University Housing Director Pete Trentacoste said the addition of Lakeside Residence Hall will mean between eight and 10 new Resident Assistant positions, but that’s still not enough room for the more than 90 applicants this semester.
RAs, according to Housing’s Web site, supervise the dormitories, acting as a guide to on-campus life, counselor to students and administrator. They are also required to spend six hours on call at the dorms’ desks.
The Housing site also states that for the workload, RAs get a meal plan as well as a biweekly $80 stipend. All of that included comes up to an estimate of approximately $4000 per semester.
Such benefits entice many students into signing up.
Robert Green, a junior and secondary social studies major, is one of them. He is taking part in the interview process for the third time this year.
The application itself includes an initial application and six essay questions, according to assistant director of housing Arnie Slaughter.
After reviewing applications and essay responses, students selected will attend one of the two mandatory group interview sessions taking place on March 16.
“I will say that the group interviews were the most nerve rattling because you don’t know what to expect from the other candidates in the group,” Green said.
The day after group interviews, e-mails will be sent to notify students if they are progressing into individual interviews that will run March 18 through 24. Afterwards, the final decision will be made by the hall director team and notifications will be sent out telling the students that have been chosen to be an RA March 28.
“I felt nervous going into the third interview, but also confident,” Green said. Returning RAs have to give a presentation, and are considered before new RA applicants.
“The number one thing that I always tell potential students going into the process is have fun and be yourself,” Green said.
Slaughter also advises that students should “provide the selection committee with something memorable about (their) self,” in order to make the applicant’s essay stand out.