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I have only lived on campus for one year, so I will not be as housing-experienced as other applicants. Will this detract from my application? Should I bother applying this year?

We routinely hire staff who have not lived in University Housing during their tenure at NYU.  This fact would not put you at a great disadvantage.  Please do submit an application.

What are you looking for in the candidates? What will make a candidate stand out to be hired?

As only juniors, seniors and graduate students are eligible for RA positions, we’ve found that those students who come to us with previous leadership experience best understand their role as an RA.  We look for applicants who have had prior experience leading their peers, creating and implementing social and educational programs as well as social events.  We especially encourage those students who understand and are passionate about the vision and values of the University and the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services – namely, that one’s education should be a seamless learning experience both in and outside of the classroom – to apply for student staff positions.  We also hope to have applicants who understand that living in a residence hall provides an opportunity for residents to learn to negotiate conflict, set personal boundaries and take responsibility for their own beliefs and behaviors; as RAs, these students tend to be the most effective resource and support for other residential students.  Finally, it is essential that candidates are passionate about the NYU community and committed to bringing that passion to their residence hall and to their floor of residents.  One of the central values of Residential Life is striving to ensure that all residential students are connected to the University and their local community be it by floor and hall programming, interpersonal relationships, hall council participation, non-Residential Education student-led clubs and organizations, neighborhood volunteer opportunities or other such ways of connecting with others in New York University and New York City communities.

What if you have a disciplinary sanction from your freshman year?

This will be known by any CDE looking at your application portfolio and will be taken into consideration.  This may be something that you will want to discuss with the facilitator of your section of RALI.

Is there a stipend for the RA position?

There is not.  You will see the total remuneration package in the position description.

What percentage of applicants has previous residential experience such as living in the halls?

We’ve not kept statistics on this, but probably 85% to 90% have had previous residential experience.  We do, however, select applicants who have not previously lived in University Housing.

Is there themed (special interest) housing?

There is and you can find out about these opportunities (Explorations, CHOICES, Residential College, etc.) throughout our website.

If you are an alternate, do you have to go through the application process again?

Yes, if you are currently in the RA alternate pool from last year’s RALI and you wish to apply for an  RA position for next year, you must reapply and attend the RALI again.

How many alternate RAs are picked up before the start of the Fall semester and how many are picked up after?

We do our initial round of staff selection in mid-March at which time we attempt to fill every open position.  For one reason or another, RA positions may become vacant between that time and the beginning of the Fall semester.  Traditionally, we’ll offer about eight to ten positions after our initial round of offers.  We don’t anticipate many openings during the academic year as it is expected that students who accept our offer of an RA position will commit for the entire academic year, though it does happen on occasion.

Do I have to sign-up for Housing if I’m applying for an RA position?

Yes, you should go through the normal re-application process for Housing for the upcoming academic year (if you plan to live on campus if you’re not offered an RA position).  If you are offered an RA position, we will work with Housing and the Bursar’s Office to have your deposit fee refunded or applied to other charges to your account.  You will then be administratively assigned to your staff accommodation.

If you are offered an alternate position, is it possible that that you will stay an alternate the entire year?

Yes, that’s how we have structured it.  Usually, in November or December we will ask those with alternate status if they wish to remain active in the alternate pool (i.e., be considered for any position that may come open).

Is there priority given to students who will be seniors?

Not necessarily.  An RHD probably wants to structure her or his staff in such a way that she or he will lose approximately half the staff to graduation the following May.

I will be graduating in May from another institution and plan on taking a few classes at NYU; however, I will not be enrolled in a specific academic program. Would I still be eligible for either the RA or CEA position, or are these positions only open to full time students at NYU?

At this time, our student staff positions are open only to full-time, matriculated NYU students.