RA FAQ

There are around 176 Student Living RA positions across North and South Campuses. This is based upon departmental operational needs for the given academic year.  

No, you may not. We do not collect specific placement preference information from our candidates. Student Living selects and places RAs based on departmental needs and considers the strengths and abilities of each candidate.  

While LLC/Theme Housing communities are within specific buildings, these may change from year-to-year, and one should not apply for these based on their current building placement.  

Yes, you may apply to be an RA if you plan on studying abroad. We ask you to share your possible study abroad plans within the RA Application. We do prefer that new RAs complete the full-year RA Appointment. However, planning to study abroad during your first year does not preclude you from being considered for a new RA appointment.  

Should someone receive and accept an RA appointment and then choose to study abroad, we ask that you communicate with student living professional staff to discuss these plans and how they may impact your appointment.  

Yes, you may apply for the RA appointment if you are planning on graduating after the Fall Semester. We do prefer that new RAs complete the full-year RA Appointment, however planning to graduate after the Fall Semester does not preclude you from being considered for a new RA appointment. 

Should they apply by the final application deadline, Student Living accepts applications from incoming transfer and graduate students who meet the minimum requirements. Incoming transfer/graduate students must provide proof of on-campus living experience and their current/recent institution grade point average (GPA) to be considered for the RA Appointment. These candidates should email Bram Stone prior to submitting an application with the identified documentation. 

• All applicants will receive an update in late January. This update will indicate whether a candidate will be moved forward within the interview process.  
• If one is moved forward to the individual interview experience, they will receive a general application update indicating this and will receive a separate email (@syr.edu) from a Student Living Residence Director to schedule said interview.  
• If one is not moved forward for the individual interview experience, they will not be considered for the RA Appointment for the Fall 2025 semester. Should Student Living determine a need to conduct interviews in Fall 2025 for the Spring 2026 semester, the team will first look to our initial applicant pool to conduct interviews in the Fall 2025 semester.  

• For those candidates who are moved forward within the process to the individual interview experience, they will receive an application decision by end of day Friday, March 7.
• Student Living will make first-round  offers for LLCRA appointments by end of day Wednesday, Feb. 26. If an LLCRA candidate does not receive an update on this date, they will be considered for the general RA appointment and will receive an update by end of the day Friday, March 7. 

• Candidates invited to interview with the Student Living team will be asked to complete a 45-minute Zoom interview between Monday, Feb. 3 - Tuesday, Feb. 11. 
• Interviews will be scheduled and hosted by a Student Living Residence Director and a Student Living graduate staff member or current resident advisor.
• Interview questions will be shared with candidates in advance of their interview. This is not so that individuals prepare scripted responses but so that individuals can have a better understanding of what to expect and prepare for regarding their interview experience.  
• Candidates invited to the interview stage of the process must complete their interview to be considered for the RA Appointment.
• After the conclusion of one’s interview, one has completed the application process for the RA Appointment.  

For the 2025-26 RA Selection process, all candidates must participate in an information session to be considered to have a complete application.

Information sessions will review position information and provide an overview of the selection process. They will help candidates understand the RA appointment and commitment prior to beginning the application process.

As of January 2023,  group interviews are no longer conducted. While Student Living previously conducted both individual and group interview experiences for candidates, Student Living has transitioned to only conducting individual interviews. Candidates who are invited to interview with professional staff only need to participate in that one interview to complete the RA Application process.  

Should you no longer wish to participate in the interview or be considered for the RA appointment, please email Bram Stone to be removed from the application process.   

Yes, if someone is not selected for a Theme Housing/LLCRA, they are also considered for the general RA appointment.  

After one submits their RA Application, one cannot update/change any part of their RA Application regardless of whether the deadline has passed. Individuals may not update their preferences for these areas or submit responses for these specific opportunities after their initial application submission. 

• Please note, the housing application deadline is hosted after the date that individuals moving forward within the application process will receive their final application decision.
• If one is not to receive an RA appointment and if living on-campus is required or of interest, candidates are always encouraged to make plans/take action to live on-campus for the coming academic year.
• If one completes the housing application/deposit and receives that RA appointment, the housing deposit will be refunded to the student's account.  

• Student Living is unable to share a definitive answer to this commonly asked question.  
• Student Living maintains an alternate list to fill vacant RA appointments throughout the summer and academic year. Individuals on the alternate list may receive an appointment even if they do not receive an initial appointment in March. Many current RAs have received their initial offer during the summer, fall semester, or for the start of the spring semester in the year following their application. 
• RA vacancies may arise throughout the summer and academic year because someone decides they no longer wish to be an RA, they choose to leave the University, are accepted to study abroad or graduate after the fall semester. If someone cannot fulfill their RA appointment for one of these or other reasons, Student Living will select alternates from the alternate list to fill the identified vacancy. Alternate offers from this process may be made through the spring of the forthcoming academic year.