Resident Assistant (RA) Selection FAQs
Resident Assistant (RA) Selection Information
Resident Assistant Selection Timeline beginning November 2026
*Note, students doing a Spring semester away program can apply by December 1st and interview before the semester ends.
- Saturday, October 31 - New and returning RA applications available online. Use your Messiah login information to sign in and fill out the application. You will need to send your references the link given in the application.
- Tuesday, November 3 - First RA Info Night @ 9:30 p.m. in Boyer 131
- Monday, November 30 - Abroad RA Application Due @ 11:59 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 2 - Second RA Info Night @ 4:30 p.m. in Boyer 131
- Monday, December 7 - Friday, December 11 - Applicant Interviews for those going abroad
- Friday, January 1 - Returning RA application due by 11:59 p.m.
- Thursday January 7 - Returning RA Interviews
- Thursday, January 14 - New RA applications and references due 11:59 p.m.
- By Wednesday, January 20 - Applicants are emailed information confirming their Carousel Night date and additional helpful information.
- Friday, January 22 - RA candidates invited to interview notified
- Tuesday, January 26 - Carousel Night #1 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. All candidates are required to attend one of the Carousel Nights.
- Wednesday, January 27 - Carousel Night #2 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. All candidates are required to attend one of the Carousel Nights.
- Thursday, January 28 - RA Candidates deadline to sign up for interviews
- Monday, February 1 - Tuesday, February 16 - RA candidate interviews
- Friday, February 26 - Candidates will be notified of the official decision via email around noon.
- Friday, March 5 - Deadline to accept position offers.
- Wednesday, April 14 - RA Passing The Torch
Be an RA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We have two specific requirements that are unique to the RA role. First, since RAs are asked to support the spiritual growth of their residents, we do ask that all RAs have an active Christian faith. Secondly, since Messiah's housing is gender specific, RAs must share the same gender as their assigned residential area including the use of pronouns to match their assigned area. This makes gender identity a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification. For more information about either of these requirements, we encourage you to reach out to your Residence Life Educator.
Lots of things! RAs receive free room (valued at approximately $6,100), a stipend totaling $350, and have the option of earning their ELI credit through the RA experience. RAs also receive professional development and personal investment from their RLE and fellow RAs. RAs do significant and satisfying work, getting to use their God-given gifts to serve others on campus. RAs benefit from the personal growth that comes with working on a team, and are often able to transfer their RA experience to their future career endeavors.
The RA Application goes live on November 1st. Applications and references are due Monday January 15th, 2026, at 11:59pm. Following application submission, there will be group interviews, called Carousel Nights, held on Tuesday, January 27th and Wednesday, January 28th from 7pm-9pm. Each applicant will be assigned to attend one of those two nights via email. Following the completion of Carousel Night, applicants will be individually interviewed by two Residence Life Educators between February 2 - February 17, 2026. Interview signup information will be available via email by January 23rd. Lastly, decisions letters will be sent via email on Friday, February 27th, 2026.
You may apply. We will factor in how close your GPA is to our requirement of 2.5 and your specific circumstances into determining if we are able to consider you for a position. If you'd like to talk to us about your specific situation, please email Karen Harrington, Interim Director of Residence Life at kharrington@messiah.edu. You can also stop by the Housing and Residence Life Office in Eisenhower 166.
You can always contact your RA or Residence Life Educator with additional questions you may have about the RA role or application process. Our Residence Life Office, located in Eisenhower 166 is also open weekdays from 8am to 5pm for you to drop in with questions. Questions can also be directed to our office email at Housing@messiah.edu.
Yes! We require students to complete a semester at Messiah before they start serving as an RA so you will be good to go!
Submit your application and make sure your references are in by November 30, 2026. Interviews will be scheduled before the end of the semester. Candidates who complete this process will still receive an email with our decision on February 26, 2027.