleep-related troubles can include not being able to fall asleep or sleep long enough, having fragmented sleep or frequent awakenings, or having sleep that leaves you feeling unrefreshed in the morning.

Is being an RA fun?

Being an RA can be a great gig as long as you know what you're getting into. A private (at least most of the time) room, fun activities, and a job where you get paid to hang out with people can be counterbalanced by late nights, tough situations and a major time commitment.

Are RAs confidential?

RAs Cannot Guarantee Confidentiality to the Victim

Fundamentally, an RA is a peer to the other young people in their dorm or facility. Many students put a great deal of trust in their RA. For understandable reasons they feel more comfortable talking with an authority figure that they can better relate to and rely on.