What are the advantages and disadvantages in being an RA in a college dorm?

Question

Has anyone ever had that job?

Answer 1

I think that the advantages and disadvantages vary based on what kinds of kids you're gonna be on the floor with (your experiences with a freshman group will vary greatly compared to those with a graduate group). I was an RA two years, both on a freshman floor.

The university's compensation for the position was a single with a bathroom (some of the RA's in the upperclassman dorms actually had small studio apartments), a small stipend, and a meal plan. Besides, that, however, I also had the opportunity to develop "soft skills", which ended up being quite a benefit when it came time to interview. During that time I grew very close to the kids and my staff. For me, however, the biggest perk was being able to help out people during one of the most trying periods during their college years...it was really quite rewarding.

Some of the drawbacks now...there's definitely the possibility that the position will be time consuming. If you get placed with a rowdy group you may spend a significant amount of time trying to control them. Depending on your director/supervisor you may be putting on programs every month, making door decs a couple times a semester, or changing your bulletin boards all the time. If you're planning on interning somewhere during the summer, expect to leave that job a few weeks early to attend training. Oh, and expect to give up a few nights a month for duty.

To echo the sentiment from the previous post, however, the benefits definately outway the costs. If offered a position, I would reccommend taking it if your time allows for it.

Answer 2

I did. The advantages, at my school, were that you got your own single room - no roomate. The room was free. You also got a small stipend. In addition, it looked good on my resume, both in school - it helped me get other jobs on campus - and once I graduated. I also appreciated the training we got, and I made a lot of very close friends with my fellow RAs - one is still my best friend, and another I married.

Disadvantages were that you're in a position of semi-authority, so if there is a loud party, or someone gets sick, or whatever, you're the point person. At my university, we also had to do programming for our students, which can be fun to do but can also be time-intensive.

But for me, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

Answer 3

It might be hard to make friends who are not also RA's because you'll have to tell on them. Also, my dorm had RA's working the front desk around the clock, some of them would work midnight to 8am and then have to go to class at 9am, so you might want to check into that. Pro's are a free place to live! And maybe if there is someone you hate, you can get them evicted :P