RA Selection Process
2023/2024 Academic Year GRA and RA Position Information
Hello and welcome to the Residence Life Resident Assistant Selection Process! We thank you for your interest in the Resident Assistant (RA) position at Boston University and look forward to learning more about you.
RAs are important and dynamic members of our Residence Life team. RAs are stitched into our residential neighborhoods to ensure that a positive and healthy environment exists where students can live, learn, and thrive. Boston University’s RA Selection Process is an in-depth exercise through which we aim to hire the most qualified student leaders who will commit themselves to their communities, to their residents, and to our University.
In addition to Resident Assistant positions, graduate students are also eligible to apply for Graduate Resident Assistant (GRA) and Graduate Housing Assistant (GHA) positions. GRAs are graduate students with an earned Bachelor’s degree who serve in a “senior staff” role. In this position, GRAs assist Residence Hall, Area, or Assistant Directors in the training and supervision of the RA staff, as well as support students in residence and collaborate in managing residential operations. To apply, complete the RA application, and indicate your interest in the GRA and/or GHA position(s). You will be required to submit an additional essay. All graduate students are required to submit the Graduate and Doctoral Student Employment Authorization Form, which needs to be signed by the designated Associate Dean of your school/college and your academic advisor.
All candidates should thoroughly read the RA Selection Guide and Frequently Asked Questions document below, prior to submitting their application and going through the RA selection interview process. Candidates who are interested in being considered for the GHA position should read through the GHA Selection Guide below.
Completing the written application is your first step in our selection process. Once an application has been started, you will have the option to save it and return later to complete it. In order to be considered, completed applications for the late spring must be submitted in the online format provided, no later than Sunday, April 16 at 11:59 PM.
An application is complete once you have submitted the information included in the application and the following documents:
- Your cover letter and resume;
- Graduate and Doctoral Student Employment Authorization Form (only required for graduate and PhD students);
- An unofficial copy of your most recent Boston University transcript (Boston University students may obtain an unofficial copy of a transcript by previewing the transcript via the Student Link and saving as a pdf. Newly admitted graduate and transfer students can submit the most recent transcript from their current institution);
- Supplemental Essays (required if interested in a GRA, living learning community or specialty RA position);
- A Boston University School/College acceptance letter (if new to the University for fall 2023).
CGS students (who begin their Boston University career in January of 2023), newly admitted graduate students, and eligible transfer students should apply to interview during our late spring process. These interviews will take place April 29, 2023 from 8am – 6pm. The application for the late spring process will be available by February 17, 2023. Applications for the late spring process are due April 16, 2023 at 11:59 PM. CGS students are required to submit their BU transcript once spring 2023 grades are posted.
After the February 17th deadline, all completed applications will be thoroughly reviewed by a member of the Residence Life team. You will be contacted via email by April 24, 2023 with information regarding your interview schedule for Saturday, April 29, 2023. Candidates should hold from 8am-6pm on Saturday, April 29, 2023 for the RA interview process.
All candidates are responsible for reviewing the RA Selection Guide and RA Selection FAQ documents below. Graduate and Doctoral students are also required to review and complete the Graduate Employment Authorization form.
Graduate and Doctoral Student Employment Authorization
Should you have any questions, please contact us at reslife@bu.edu.