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The application deadline has
passed! Applicants will receive an interview notification
via email by January 21, 2008.
Read below for more information,
timeline, and job descriptions.
Thank you for
your interest in applying to be a new hall staff applicant
for the 2008-2009 school year. The positions included are
Resident Assistant and Theme Program Advisor.
If you are interested in a position for this school year, please check our Open Pool Applicants page.
If you are interested
in the Apartment Assistant position for 2008-2009,
please click on Apartment Assistant on the the left side.
On this page, you'll find Frequently Asked Questions, a selection
timeline, and links to download the application and the job
description. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact us using the "Contact Us" page link on the
top left.
Frequently
Asked Questions | Selection Timeline
Application/Job Description | Thoughts
of Current Staff
Frequently
Asked Questions
| Question:
In a typical week, how many hours will I have to work
as an RA? TPA? SC? |
Answer:
While there is no set time per week, on the average
an RA works 19 hours a week. This number includes mandatory
meetings on Tuesday nights from 7pm to 10pm and related
RA duties, including day duty, night duty, program responsibilities,
and other assignments per the job description.
Generally, TPAs can expect to work 19
hours a week as well in their job-related duties. |
| Question:
I applied last year to be an RA - do I have to submit
a new application and new essays? |
| Answer: Yes,
every year we change our application process and present
new essays. Therefore, we require that you complete a
new application each time you apply for a hall staff position.
Even if you applied in the open pool for this school year,
you will need to submit a new application. |
| Question:
What's this about the RA Class? |
| Answer: All
newly hired staff and alternates will need to successfully
complete the Residential Training Seminar as a prerequisite
of employment. The class will be offered on Monday 6:30-9:00PM,
Wednesday 6:30-9:00PM, and Friday 1:00-3:30PM. Students
MUST enroll in one section after being selected. Class
enrollment for credit is not mandatory, but successful
class completion is. |
| Question:
I need some help with my essays - who can I talk to? |
| Answer: If
you live in the residential halls, we recommend visiting
the Academic Services Center and the tutors that work there. Writing
tutors can help polish your essays and ensure that your
writing is up to par. If you live outside the residential
halls, you might want to consider asking your friends,
former RAs, and other people you know to read your essays
and offer comments. |
| Question:
Do I need to turn in an official transcript? |
| Answer: No, however you will need to turn in a transcript verifying
your grades. We accept Bearfacts transcripts, only if
your name is printed on the transcript (not hand-written).
To print out this transcript, go to http://bearfacts.berkeley.edu
and enter your student information. Then print an unofficial
transcript with the box checked for "Show Student
Name." Please note you must turn in a transcript
by the date indicated on the application or you will be
dropped from the process. Also note that you must have
a 2.3 GPA or higher to be considered for a position -
NO EXCEPTIONS. |
| Question:
In answering the essay(s), what should I write about?
|
| Answer: The essay question provides you the opportunity to share with us important information about you that might not be evident from other parts of the application. OSD appreciates the contributions each staff member makes to our inclusive residential community. This question seeks to determine an applicant’s experiences, achievements, interests, and potential to contribute to the diversity and vitality of the community. Follow the guidelines listed in the application pertaining to the format requirements of the answers. All work must be your own! |
| Question: Will the room and board compensation affect my financial aid package? |
Answer: It may affect your financial aid package. You will have to declare the compensation on your FAFSA. To find out more information about this please download the document below. If you have any questions about this, please contact: Michael Mathews, mmathews@uclink4.berkeley.edu, or at (510) 642-0617.
Financial Aid Memo (Word
Document)  |
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Selection
Timeline
• Thursday, November 1, 2007
New RA and TPA Applications Available
• Monday, December 3, 2007 New RA and
TPA applications due 5:00pm to ground floor RSSB
• Monday, January 21, 2007 Interview
Notification by e-mail
• Wednesday, January 23, 2007 Interview
Sign ups at ground floor RSSB 9am-5pm.
A printout of your Fall 2007 unofficial transcript (with student
name) must be submitted when you sign up. Interview Workshops
will be available on January 30th and January 31st at 7PM
for candidates offered an interview.
• Friday, Jan 25 - Sun, Feb 10, 2008
TPA Candidate Interviews Conducted
• Wed, Feb 6 - Sun, Feb 10, 2008 New
RA Candidate Interviews Conducted
• Wednesday, February 20, 2008 PA &TPA
Final Notification Letters Available*
• Friday, February 22, 2008 PA &
TPA Intent Form due by 5:00pm to ground floor RSSB *
• Wednesday, February 27, 2008 New
RA Notification Letters Available at ground floor RSSB *
• Friday, February 29, 2008 RA Intent
Form due by 5:00pm to ground floor RSSB *
• Sat-Sun, March 1-2, 2008 TPA MANDATORY
Training Weekend
• Week of March 3, 2008 First Meetings
of Residential Training Seminar
• March/April 2008 Spring Unit Orientations
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Job
Descriptions/Applications
If you are interested
in the job description or application, please click on
the appropriate
link below. Please note that descriprions may change for
the 2007-2008 academic year.
| Job
Descriptions |
| RA Job Description |
 |
|
| TPA Job Description |
|
|
| Application |
| New Hall Staff Application |
|
|
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Thoughts
of Some Past Staff
What
did you become an RA?
Because
I have always enjoyed planning things for people, and being
able to see that I have contributed to others having a
good
time. I also had a friend/mentor on my floor my first year
who was a third year student, and he was generous and kind
in helping all of us first-years with transitioning to
college with the knowledge and experience that he has gained,
and knowing
how much he was able to help me, I wanted to do the same
for others.
What is the best thing about being an RA?
Being
able to interact and learn from so many different kinds
of people, either fellow staff or residents, and to be
able to help those in need, to contribute to ensure that
residents can have the
best first year possible.
What
is the worst thing about being an RA?
Having
to juggle your time between academics, hall staff, work,
extracurricular activities, and personal life. But its
not
impossible; as long as you're confident that you can do it,
I believe that's all it takes!
Did you have to be on Hall Ass or a Health
Worker to be an RA?
No,
not at all; It helps though, to get to know a bit of the
workings of what it means to serve a diverse population.
If you get selected for an alternate position,
should you stick with it
or decline?
Its
up to you if you want to be available for it for not; from
past experience of other's I've talked to, the main dilemma
concerning
being an alternate is housing for the following year. If
you have friends you want to live with while you're not on
hall staff, discuss it with them and see what they think
about your situation, and find out if they rather have you
commit to living with them or not.
What
do I have to do while being "on duty?"
Let
in the SMs, break the SMs, doing rounds twice during the night,
and carry the pager at all times in case of need and being
able to respond quickly to any situation from lock-outs to
alcohol poisoning.
If something happens in the hall during your duty,
you should be the first one to know about it.
Do
I have time to get involved in anything else if I am
an RA? If so,
what else do you do?
Yes,
it is all in time management; I am currently taking 17 units
as an engineer while being hall staff, participating in a club
on campus, and working approx. 10-15 hours a week and still
manage to have some fun once in a while =). It is all about
what you know you can handle, and being confident in your ability
to handle it.
Why'd
you wait and not do RA sophomore year?
Well,
I didn't make it the first time around =), but I must say that
the extra year helped me a lot in understanding what communal
living means, as I was in an apartment during my second year
with some
floormates from reshall. Overall, the apartment experience
is a good one, and I can't honestly say whether being hall staff
of or living off-campus is better.
Was
is difficult to adjust to RA position from being a resident?
As
the posters stated: "its not just a job, it's a way
of life." I can tell you that being in the RA position
is A LOT DIFFERENT from being a resident, but don't forget
that you are essentially a resident too when you're hall
staff. With that said, I think that transition from being
a resident to being an RA is not awfully difficult, but you
will definitely need to put some efforts into transitioning
yourself, because no one else will do it for you. However,
the training you go through as an RA will help a lot.
What did you wish you knew then, that you know now?
Nothing;
I did my research and understood what I was "getting
myself into," and I highly encourage you to do the same.
GO TALK TO A HALL STAFF AND GAIN FROM THEIR INSIGHTS AND
EXPEINCE; I highly recommend talking to more than one staff
though, as everyone's experience is different.
What
is your favorite memory with hall staff?
Haha,
there are so many!!
What is your favorite memory with you residents?
Too
tough to answer...
What
is your some events or programs you planned for your
residents?
For CDAs: football game, pizza social, etc; the usual stuff
For Programs: roommate information program, poker night,
FREE
first-aid CPR training, etc
If
you have a comment of your own, feel free to contribute!
Even
if you don't know if you want to do it or not, apply!!
I applied my first year and didn't make it pass the interview
process, but the experience was immensely valuable for
when I applied again the next year.
-Vince
What
is the worst thing about being an RA?
The worst thing about being an RA is that, in the units,
you're responsible for two floors. And everyone knows,
you can't be in two places at one time. This makes it more
difficult to get close to your odd floor. Sometimes I wish
I had a room on both floors!
If
you get selected for an alternate position, should
you stick with it or decline?
If
you are offered an alternate position, its best that
you just stick with it. Many peope who are offered
an RA position
decide during the summer that they can longer make the
commitment for the up-coming year on hall staff. this means
that if you took the spring semester class as an alternate,
then you are put into a pool to be selected onto hallstaff.
iIf you aren't offered a spot the first time around, do
like I did my sophomore year. I applied "open pool," which
means that during the school year if an RA quits, you can
come into the hallstaff position mid-year. Its definitely something
to consider!
-Trey
What
is the worst thing about being an RA?
It’s very hard to know whether or not you’re
doing a good job - it’s not always obvious, and since
RAs tend to be perfectionists, it’s very easy to second-guess
yourself and make yourself needlessly feel bad.
What is your favorite memory with hall staff?
Driving to our retreat with a sign that said “Smile if
you’re not wearing underwear” then singing “99
bottles of…juice on the wall.”
-Casey
Can
you be involved in other organizations while being a RA?
While
being a RA can be very time consuming, I think that the key
is time management. Since a large part of being a RA is being
a resource to your residents, most Resident Directors actually
encourage their RAs to become involved in organizations on
Cal's campus. My RD really works with me whenever I have some
kind of time conflicts because of this reason (even though
events are usually scheduled around my RA schedule). I am
currently the Vice President of Undergraduate Affairs for
a business organization called the Haas Undergraduate Black
Business Association. In addition, I am employed as a Security
Monitor. So yes! It is definitely possible to be involved
in the community while being a RA.
-Louise
What
is the best thing about being a security coordinator?
You
work when you can work and make your own schedule, as long
as you meet deadlines and get your stuff done when it needs
to be done- you don't have to come in to work at a set time
everyday.
Do
you have time to get involved in anything else if you are
a security coordinator? Totally,
this year alone I've applied to dental schools and interviewed
all over the country, I have a girlfriend and hang out with
her a lot, I have an outside group of friends and we hang
out on the weekends, I still have time for my hobbies (not
as much, but it's there).
What
did you wish you knew then, that you know now? This
job is a lot more work than advertised.
-Jason,
SC
If
you get selected for an alternate position, should you stick
with it or decline? Stick with it! There are
a lot of changes in staff between March and August! Lives
change! Not to be biased, but some of the best hall staffers
are alternates. "Alternate" doesn't mean you're
unworthy. You got a score to be eligible, and it just depends
on how RD's pick their staffs if someone maybe with a lower
"score" than you got a position and you're an alternate!
-Sarah
What
are your some events or programs you’ve planned for
your residents? Sex games, trip to the Chocolate
festival at Ghiradelli Square, Trip to good vibes, a game
of Mission Impossible.
-Jessica
Do
you have time to get involved in anything else if you are
a RA? If so, what else do you do? Indeed!
There will be time for other commitments as long as you make
time. In fact, having activities aside from Hall Staff provides
a good balance and prevents you from becoming consumed by
the RA job. It is important to make time for yourself and
other interests that you want to pursue. Other commitments
I have are Californians, psychology research assistant, academic
obligations, personal life, friends.
What
don’t you like about being a RA? Oftentimes,
residents get mad at you for writing them up, and it's not
a personal thing, but all of a sudden you're the bad guy.
-Tanya
What
are your some events or programs you planned for your residents?
Weekly
Yoga class, Dodgeball Katrina Relief fundraiser, Newlymates
quiz show.
Do
you have time to get involved in anything else?
Of
Course. I work with the RSECS and Green Campus program as
well as CALPIRG, and I practice Yoga and am going for my certification
as a yoga teacher.
What
is the best thing about being a RA? The
fact that my job is to hang out with people, get to know them,
and do fun things with them.
-Rachael
What
is the best thing about being a RA? The
best part is knowing that even though you are only one or
two years older than your residents, you are in a position
where you can influence others in a positive way, and be someone
they can come to if they need advice or just want to talk.
What
is the most difficult thing about being a RA?
Managing
time between being a RA and everything else is difficult at
times especially when events conflict. However, it’s
not impossible and most of hall staff is involved either in
other clubs, jobs, or both. I also give campus tours and work
in Visitor Services aside from being a RA, and its definitely
manageable with classes. There is still time to relax and
hang out with friends, only not as much as before. Buy a calendar/planner,
and actually write stuff in it. That helps a lot.
-Teresa
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