Useful, but taxing - Resident Assistant Penn State Employee Review

3.0
30 Nov 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Food and housing are provided free of charge! You also receive a small tuition stipend. The culture amongst RAs is very friendly and you form closer bonds than I have in any other job. I had a wonderful coordinator in my second year who has become a friend since graduating (your coordinator will make or break your experience)!

Cons

The job is unpaid. The hours worked and the cost of room and board do not line up and (depending on building) you pay for laundry out of pocket. This can be very frustrating when considering the extreme differences in quality depending on what building you are placed in (access to amenities, air conditioning, privacy, etc.) as there is no difference in compensation between those who are placed in less updated areas and those in renovated areas. Your outside work is limited, so acquiring income while working in this position is extremely challenging. Depending on what area you are placed in, the job can be physically challenging due to a lack of elevators and large buildings.

Explore other reviews about Penn State

5.0
27 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They were very flexible with hours and it was a fun place to work. There was lots of downtime to do other things while on the clock, and an e-bike to get around campus quickly.

Cons

Toward the end they got pretty strict about keeping your computer on a certain tab to take online tickets, and you could get in trouble for not doing it. It’s tedious work overall.

4.0
26 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

flexibility. I'm on a fellowship I won with a great advisor. It is not so good for others.

Cons

An inherently liminal position with severely reduced benefits.

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