RA Application Process

Thank you for your interest in joining our student staff! Resident Assistants are the premier leadership and employment opportunity on-campus that allows you to work where you live, utilize flexible hours, take advantage of Cornell’s behind-the-scenes opportunities, and meet more people than ever.

Complete all four steps to be eligible for employment.

Step 1: Review the Resident Assistant job description and the list of pertinent dates

Step 2: Attend one mandatory Information Session (see below for dates, times, and location)

Step 3: Complete your application by midnight on Friday, November 1st, 2024. The application consists of:

1. RA Application Form
2. GPA check and Cornell College conduct authorization form
3. One RA Applicant Reference Form

Step 4: Schedule your interview

1. New applicants will have two (2) interviews: Individual and Group. 
   1. Sign up for your Individual Interview. Bring your About Me poster.
      
   2. Sign up for your Group Interview. Sign in to your Cornell google account when you use this form.
2. For Returning RA Applicants, schedule one (1) interview: Sign up for your returning RA interview.
   
3. Add these interviews to your personal calendar.

 Optional:

1. Review your cover letter and resume with the staff at the Berry Career Institute.
2. Discuss any financial impact the job may have with the staff in Financial Aid.
3. Review the interview questions

Mandatory information session options

All individuals interested in the RA position must attend one of the following information sessions to ensure you understand the nature of the job and to answer any questions you may have. Attendance is taken. All sessions are in Durham classroom, located on the second floor of the Thomas Commons. Sessions are offered at the following times:

• Monday, September 23, 2024, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 17, 2024, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 25, 2024, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, please email Nicole Casal (ncasal@cornellcollege.edu) for alternatives.

Scheduled individual interviews

An interview time must be selected prior to the application deadline to ensure professional staff can manage their schedules accordingly.

• For new applicants, individual interview times are scheduled Wednesday, November 13th - Friday, November 22nd, 2024 between 10:30am and 3:30pm. First year applicants, we’d like to learn more about you through an About Me poster. Please be prepared to present using this template: About Me poster template
• For returning applicants, interviews are scheduled Monday, December 2nd - Friday, December 6th, 2024 between 10:30am and 3:30pm.

This is a professional interview so please prepare and dress accordingly. List of questions to expect during interview will be posted soon.

Mandatory group process

All new applicants for the RA position must attend the in-person group process. This is a casual group activity so please dress comfortably. Group process will take place on:

• Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in Hall-Perrine (TC)

Applicant notifications of decision

All eligible applicants will be notified whether hired, wait listed, or removed from the applicant pool on:

• Tuesday, February 18, 2025 by 5 p.m.

Applicant acceptance of offer

Applicants who receive an offer must notify the office of their acceptance by:

• Friday, February 28th, 2025 by 4:30 p.m.

For any questions regarding the 2025-2026 RA Selection process, please contact Nicole Casal. 

Spring pre-training

Hired Resident Assistants are pre-trained in the spring to prepare for the fall semester. Please mark these trainings on your calendar.

1. Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. RA Meet & Greet. Location to be announced.
2. Student Leadership Summit. Dates to be announced.

Optional resume and cover letter help

We encourage you to visit the Berry Career Institute for help in creating your resume or help in writing your cover letter. We also encourage you to visit the Writing Studio for help in refining your cover letter. Your cover letter should address why you are interested, what you can bring to the position.

Optional interview skills help

We encourage you to visit the Berry Career Institute for help in preparing for your individual interview.

Optional review of financial assistance

The resident assistant position can impact a student's financial assistance. The impact, if any, of this position depends on several factors.

Students interested in the RA position are encouraged to contact the Financial Assistance staff to discuss their specific situation. It is important to note that the Financial Assistance staff can only offer projections about likely impact, if any, on the student's financial assistance but cannot provide definitive information until the student has reapplied for financial aid. As such, students interested in the RA position are encouraged to reapply for financial aid as soon as possible. Need to know how the process to reapply for financial aid works? 

Please note: Students receiving full funding from other sources are not eligible to receive the room credit but can receive the RA credit. If a student receives gift assistance that results in an overpayment of direct charges for any academic year, Cornell reserves the right to reduce the amount of any Cornell gift aid by the amount of the overpayment.

Our office believes in the educational opportunity of this process. In that spirit, below are the questions for your interview. Please be aware it is not typical to have access to the questions prior to an interview.

 Interview Questions (New RAs)

1. What role do you like to play on a group project or a team?
2. If you have multiple commitments in your day-to-day life, how do you prioritize these commitments?
3. What are your favorite ways to unwind?
4. When confronted with a team conflict, what steps do you take to resolve the conflict? What support do you need?
5. Tell us about a time when you worked with others who had different experiences, opinions, or beliefs than your own. What did you learn from this?
6. Every floor includes a variety of identities, perspectives, personalities, and opinions. If hired, how will you navigate connecting with each resident?
7. Which aspects of the RA role come most naturally to you and which ones present the most challenges?
8. As an RA it is important to establish welcoming spaces for residents. What ideas do you have for creating those spaces?
9. Scenario: You’ve recently spent 3 days working on your bulletin board. You put up the board on Monday night and, while doing rounds on Wednesday night, you notice it has been vandalized. You begin to investigate and find out a close friend of yours who lives on your floor was involved in the incident. What do you say to your friend? What actions would you take following the conversation? What changes if the person is an RA, not just a close friend?
10. Do you have any updates regarding your placement preferences marked on your application? (Preferences about building, floor, gender, class year, etc.)
11. Do you have any questions for us?

 Interview Questions (Reapplying RAs)

1. Why did you reapply?
2. What role would you play as a returning RA on staff?
3. Describe the role you played in your building staff team this year
4. Tell us about one of your proudest RA moments this year.
5. Tell us about a challenge you faced as an RA this year.
6. In what ways have you served as a resource to your residents this year?
7. How have you been visible in your community this year?
8. How have you intentionally built relationships with residents?
9. If rehired, how would you improve in your position next year?
10. Scenario: At 12:15 AM on a weeknight, resident Avery comes to you with concerns about their roommate, Skyler, who has been drinking heavily and just passed out. Avery admits they argued earlier, and Avery has been staying out of the room most of the evening to avoid more conflict. You know Avery and Skylar have a history of conflict regarding Skyler’s drinking. You have attempted mediation, but Avery has recently decided they want to move rooms.
    In the room, you find Skyler lying on their back on the bed, breathing shallowly and appearing pale and sweaty. Avery stays at the doorway, looking hesitant to come closer, and a few residents passing by seem worried.
    As Campus Safety and EMS are on their way, Avery seems agitated by the attention and the situation with Skyler. Meanwhile, several other residents have gathered outside, sharing their concerns about Skyler’s well-being.
11. Do you have any questions for us?