Whether you’ve always wanted to be an resident adviser or have felt the pull towards the job in your years of college, it can be a great way to get to know more people, gain leadership skills and save some money. How can you really know if being an RA is right for you or will make for one heck of a long and painful college experience? There are a number of things you should consider before deciding to apply for an RA position that can help you make a wise decision.
First, you’ll need to figure out if you really have time for the additional responsibilities. If you’re already involved in numerous organizations on campus, play sports, take honors classes and have a full load of responsibilities already it might just be too much for you to handle. You’ll need to think carefully about how you’d structure your study time, work, and extracurricular activities around being there for students, attending meetings and playing an active leadership role. If you think it would be too much, perhaps its best not to pursue it. If it sounds great, you may have hit on a perfect job for yourself.
Of course, while there are downsides to being an RA, there are also some pretty great benefits. It can make a great addition to a resume and offers students a chance to build leadership and communication skills that can come in handy in school and in the workplace. Additionally, most colleges provide compensation for the work that resident advisers do. This can come in the form of free housing, scholarships, or even just a monthly check. These benefits can be a boon to students who need both experience and financial support, and can often be an option that is much preferred to seeking out work elsewhere on or off campus.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure the responsibilities of the job are something that you’ll actually enjoy. Most resident advisers work to coordinate activities in the residence halls, must enforce the rules , help out other students and serve as a link to other groups and facilities on campus. In addition, they must know a lot about university resources, be good at communication, excel in a leadership role and love working with others. If any of those things sound less than desirable to you, then you might want to consider an alternate form of on-campus employment.
Being an RA can be an excellent way to turn run-of-the-mill dorm life into something special You’ll be able to make new friends, work with others and get to know your campus on a more intimate level. Whether or not you’re up for the job is really a personal decision, so make sure to carefully weight the pros and cons before committing to an RA position, as your work doesn’t just affect you but all the other students living with you in the dorm.
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