What does an RA do college?

A resident assistant (RA), also known by a variety of other names, is a trained peer leader who coordinates activities in residence halls in colleges and universities, mental health and substance abuse residential facilities, or similar establishments.

What is the role of an RA in college?

Job Responsibilities

Know and educate residents about the College emergency response protocols and procedures. Support and advise other RAs by attending floor meetings and programs. Assist housing staff in crises (i.e., fire, and other emergencies), as appropriate and based on training protocol.

Is being a college RA worth it?

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.

What are the top 3 responsibilities of resident assistant?

A Resident Assistant helps residents by overseeing fun activities, assisting residents in eating, bathing or doing chores, and maintaining care records for their facility.

What do colleges look for in an RA?

Common characteristics include: personal warmth, social maturity, a sincere desire to assist in students' personal development and transition to college, openness to new experiences, willingness to be challenged, capacity to deal with change, ability to manage personal emotions, ability to deal with a wide range of ...

So, You Want to Be an RA (Resident Assistant)? | Everything you NEED to know!

What is the minimum GPA to be an RA?

RAs are required to have a 2.5 Cumulative GPA and a 2.5 Semester GPA (3.0 for graduate students).

Is it hard to be an RA in college?

One of the hardest is the role of a Resident's Assistant. 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.”

Are RA's allowed to search your room?

Room checks allow an RA or administrator to enter a dorm room and search for contraband or other rule violations. Each campus has specific steps to follow when on-campus students are caught breaking the rules. That said, some rules are usually universal, such as no alcohol in a student's room.

Is becoming an RA competitive?

Many students want to be an RA while in college because you get free housing and a meal plan so it's super competitive. Getting involved with student organizations on campus can help you stand out from other applicants.

Can an RA enter your room without permission?

Normally, an RA cannot just enter your room without your permission whether that be verbal or written. However, your school's policy may allow them to if they feel like you are breaking the law or at risk.

Can you date your college RA?

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.

Can you quit being an RA?

If an RA resigns from their position or abandons the position by not completing the length of the period of employment, they will be charged for room and meal plan costs for the entire semester as they have failed to fulfill the terms of this agreement.

Why would someone want to be an RA?

As an RA you have the chance to work with students you may not interact with every day, and it's a great way to learn more about other cultures, ideas and beliefs. Being an RA has helped me develop my critical thinking and analytical skills.

How do you put college RA on resume?

On your resume, describe your Resident Advisor experience in the same way you would describe other campus involvement and work/internship experiences. During your time as an RA, you have developed numerous transferable skills and abilities that are going to be relevant to many professions.

Is being an RA good for med school?

It's definitely a positive on your med school application, as it shows maturity, responsibility and leadership. I had some interviewers who were past RAs and we traded stories. It can definitely help as a conversation starter.

What are the downsides of being an RA?

The cons of being an RA

Being an RA is going to put you right in the middle of the lives of your residents, and that can be stressful. Altercations, love triangles, friend problems, disciplinary action, safety violations — you'll be putting out fires daily as an RA, and that's not for everyone.

Does being an RA look good on a resume?

Looks Great on Your Resume

You have to make fliers and put up bulletin boards on your hall to kind of educate residents with what's happening on your campus. All that you are required to do looks greats on a resume because it shows that you have great interpersonal skills.

What skills do you need to be a good RA?

Can RA's look through your backpack?

Even though they don't have to obtain a warrant, school officials still can't search your things for no reason. School officials need “reasonable suspicion” before searching your things, and there is a two-part test that determines the reasonableness of the search.

Do RA's have to stay up all night?

Q: “Do I have to stay up all night while on call?” A: No. You are required to be in your room from 8am-8pm and respond to any situation that the PSO (Public Safety Officer) calls you about. The calls can range from noise complaints, visitation violations, to helping a Hall Director deal with an emergency situation.

Are RA's allowed to open drawers?

'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.

Can RAs date their residents?

At their simplest, the rules state that an RA cannot date a student on his or her floor OR in the same building. The only way to get around this is by going to the resident director, the person above the RAs, and arguing your case.

What are the pros and cons of being an RA?

Most of the negative feedback I've heard from current RAs is around enforcing masking, limits on number of students in dorm rooms etc and it factored into my daughter's decision about applying last year. The pros are pretty obvious: free room and board. It's also something that you can put on your resume.

How hard is it to get an RA position?

Is becoming an RA hard? The RA application process varies by school, but it is typically more rigorous than the other campus jobs. Don't take that to mean that you need an impressive resume to land the position – many RAs do not have extensive previous work experience.

Can I get into PA school with a 3.47 GPA?

Generally, you have to have at least a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science GPA to be accepted to PA school. Some schools have stricter requirements, up to a 3.4 cumulative GPA or higher. Schools like the University of Utah will consider candidates with a 2.7 GPA if they have an otherwise strong application.