<p>The following is from the perspective of UVA:</p>
<p>2nd years and up can be RA’s.
Application process begins in the spring smester and consists of two multiple choice (both testing your knowledge of RA policies and the school in general), recommendation letter from a current RA, and a couple of interviews.
RA’s do not get paid in general - you do get a free single room (typically not air-conditioned as that’s the case for most of 1st year dorms), and a few discounts (cable for instance is slightly cheaper). If you’re a senior RA, basically in charge of the whole building, then you do get a small stipend in addition to the free room.
Major duties include a fairly tedious first week (ranging from meetings with yoru residents over policies to otherwise getting them to go to certain required events), about once a month being on “coverage” for a weekend night (i.e. not leaving the building, and making three trips throughout the entire building at 10pm, midnight, 2am), plus hosting a minimum number of required “programs”, meditating conflicts, and writing up people for violating the rules.
RA’s do not have keys to anyone else’s rooms. Fire inspections at least at UVA are not done by RAs.
You do have to get to the building before your residents, and leave only after them, which does eat some of the vacation time.</p>