Why Become a Resident Assistant - Study in USA Universities

Worried about managing all of your study costs in the USA? International students who study in USA programs can manage their expenses by becoming a resident assistant! Resident assistantship is an on-campus job available in US colleges and universities at the undergraduate or graduate level. Your responsibilities will mainly include organizing and planning events, reporting on incidents and acting as a role model for resident students.

As a resident assistant – you could also go by ‘resident advisor’ – you could enjoy stipends that cover the costs of your housing. Depending on the university, this could also include your meal plan! This can save you plenty of money in accommodation as an international student. It is also a great way to build valuable experience and improve your resume professionally alongside your degree. Let’s explore the RA role in greater detail!

How to Become a Resident Assistant

Many top universities in the USA recruit resident assistants for their on-campus residences. Recruitment criteria and procedures are similar in most US universities, though you should look into the eligibility criteria and application process of your university. 

Typically, alongside your application, you may need to submit an application essay and reference letters. You may also need to attend an interview for the position as well. Once you get your spot on the team, you will have to take on the mandatory training to start your term as an RA. 

Becoming a Resident Assistant as an International Student

As an international student enrolling to study in USA universities, you need to comply with the F-1 student visa conditions for part-time work. Typically, an RA position is the equivalent of the maximum 20 hours per week that you can work part-time, on campus.

This means that you can’t take on a second part-time job, as this would exceed your weekly work-hour limits. And another reminder – international students can’t work part-time off-campus! This is one of the reasons why working as an RA is an attractive opportunity for international students.

Recruitment Terms

Resident assistantships are generally one-year terms. Depending on the university and its residence policies, you may be able to continue as a resident advisor consecutively for additional terms. Recruitment typically applies to the pool of students enrolling to study in USA universities at undergraduate or graduate levels in the relevant campuses. 

Keep an eye out for notices inviting applications and mentioning requirements. Missing the deadlines might mean you have to wait for another whole year for the next round of openings. 

Requirements to Become a Resident Assistant 

Every university has its own unique set of requirements for the resident assistant role. However, these are some typical requirements you might find across RA programs in the country:

●    Being a resident student for around a year prior to applying
●    Good financial standing with the university
●    Minimum cumulative GPA of around 2.5 in your program
●    Demonstrable leadership qualities and other skills, such as time management, communication, event planning and coordination, etc.

Training to Become a Resident Advisor

Becoming an RA involves an on-the-job training period. Your supervisors will walk you through your responsibilities and how to handle common scenarios that you might run into as a resident advisor. The training period and what it entails again depends on the university and residences in question. Some residences schedule the training before the beginning of the academic year, so it doesn’t clash with your classes. Keep the timeline in mind when you’re applying for the RA spot!  

Responsibilities as a Resident Assistant

As a resident assistant, the perks you enjoy will come with some important responsibilities. Your training period will cover the specifics of any responsibilities or scenarios unique to the residence or campus. Generally, though, RAs who study in USA universities will:

Organize and Plan Events

A considerable part of your role will involve organizing and planning. Many events take place throughout the year in the university dorms. At the heart of these events are the Resident Assistants who plan, coordinate, organize, and make it all happen smoothly. Your role can involve handling accounts, arranging food and drinks, booking the space, managing decorations, planning activities, and more.

Report on Incidents

As a Resident Assistant, you will act as a representative of the university inside the residences. Your role will be central in relaying important information from the university administration to the residents and vice versa. Communication will be a large part of your duties, since you are often the middle ground between student residents and other parties on campus. 

This also means that you will take on a proactive role if there are any incidents or issues. You will take the lead in conflict resolution, violations of codes of conduct, and reporting whatever is necessary to your superiors. 

Perform Duty Rounds 

Universities commonly ask resident assistants to perform duty rounds in the university dormitories. These will include communicating with the residents under your care about scheduled inspection rounds. You may also perform daily rounds around common areas like shared kitchenettes and showers. You will keep track of and handle inventory and maintenance issues and respond to safety concerns. 

Act as a Role Model

Being a role model is an important part of being a Resident Assistant. Resident Assistants, alongside being capable, should also be approachable, patient, and great at communicating. You are a representative of the university, so you must be a great example to fellow residents who also chose to study at USA programs at this school. 

Compensation and Benefits

Becoming a Resident Assistant has many great benefits during your time studying in the USA. These benefits vary depending on the university. Generally, the sorts of benefits you can expect as an international student RA in the USA include:

Free Housing

This is the biggest perk of your time as a resident advisor. You get a room entirely to yourself on your floor, in exchange for a rent waiver or a stipend that covers your housing costs. Resident assistant rooms are generally on par or better than other rooms in the dormitories, especially thanks to the privacy and extra amenities, like en-suite bathrooms. Free housing lets you save anywhere between USD 2,000 to 3,000 monthly on rent, which can make a huge difference to the cost of studying in the USA!

Monthly Stipend

As an international student with an F-1 visa, you cannot take part-time jobs off-campus in the USA. However, you can work part-time, for a maximum of 20 hours per week, for on-campus jobs. 

A resident assistantship is an ideal on-campus position for valid part-time work! RA positions for international students can earn you stipends worth USD 500 to 700 per month in certain universities. This is on top of the free housing that generally comes as part of the RA compensation package.

Free Meals and Other Benefits

Universities offer many other perks to their Resident Assistants. Some universities offer free meals to the Resident Assistants, which also help with your finances. You can access exclusive meal plans the residence offers specifically for its RAs without the additional cost. You may also enjoy free access to certain university resources, networking with faculty members, and so on. When researching the RA position, remember to look into the benefits you will enjoy with the position! 

Skills You Earn as an RA

Being a resident assistant can be quite demanding – especially when you are technically on the job even when you are in the dorms. You will have more on your plate than some of your fellow residents who study in USA universities. These sacrifices, however, come with the benefit of both the perks you enjoy and the invaluable experience you build as an RA. Some of these skills can come in very handy when spotlighting you as a candidate for work opportunities in the future, including: 

Leadership Skills

The resident assistant role is primarily a leadership and organization role. Experience makes the best teacher, and as you go through your RA term handling a variety of situations, providing clarity to student doubts, organizing events and activities, etc., you will undergo personal development as well. Planning and executing these activities and events will also improve your strategic thinking and decision-making. Acting as a role model and communicating with all of the students who look up to you for support and guidance will help you grow into a strong leader.

Communication Skills

Resident assistants have to communicate and coordinate with many people to carry out their tasks effectively. So, you will find that your communication skills develop in the various settings you encounter as an RA. This could include public speaking as you man the floor during events and activities, and one-to-one communication as you resolve student queries and de-escalate any potential tensions in the dorms. You will also be communicating with university staff, other resident advisors, and third parties, for example while organizing events. As a result, you will grow into an effective communicator able to handle yourself in any context – including the kinds of contexts you will run into in your career. 

Networking

Your university campus is full of diverse people from different backgrounds, experiences, and parts of the world. Being a resident assistant gives you the unique opportunity to get to meet and form connections with many of them. Throughout your term in the role, you will be able to create networks with many important and interesting people, enriching your personal circles as well as future professional opportunities.

Work Experience 

Finally, you will want to put your time working as a resident assistant on your resume to provide a picture of your work experience and ability. In many careers that involve organizational, leadership, and communication skills, experience as a resident assistant can help you stand out as a great candidate. You can apply the skills you pick up during your experience across many different contexts in your professional life after graduation. 

Rounding Up

Becoming a resident assistant for international students who study in USA university programs comes with a lot of responsibilities. On the flipside, being an RA also offers a ton of benefits in return. Along with free housing, you might also get a monthly stipend that helps take pressure off of your finances. Other benefits include free meals and access to university resources. Even better, you will be able to acquire important transferrable skills for your career from the experience.