RA senior year- BITE ME. Advices

[vayntraubinator]

I've Been accepted as Resident Assistant upon my return to campus from study abroad. Not doing the position to buff up my ECs or anything, I just fell in love with it over time and realized that I would like to finish my year giving back to my U.


I am extremely lucky to get the job, but I have high idealism. Too high, I'm afraid.

The biggest things that concern me for this coming year are:
1) How quickly does RA idealism lose momentum? (I've heard that the underclassmen are hard to get involved in RA designed activities + handling disciplinary action is not that easy)
2) I'm taking some 500 level history courses + 400 level neuroscience courses. How have you other RAs handled commitment issues -- adding the fact that I'll be interviewing since I'm applying this season.


I'm thrilled to be looking forward to this position, but I would really appreciate any Resident Assistant advice and I'd EXPECIALLY love some RA anecdotes. 🙂

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[Tots]

I've Been accepted as Resident Assistant upon my return to campus from study abroad. Not doing the position to buff up my ECs or anything, I just fell in love with it over time and realized that I would like to finish my year giving back to my U.


I am extremely lucky to get the job, but I have high idealism. Too high, I'm afraid.

The biggest things that concern me for this coming year are:
1) How quickly does RA idealism lose momentum? (I've heard that the underclassmen are hard to get involved in RA designed activities + handling disciplinary action is not that easy)
2) I'm taking some 500 level history courses + 400 level neuroscience courses. How have you other RAs handled commitment issues -- adding the fact that I'll be interviewing since I'm applying this season.


I'm thrilled to be looking forward to this position, but I would really appreciate any Resident Assistant advice and I'd EXPECIALLY love some RA anecdotes. 🙂

Being an RA is an awesome job. I loved every minute of it but only did it for one year because it was most physically and emotionally draining year of college. It also was easily one of my most meaningful experiences in college and was my biggest year of growth.

1) Idealism definitely looses its momentum, especially when you are responding to a 3 am call out the day before your midterm. On the other hand your residents will surprise you and there will be lots of ups so it is not to hard to keep going.

2) I would take as few classes as you can and still be on track, especially your first quarter/semester. Unfortunately(at least here) in addition to numerous responsibilities there was also a LOT of paperwork that eats up tons of time, especially when you are still getting the hang of things. If you have duty similar to I had duty then that will eat into your time. On the other hand studying with your residents is a good opportunity to build rapport with your residents.

In the end if your experience is like mine, it will immensely rewarding and you will form very strong relationships with your fellow coworkers and residents. I couldn't imagine doing it on top of interviewing though, good luck! I am sure you will be fine 🙂

 

[Hotshy]

I definitely grew immensely as a leader and a communicator, this was my first serious leadership experience, and I jumped into it to start my sophomore year of college. I will say that idealism will fade and it can be a really draining job when you're heavily invested in it. This is my last semester of undergrad now, I'm really I had the experience of being an RA, even though I feel checked out of that role now. If I had to do it all over again, I would still become an RA and go through the process. You really do grow from the position, I know I did starting as an RA so early in undergrad.

Edit: I carried a heavy course load like I always had and actually picked up more research and ECs as an RA. You can be an effective RA without putting a huge amount of hours into the position. But burnout does happen, at the end of my second semester as an RA, I literally laid in bed for a couple days after finals were over (you have to stay until everyone finishes their finals), I was exhausted from that first year.

 

[dmf2682]

Being an RA is an awesome job. I loved every minute of it but only did it for one year because it was most physically and emotionally draining year of college. It also was easily one of my most meaningful experiences in college and was my biggest year of growth.

1) Idealism definitely looses its momentum, especially when you are responding to a 3 am call out the day before your midterm. On the other hand your residents will surprise you and there will be lots of ups so it is not to hard to keep going.

2) I would take as few classes as you can and still be on track, especially your first quarter/semester. Unfortunately(at least here) in addition to numerous responsibilities there was also a LOT of paperwork that eats up tons of time, especially when you are still getting the hang of things. If you have duty similar to I had duty then that will eat into your time. On the other hand studying with your residents is a good opportunity to build rapport with your residents.

In the end if your experience is like mine, it will immensely rewarding and you will form very strong relationships with your fellow coworkers and residents. I couldn't imagine doing it on top of interviewing though, good luck! I am sure you will be fine 🙂

I would agree with all this, but don't let your job dictate what you take. That being said, I'll tell you that even though I was an ra for two and a half years, which was almost 8 years back now, I still plan on putting it down one of my most significant experiences.

 

[vayntraubinator]

Being an RA is an awesome job. I loved every minute of it but only did it for one year because it was most physically and emotionally draining year of college. It also was easily one of my most meaningful experiences in college and was my biggest year of growth.

1) Idealism definitely looses its momentum, especially when you are responding to a 3 am call out the day before your midterm. On the other hand your residents will surprise you and there will be lots of ups so it is not to hard to keep going.

2) I would take as few classes as you can and still be on track, especially your first quarter/semester. Unfortunately(at least here) in addition to numerous responsibilities there was also a LOT of paperwork that eats up tons of time, especially when you are still getting the hang of things. If you have duty similar to I had duty then that will eat into your time. On the other hand studying with your residents is a good opportunity to build rapport with your residents.



In the end if your experience is like mine, it will immensely rewarding and you will form very strong relationships with your fellow coworkers and residents. I couldn't imagine doing it on top of interviewing though, good luck! I am sure you will be fine 🙂

Apparently we have a lot more paperwork if you write residents up for drinking/ breaking other rules I hear a lot of stories because of this, that RAs like to slack and often give a lot of warning to residents. Although I hope I will have to do less policing, because the dorms I was selected for being an RA in are house primarily 2nd year and exchange students. 🙁 I cant believe it was so emotionally + physically draining on you!... you sound like a tough and disciplined RA.

If I had to do it all over again, I would still become an RA and go through the process. You really do grow from the position, I know I did starting as an RA so early in undergrad.

I would agree with all this, but don't let your job dictate what you take. That being said, I'll tell you that even though I was an ra for two and a half years, which was almost 8 years back now, I still plan on putting it down one of my most significant experiences.

I really like that! I know I will be exhausted at times because of the demand between job and classes but I think you have to test your limits!! And fortunately, my GPA wont matter as much my senior year (assuming I get in! )