Residence Assistant?

[Albino Dino]

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How does working as a Residence Assistant ("proctor" at some unis) look in the eyes of Adcoms?

I just got accepted for the position and I was wondering about its appearance.

Thanks

 

[ridethecliche]

If I tell you it looks bad, would you drop the position?

Seriously, it's a good activity that might merit being a most meaningful one depending on how it goes. Just because it's not directly medically related doesn't mean it isn't worth being part of your application.

 

[LizzyM]

It is impressive. It shows your "people skills".

 

[intangible]

I think you might have meant Resident Assistant?

I don't think being an RA is necessarily a bad thing—most schools give you free housing, and a small stipend to boot. It's just about the way you frame that experience, both in your head and on your applications.

If you're looking at it as a temporary, insignificant employment, so will adcoms. But, if you're willing to put effort and zest into what you're doing, that passion will lead you to find new experiences you can talk about with an interviewer.

Besides, you'll be having fun.

Good luck!

 

[caffeinemia]

I had resident pre-med tutors and it helped so much when I was applying. It was easy to find them at lunch and sit down and talk about school. You can really play a meaningful role in some people's lives.

 

[ridethecliche]

Wait are you taking about resident assistants or teaching assistants.

Resident assistants are for housing, while teaching assistants are for classes. Proctor more likely describes the latter.

 

[Catalystik]

How does working as a Residence Assistant ("proctor" at some unis) look in the eyes of Adcoms?

It depends on what you do with the position and how you describe it. You might act primarily as a door guard and illegal substance sniffer. Or you might plan educational and social programs, think up new initiatives and implement them, resolve conflicts, interact with local law enforcement, school administration, and hospital emergency systems, etc. Which approach do YOU think will impress an adcomm?

 

[intangible]

Wait are you taking about resident assistants or teaching assistants.

Resident assistants are for housing, while teaching assistants are for classes. Proctor more likely describes the latter.

A proctor in the US is usually just a supervisor for testing purposes. I think he's using the UK variant, a disciplinary officer of some sort that is responsible for a group residents on-campus.

 

[ridethecliche]

Ah that would make more sense!

In any event, I was an RA and a head resident (RAs boss) in college and I talkedI lot about the positions in interviews.

I was also a TA but didn't talk about that as much since it didn't lead to any sort of community building even though it was fun.

 

[Albino Dino]

I'm from Canada and certain universities here use the term proctor instead of RA, although they are the same position

 

[Catalystik]

community building

🙂Good term, if applicable.

 

[ridethecliche]

🙂Good term, if applicable.

Big part of the job especially since I worked first with a house dedicated to a theme that had a role on campus and then with a lot of frosh that were trying to find their place.

It was a lot of fun. Still one of my favorite activities from college.