RA Selection FAQ

What is an RA (Resident Assistant)?
The Resident Assistant (RA) position is a unique student leadership opportunity at the University of Southern California. RAs serve as resources, role models, and peer educators to residents. RAs work collaboratively as members of an RA team including a Residential College Coordinator (RCC) and, on some teams, a Graduate Residential College Coordinator (GRCC) to create a vital and engaged living-learning community. Together, the RA team provides events and services that foster the holistic development of members within our USC residential community.

How much time does the position take?
The RA position is unique in that it is a live-in position. On average, there are 8–10 structured and scheduled hours per week (e.g. attending meetings), but additional responsibilities take up at least another 10–12 hours a week. There will be a few weeks that may require more than 20 hours, including move-in week, training, etc.

Do I have free days?
RAs are expected to spend a significant portion of their time in the community. The specific expectations are that RAs notify and get approval from their supervisor for any extended period of time away from the residential community. This is to make sure our communities are adequately staffed in case of emergencies.

Will I have to work weekends?
RAs are required to work several weekend emergency response (ER) shifts throughout the course of the semester, and must be around the building on occasional weekends which are “all-hands on deck” days.

Do you have to work the CSC?
No, but part of the RA responsibility is creating a great working relationship with their CSCs and other Housing employees. We are a team that helps create a great living experience for the residents.

How much of the position will focus on conduct?
While it tends to be the most visible, conduct is only a small part of the many RA responsibilities.

Can I have a social life with this position?
Yes, in fact we encourage it!

Can I just do it for a semester?
Unfortunately, no. RAs are hired for the entire academic year. It would be unfair to the staff team and residents to switch RAs during the year.

When does summer training start?
SLD usually starts approximately 2.5 weeks prior to the halls opening for Fall Semester.

What do you do during SLD?
SLD is an intense two-week period where RAs attend sessions on topics including residential experience and engagement, emergency preparedness, campus resources, residents’ needs and how to meet those needs, confronting conduct situations, resolving roommate mediations, and much more. Time is also spent bonding with other RAs and your building team. Most RAs find this a very beneficial two weeks! Read more about SLD here.

What if I’m studying abroad in the year I want to be an RA?
You can still apply, but you will not be able to be offered a position unless a suitable position opens up in the spring. If you are deemed eligible, you would be placed in our alternate pool and would be considered with any other eligible candidates.

What is the process for being a summer RA?
All summer RAs must be a current RA in order to apply. The Summer RA process is completely separate from the main RA Selection process.

Can I apply if I am a Ph.D. student?
Unfortunately, Ph.D. students are not eligible to participate in the Resident Assistant position. USC’s Graduate School has informed us that due to the time constraints and intense demands of Ph.D. study, Ph.D. students at USC are not eligible to serve as Resident Assistants.

Can I apply if I don’t live in the halls or if I never lived in the halls?
Yes, we encourage any full-time USC student who is interested to apply.

Does my GPA have to be great?
RAs are required to have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 2.5 semester GPA (3.0 for graduate students). RAs must be enrolled as full-time USC students during both semesters.

Will being documented for something in the past impact my chances of being hired?
Being documented in the past can, but does not automatically exclude you from being an RA. The committee looks at each student’s discipline file individually and makes an assessment based on a number of factors, including severity and number of violations, time since the violations occurred, and community involvement since they occurred. We try to look at the situation as a whole and not attribute the situation as the only representation of that student.

What if I’m studying abroad in spring when interviews are happening?
You can still apply. Our team will work with you to conduct your interview(s) on Zoom.

How much do RAs get paid?
RAs receive a furnished room or apartment in USC Housing and the RA Cardinal Meal Plan issued by USC Hospitality.

What impact will being an RA have on my financial aid?
Please visit our Financial Aid & the RA Position page for details. We encourage you to contact the Financial Aid Office if you have specific questions and to make sure your financial aid application for next year is complete with no outstanding requests for information.

What are the housing options for RAs?
RAs receive a furnished room or apartment in one of the USC Housing facilities. This housing can be a single room, one-bedroom apartment, or two-bedroom apartment (shared space, own bedroom). Multi-bedroom Apartment RAs have a single bedroom in this shared living space and may share with two other roommates in the other bedroom(s). These RAs are provided a limited time period to request roommate(s) for these shared spaces, as long as the roommates requested are current USC students and do so within the timeframe established by ResEd and USC Housing. McCarthy Honors RAs will not have the ability to request their roommates.

Is free parking a benefit of the RA position?
The Office for Residential Education does not cover any parking-related costs incurred by RAs, including fees to park while attending SLD. RAs should visit the USC Transportation website for all information regarding permit parking and daily/hourly parking. RAs should please be mindful of the start and end dates of permits.

How can I make sure I get placed in a specific residential college or community?
The RA Selection Committee will take into account which residential student population a candidate would prefer to work with; however, we place candidates in the location we feel is most effective in order to build a strong team for that hall or community. Ultimately, preferences are considered, but not guaranteed.

My login name isn’t working properly. What do I do?
Make sure you are using your USC Net ID (Shibboleth login). If you do not currently have a USC email, log in through the green button and create an eRezLife account. If you are still having trouble, please email RAselection@usc.edu and be as specific as possible about your concern.

What if I have been an RA at another institution or in another department? Should I apply as a new or returning applicant?
If you have never been hired as an RA for the Office for Residential Education, you should apply as a New Applicant.

Can I start my profile at any time?
Yes, you can start your eRezLife profile page at any time before the application opens. These are demographic questions.

What if I don’t have a GPA yet?
If you are a first-year or transfer student, please wait until you receive your final fall semester GPA, as long as you receive it before the application deadline. You should be able to fill out the entire application and save it until you receive your GPA.

When will I find out if I got an interview?
You will be notified through the eRezLife application portal.

When will I know that I have the position?
Final decisions are made in February.

In collaboration with the USC Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS), we do our best to work with all RAs approved for housing accommodations. All accommodations must be approved with OSAS prior to RA selection and placement to be considered.

Please submit your application for OSAS Registration and all required documentation by Monday, January 4, 2027. Submitting all materials by this date ensures OSAS has adequate time to review your request in advance of the RA selection and placement timeline. Early submission is recommended, as it supports a timely review of accommodation requests.

Requests for specific locations or rooms are not considered in housing accommodation requests. OSAS-approved accommodations received after RA selection and placement will be prioritized as RA spaces become available, but cannot be guaranteed. We will check with USC OSAS for documentation for all housing accommodations.

As part of the Resident Assistant (RA) Selection process, you will be asked to provide written responses to application prompts. These responses provide the RA Selection Committee with an opportunity to learn more about your candidacy for a student leadership position that enhances the USC experience for our residential Trojans.

The Office for Residential Education recognizes that technological advancement may impact the way in which candidates engage with each component of the RA Selection process: written application, Part I interview, and Part II interview.

The RA Selection Committee echoes the guidance of the USC Career Center in that “we recommend that you approach your use (if any) of AI tools with a critical mindset. While AI has increased the efficiency of how we work, these tools should not serve as a substitute for your own voice and efforts.”

Written and verbal responses provided to the RA Selection Committee should abide by the Academic Integrity policies presented by the University. Failure to adhere to these policies may result in removal from the RA selection process.

Finally, the USC Career Center has helpful guidance on how AI may be appropriately used during the course of your candidacy.