Resident Assistant Selection Process for 2018-2019
Short-Answer Supplemental for New Candidates
*Please complete and attach to your official application on our JobX online application. Please use Times New Roman, Size 12, Black font for your responses*

  1. Please describe why you are interested in serving as a Resident Assistant for 2018-2019.
  1. What do you see as the most important responsibilities of an RA? What situations do you feel most able to handle as an RA? What situations do you think will be more difficult?
  1. Cite a positive experience you've had with or observed about an RA that most stands out to you.
  1. If we were to speak to a former supervisor of yours, what would they tell us about you as an employee? What would they cite as your strengths and areas for improvement and growth? If you have never had a supervisor, think about a former coach or teacher.
  1. What kinds of things frustrate you? How do you handle your frustrations?
  1. What do you believe a balanced existence for a Swarthmore student looks like, and how will you embody this for your residents?
  1. Being an RA can be emotionally and socially draining; the position adds another layer of responsibilities to the already-busy life on a Swarthmore student. Please reflect on (a) how you currently manage academic, extracurricular and personal commitments to maintain personal wellness and (b) how you anticipate handling the additional responsibilities of the RA position. Are there any lifestyle changes you would need to make in order to accommodate life as an RA?
  1. As an RA, you become a role model. What does being a role model mean to you? What does it mean to be a role model within the Swarthmore Community?
  1. A major component of the RA position is to properly refer any concerning issues involving your residents to the proper college officials. This is done to (1) ensure students receive the support they need to succeed, and (2) to ensure that College policy is being properly followed. Please speak to your willingness to refer residents to various campus resources (e.g. Class Dean, Office of Student Engagement, Public Safety.) How would you approach a situation where you need to refer your resident to a campus resource, but the resident does not want you to?
  1. Discuss your comfortability with handling situations that involve alcohol or drugs. If you were an RA, what would be your approach to handling a situation where residents were drinking in your floor lounge?
  1. Diversity and inclusion is an important value of both Swarthmore and the Office of Student Engagement. How does diversity and inclusion impact your own Swarthmore experience?As an RA, how could you promote diversity and inclusion in your community?
  1. CANDIDATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING ABROAD OR AWAY: How have you acclimated to your new environment? What challenges do you think you would have upon returning to campus as an RA? How have you grown as a person thus far by participating in your abroad experience/being away from campus, and how will your growth inform your ability to be an RA?