FAQs

In addition to terrific team and leadership experience, RAs receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges. This grant may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

In addition to terrific team and leadership experience, RLAs receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges as well as a $12,000 stipend payble over the 10 month appointment. This grant and stipend may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

In addition to terrific team and leadership experience, those serving in summer roles receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges. This grant may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

In addition to an invaluable experience in leadership, skill building and teamwork, OAs receive an hourly wage. 

RAs receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges. This grant may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

Those serving in graduate roles receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges as well as a $12,000 stipend payble over the 10 month appointment. This grant may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

Those serving in summer roles receive a grant equal to the cost of housing and dining charges. This grant may impact your other Financial Aid awards received. To understand if and how this grant may impact your aid package, we urge you to schedule a Financial Aid counselor appointment or contact the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.

The hourly wage earned by serving in the role does not impact your Financial Aid package.

Those who have received Federal Work-Study (FWS) through Financial Aid are able to use these funds through service in OA roles.

In New York you must be classified by your school and your academic program as a junior or senior for the academic year in which you are applying to be an RA. Shanghai and London RA applicants must be classified as sophomore, junior or senior for the academic year in which you are applying to be an RA. Your cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or above and you must be in good university standing.

While having lived on campus might give candidates a better perspective on our roles and responsibilities, we do not require past housing experience. We welcome application from students who are currently off-campus or commuting to NYU.

Residential Life Assistant opportunities are very limited. We first recruit candidates from the Steinhardt Higher Education Masters program. Should we not be able to fill all RLA openings with students enrolled in the program we then open the process to currently matriculating graduate students from other programs. If you are interested in being considered for an RLA opportunity please upload your resume here. Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we will contact applicants if they are being considered.

Candidates must be matriculating students in the academic year following the summer of service in order to apply. Students graduating in the May before the summer of service are not eligible to apply.

Interviews are typically conducted in-person and remotely so being in New York to interview is not required.

Candidates must be full time matriculating students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and in good university standing to serve.

RA Selection consists of 5 steps and some pre-process candidate homework. Details on each step can be found on the Resident Assistant tab.

A component of RA Selection is an individual interview with a Residential Life & Housing Services team member. We'll ask a variety of questions to get to know you better. Sample topic areas and questions include:

Topic: Self-Awareness

Definition: Having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, areas of growth, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions.

Question: What are your two greatest strengths?

Question: Describe a time you had a positive impact on someone.

Topic: Team Membership

Definition: A collaborative effort between a number of individuals working to achieve a common goal.

Question: Can you share an example of a situation in which teamwork helped you to accomplish your goal or outcomes? What about teamwork made this situation successful?

Topic: Organization, Time Management, & Quality Service

Definition: Customer service is the act of taking care of the customer's needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and assistance.

Tenets: Be empathetic, take ownership & responsibility, be adaptable, resilient, and minimize transfers and referrals.

Question: Describe what you believe entails high levels of customer service.

Topic: Community Development

Definition: Community building is a strategic and intentional process designed to promote personal interactions, participation in leadership organizations, and awareness around social identity in the residence halls.

Question: Can you provide some examples of ways you would engage and connect residents with one another on your floor?

Topic: Inclusion & Belonging

Definition: The inclusion and celebration of different people and identities (including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs) in a safe living and learning environment.

Question: What are some key aspects of planning that you would keep in mind to ensure that a program is accessible and does not exclude members of your community?

Residential Life Assistant candidates must participate in the Steinhardt Higher Education Masters program recruitment day. Should we not be able to fill all RLA openings with students enrolled in the program we then open the process to currently matriculating graduate students from other programs. If you are interested in being considered for an RLA opportunity please upload your resume here. Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we will contact applicants if they are being considered.

Applicants for summer roles will need to submit an application and participate in a 30 minute individual interview with a professional staff member. Interviews will be conducted both in-person and virtually.

Applicants for Office Assistant roles will need to submit an application through NYU Handshake and participate in a 30 minute individual interview with a professional staff member. Interviews will be conducted in-person and virtually.

All candidates are able to indicate interest in communities types (FYRE, Upper Year) as well as interest in Thematic Engagement Communities. Candidates selected for roles will be offered opportunities based on their interests and building need. Those selected may be placed at either the Manhattan campus or the Brooklyn campus. 

RA candidates are able to indicate interest in role types in the application. We do have a select number of fall only RA opportunities as well as a select number of spring/summer only RA opportunities. Candidates who select interest in these role types will be considered for and may be placed in one of these select roles.

All candidates are able to indicate preference between the Summer Assistant and Program Assistant roles. Those selected may be placed at either the Manhattan campus or the Brooklyn campus.

You'll apply directly in NYU Handshake for Office Assistant roles and can choose to submit applications for specific residence halls.

Our selection process will conclude and candidates will learn of their status with us before the housing deposit deadline. Please do not submit your housing deposit until you learn if you've been selected as an RA.

If you have been selected to serve as an RA and accept the offer, you do not need to submit the housing deposit.

If you have not been selected as an RA or have been offered alternate status, you do need to submit the housing deposit if you plan to live on campus.

Our selection process will conclude and candidates will learn of their status with us before the summer housing deposit deadline. Please do not submit your housing deposit until you learn if you've been selected as an SA or PA.

If you have been selected to serve as an SA or PA and accept the offer, you do not need to submit the summer housing deposit.

If you have not been selected as an SA or PA or have been offered alternate status, you do need to submit the summer housing deposit if you plan to live on campus.

You should list a reference who can assess your abilities in key skill areas of the RA role. These include administrative skills, community development, conflict management, commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, problem solving, teamwork, and time management.

Examples of a reference may include a former or current professor, supervisor, coach, civic or religious leader, your RA, etc.

NYU RHD/RHADs are not eligible to serve as references in the selection process. It is not advisable to list personal friends or relatives as references; as well, it is customary to ask a potential reference's permission before submitting their name as a reference. All references must have a valid email address.

Many international students serve in our roles. In fact, over 20% of our current team members identify as international students.

While having lived on campus might give candidates a better perspective on our roles and responsibilities, we do not require past housing experience. We welcome application from students who are currently off-campus or commuting to NYU.

RA@Home 1* is the RA to be called first in the hall after hours (9pm - 9am Monday - Friday, 9pm Fri - 12pm Sat, 12pm Sat - 12pm Sun, 12pm Sun - 9am Mon). They complete community walks twice a night; once before 11pm and once after.

RA@Home 2** completes community walks with RA@Home 1 and assumes the role of RA@Home 1 if they are needed out of the building for an urgent issue. Larger halls have an RA@Home 2 nightly, middle-sized halls have an RA@Home 2 Thursday through Saturday, and smaller halls have no RA@Home 2.

While our residence halls greatly vary in physical layout, occupancy, and in terms of programmatic offerings, we can share some campus averages with you. RAs can expect to have anywhere between 28 and 68 residents.

• Campus average: One RA per 43 residents
• First year community average: One RA per 36 residents
• Upper year community average: One RA per 47 residents

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