Time Management as a Resident Assistant

[scflips14]

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Hi everyone,
I am in the middle of the application process to be a Resident Assistant at my school for next year (my sophomore year). The position is something I am really interested in and excited about, but I do have time management concerns. I know several bio majors in the year above me and some of them are struggling to hold down part time jobs while studying for o chem, cell bio, etc. I am a well organized person by nature, so I hope that will help. I would love to hear from anyone that was an RA during undergrad and how they managed to balance studying with job responsibilities, volunteering/shadowing, other ECs, etc.

 

[Optimist Prime]

The RA's in my dorm just rotated sitting at the front desk incase anyone needed them for anything. Most of the time they just sat there and studied or played poker so it depends on how your school does things.

 

[pb34]

Hi everyone,
I am in the middle of the application process to be a Resident Assistant at my school for next year (my sophomore year). The position is something I am really interested in and excited about, but I do have time management concerns. I know several bio majors in the year above me and some of them are struggling to hold down part time jobs while studying for o chem, cell bio, etc. I am a well organized person by nature, so I hope that will help. I would love to hear from anyone that was an RA during undergrad and how they managed to balance studying with job responsibilities, volunteering/shadowing, other ECs, etc.

I was an RA during undergrad. While the time commitment for being an RA is decently substantial, it definitely allows enough time to study sufficiently for class as well as balance everything else. You just have to understand that you have certain obligations as an RA and once those are taken care of you usually have plenty of time for everything else.

Additionally, the nights that we were on duty we had time to study and get work done at the desk.

 

[haaaaaaaaaaveyoumetted]

agreed with above ^^ the time you have to make for duty and resource hours you basically have nothing to do but study in your room (or watch tv/goof off 🙂 )- the structure may actually benefit you! and you'll definitely have time for other ECs

 

[Gibbward]

Former RA here too! The RA experience varies between schools, and between dorms. I in charge of a dorm of ~80 sophomore students for half the week, while another RA covers for the other half of the week. Being on duty means being in my room from 8 pm til 7 am. My door was be open from 8-11 pm Sunday-Thursday, and 8pm-1 am Friday and Saturday. I would walk around the building every so often, more during the louder, busier nights.

But for the most part, those times that I'm on duty, I'm just studying or watching TV. I would usually cook or bake something and my residents would stop by my room to grab something to eat and we'll chat but nothing too stressful. I usually got Friday or Saturday off, so I got to relax and hang out with friends at least one day of the weekend. In terms of ECs, most of mine were before my duty hours or I would schedule my duty days so my schedule doesn't clash. My RA partner was pretty flexible so that helped with scheduling a lot.

Then, you want to take into account the ages of those in your dorm. If you have freshmen, your dorm will more likely be super rowdy and busy, students might be more needy and might have difficulties with adjusting to college. If you have seniors, you basically let them do what they want as long as they don't burn down the dorm and then quiet them down if other residents complain.

Also prepare for some things happening at terrible times. Someone throws up or needs to be taken to the hospital in the middle of the night or omeone knocks on your door crying when you have a big test the next day (true story).