<p>OK, I understand. Thanks for the clarification. </p>
<p>I’m not an RA, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I think RAs get their room (which is always a single? or just in dorms that offer singles?) and a freshman sized meal plan for free. I don’t think they get an additional stipend. Becoming an RA is a competitive process, so it’s by no means guaranteed, though I think good candidates usually get placed. Being an RA is a lot of work, and if you don’t like it you’ll probably be absolutely miserable, so don’t base your decision to apply just on cost. Students can apply to be an RA after their second year, so all RAs are current third or fourth year students. The application/interview process is sort of confusing (at least I get confused whenever my friend, who’s applying this year, tries to explain it to me), but in the end if you’re chosen you are assigned a house to be the RA for. You can accept the position in that house or turn the position down. You can’t be an RA for any house you’ve lived in or even for parts of the building(s) you’ve lived in. I think they make an effort to match RAs with houses so that the personalities match, but it doesn’t always work out that way.</p>