What Does A Resident Assistant Do In College?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Duties and Responsibilities of an RA. Overall, your job is to

create a comfortable, safe and supportive atmosphere for the residents in student housing

, as well as to help them interact well with their dorm mates and adjust to campus life overall.

What skills do you need to be a resident assistant?

Examples are

communication (verbal and written), problem-solving, interpersonal, analytical, research, and time management

. Your RA position is chock-full of these valued skills.

What are the duties of a resident assistant?

A Resident Assistant, or Resident Care Partner, is responsible for helping residents complete daily tasks. Their duties include

overseeing fun activities for residents

, assisting residents in eating, bath or do chores and maintaining care records for their facility.

What does an RA do at college?

What Is an RA? A resident assistant or resident advisor, is

live-in position held by students

. Generally, the goal of an RA is to create a safe and comfortable environment for the residents of a dorm.

What makes a good resident assistant?

What qualities make a good RA? All of our staff is different, but some common qualities of successful RAs include

leadership, communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, integrity, positive role modeling, innovation, peer development, critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork

, and a love for community.

Is resident assistant a job?

Occupation Occupation type Profession Activity sectors Education Description Competencies Communication, Organization, Planning

How much do resident assistants make?

The average resident assistant makes

about $26,805 per year

. That’s $12.89 per hour! Those in the lower 10%, such as entry-level positions, only make about $20,000 a year.

Does being a resident assistant look good on a resume?


It looks good on a resume

. If you’re looking for ways to demonstrate your leadership skills, being an RA looks great on a resume. And you can always use some of your experiences to demonstrate your “practical experience” in a job interview.

Why are you applying to be a resident assistant?

Why do you want to become a RA? Most students apply

because they want to get free meals, accommodation and stipend

. Or they like the RA role because it offers an easy way of blending into the community, and getting to know the other students.

How do you list a resident assistant on a 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.

Do you get paid to be a RA?

A:

All RAs are paid $2310 for the academic year

. If RAs work any additional desk hours over the required 5 a week, the RA will be paid minimum wage for those hours, which is $7.25.

Does being an RA affect financial aid?

As an RA, you will not be billed for room and board, so

your financial aid will be adjusted based on this cost difference

– that is, since you earn your room and board, you cannot also be awarded financial aid for it.

How many hours a week does an RA work?

The RA position is unique in that it is a live-in position. There are 8-10 structured and scheduled hours per week (e.g. attending meetings), but additional responsibilities take up at least another 10-12 hours a week. On the whole RAs work an

average of 20 hours a week

.

How can a resident assistant improve?

  1. Recognize that experience does matter. …
  2. Live by a good set of ethical standards. …
  3. Posses a good attitude. …
  4. Proactively request feedback so they can improve. …
  5. Be able to challenge peer attitudes and behaviors when needed. …
  6. Demonstrate the ability to facilitate individual conversation.

What it means to be a resident assistant?

Resident Assistants (RAs) are

peer advisers and educators who live and work with student residents to assist them in addressing their personal, interpersonal and academic needs

within the residence hall and college community.

What should I say in an RA interview?

Identify the three most important skills an RA should possess and explain why. How do you feel the RA position would change your lifestyle? How could you justify enforcing a policy that you yourself might not believe in?

What role do you typically play with your friends?

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.