2026 Summer Resident Assistant (SRA) Application

Welcome & Attestation

Thank you for your interest in the Summer Resident Assistant (SRA) position at Stanford University. Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for about 100 available positions, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

The SRA role offers an excellent opportunity for those interested in residence life, summer programs, and pre-collegiate residential programs. We encourage you to review the job description and FAQs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities and the skills you will develop while working as an SRA.

We value your authentic voice in your application and short-answer responses. Therefore, all applications must be written by you personally. The use of AI and/or failure to uphold the University Honor Code and Fundamental Standard in drafting your application is strictly prohibited and may lead to disqualification.
This may also result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

By submitting your application, you attest that it is your original work and that you have not used AI to generate any part of your responses.

We look forward to hearing from you!

I attest that AI was not used in the creation of this application and that my materials uphold the University Honor Code and Fundamental Standard.

Application

Welcome to the Summer Resident Assistant (SRA) application for Stanford Summer Session! Applications are open to current matriculated Stanford students only.

To prevent loss of data, we recommend copying and pasting your short answer responses from a separate document while keeping the word limit in mind. Your responses will not be saved if your browser is closed or the application times out.

Position Description: https://summer.stanford.edu/employment

Application Questions:
The questions are listed here for your preparation process. Applicable questions and boxes will appear in this form based on your previous responses.
There is a 300-word limit per question.

What are your anticipated commitments for summer 2026? Please include a description and hours per week.
Using bullet points, please list any relevant work experience you have had as a Student Leader, Resident Assistant, Teaching Assistant, teacher, mentor, tutor, summer camp counselor, volunteer, etc.
Stanford’s Protection of Minors policy outlines expectations for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all youth participating in University programs. As an SRA working directly with high school students or living in close proximity to minors on Stanford’s campus, what do you see as some of the challenges of working with this population, and how would you approach those challenges?

For new candidates:

As an SRA, you are a leader among your residents. Reflect on a significant experience that has shaped your understanding of leadership. How did this experience influence your personal growth, and how do you plan to leverage your leadership skills to support your residents and create a positive living environment?
Summer Session policies are designed to support student safety and community wellness. SRAs play a crucial role in upholding Stanford policies with students in residence. Describe a time you were required to uphold an unpopular rule, policy, or expectation. What did you learn?
Describe a dorm program you have participated in or implemented during your time at Stanford. Please include the dorm community name, the location, and the approximate date. What did you enjoy about this program? Did it build community among participants? If yes, how? If no, why not? Would you recommend implementing this program in your summer dorm? Why, why not, or with what modifications?

For returning staff member candidates:

Why are you interested in returning to the SRA position for another summer, and what specific experiences or lessons from your previous term do you hope to build upon in this role?
Reflecting on your past summer as an SRA, please provide examples of how you contributed to fostering a sense of community and inclusivity within the dorms.
What challenges did you face in your previous summer as an SRA, and how did you overcome them? How will you use these experiences to better support residents in the upcoming summer?

The questions are listed here for your preparation process. Applicable questions and boxes will appear in this form based on your previous responses.

Personal Information

Legal First Name

Preferred or Chosen First Name
If you do not have one, please just enter your legal first name.

Legal Last Name

Gender

Stanford Email

Stanford ID Number (SUID)

Phone

Where do you call home?

Will you be at least 18 years old as of June 16, 2026? (Summer residential staff must be at least 18 years old.)

Yes, I will be at least 18 years old.

Are you legally authorized to work in the U.S.?

Yes

No

Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship (for example, H-1B) for employment at Stanford University?

Yes

No

Listserv/Newsletter: On which listserv(s) did you hear about this position?

Other: What other ways did you hear about this position?

Background Information

Major(s) or Probable Major(s)

Are you a former High School Summer Session student?

Yes, I am a former High School Summer Session student.

No, I am not a former High School Summer Session student.

Indicate the year(s) you attended High School Summer Session.

Are you a former residential Summer Session staff member?

Yes, I am a former Summer Session staff member.

No, I am not a former Summer Session staff member.

When did you work as Summer Session residential staff?

Summer 2022

Summer 2023

Summer 2024

Summer 2025

In which summer dorm(s) did you work?

Are you a former ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA)?

Yes, I am a former ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA).

No, I am not a former ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA).

When did you work for ResEd as a Student Leader?

In which dorm(s) did you work?

Are you a current ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA)?

Yes, I am a current ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA).

No, I am not a current ResEd Student Leader (RA or ETA).

In which dorm do you currently work?

Are you graduating from Stanford in 2026?

Yes, I am graduating in 2026.

No, I am not graduating in 2026.

In which quarter will you graduate?

Winter 2026

Spring 2026

Please list the month and year your undergraduate degree will be conferred.

Are you planning to co-term during the 2026-2027 academic year?

Yes, I am planning to coterm in 2026-2027.

No, I am not planning to coterm in 2026-2027.

Will you be abroad in Spring 2026?

Yes, I will be abroad in Spring 2026.

No, I will not be abroad in Spring 2026.

Program Preference

Summer Session is hiring Summer Resident Assistants (SRAs) to work with University or High School Level students. We invite you to indicate an interest preference.
In the University Level program you will be required to work 20 hours a week.
In the High School program you will be required to work 30 hours a week.
Note: current first year students (rising second years) may only apply to work with the High School Level.

Preferences are not guaranteed and placement is decided by the professional staff.

I am interested in working with either population

High School Level

University Level

Length of Contract

Desired length of SRA contract (check all that apply)

8 weeks (through August 16, 2026)

10 weeks (through August 31, 2026)

Application Questions

Please respond to each question below. There is a 300-word limit for each question.

In responding to these questions, use examples from your Stanford experience or time during college as much as possible. Applicants in their first year at Stanford may use experiences from high school as needed.

My summer 2026 commitments/internships/study/employment (not including the SRA role) will total:

Using bullet points (or a new line for each entry with “-”), please list your anticipated summer commitments/internships/study/employment (not including the SRA role). Include a brief description and hours per week.

Using bullet points (or a new line for each entry with “-”), please list any relevant work experience you have had as a Student Leader, Resident Assistant, Teaching Assistant, teacher, mentor, tutor, summer camp counselor, volunteer, etc.

As an SRA, you are a leader among your residents. Reflect on a significant experience that has shaped your understanding of leadership. How did this experience influence your personal growth, and how do you plan to leverage your leadership skills to support your residents and create a positive living environment?

Summer Session policies are designed to support student safety and community wellness. SRAs play a crucial role in upholding Stanford policies with students in residence. Describe a time you were required to uphold an unpopular rule, policy, or expectation. What did you learn?

Describe a dorm program you have participated in or implemented during your time at Stanford. Please include the dorm community name, the location, and the approximate date. What did you enjoy about this program? Did it build community among participants? If yes, how? If no, why not? Would you recommend implementing this program in your summer dorm? Why, why not, or with what modifications?

What is the name/title of the program you described above?

Stanford’s Protection of Minors policy outlines expectations for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all youth participating in University programs. As an SRA working directly with high school students or living in close proximity to minors on Stanford’s campus, what do you see as some of the challenges of working with this population, and how would you approach those challenges?

Why are you interested in returning to the SRA position for another summer, and what specific experiences or lessons from your previous term do you hope to build upon in this role?

Reflecting on your past summer as an SRA, please provide examples of how you contributed to fostering a sense of community and inclusivity within the dorms.

What challenges did you face in your previous summer as an SRA, and how did you overcome them? How will you use these experiences to better support residents in the upcoming summer?

Special Populations

Summer Session serves a specialized, undergraduate population in the International Honors Program (IHP). IHP is a selective, 8-week program created through a collaborative admissions process with our designated university partners from around the world. IHP students are high-performing, talented, and demonstrate a history of academic success. The International Honors Program combines top-notch academics with specialized extracurricular activities created especially for this population. IHP students live in an exclusive residential environment, forming a community of dedicated international students. Residential staff interested in this program should have experience or interest in working with international students. Those with study abroad experience are highly encouraged to apply.

Note: Stanford Summer Session will fund 10-week housing coverage for SRAs who work with IHP and need to remain on campus for weeks 9 & 10, even though their hourly appointment is for 8 weeks.

Are you interested in working as an SRA in the International Honors Program, which ends Sunday, August 16, 2026?

Yes

No

The Stanford Summer Fellows Program (SSFP), serves rising sophomores who are part of the FLI community. 50 students will be participating in this 8-week program in Summer 2026 and will be housed together in a Summer Session community. Three Summer RAs will be designated to work with this group of students. These SRA’s duties will vary slightly from the rest of the SRA cohort. They will spend 10 hours/week on traditional SRA responsibilities (late-night shifts, dorm programming, staff meetings, etc.) and 10 hours a week on programs and activities that support the SSFP program. All compensation and training is the same as what is provided for the other Summer RA positions; the weekly hourly commitment remains 20 hours.

Note: Stanford Summer Session will fund 10-week housing coverage for SRAs who work with SSFP and need to remain on campus for weeks 9 & 10, even though their hourly appointment is for 8 weeks.

Are you interested in working as an SRA serving the Stanford Summer Fellows Program, which ends Sunday, August 16, 2026?

Yes

No

Please respond to the two prompts below.

Please share why you are interested in serving as an SSFP SRA (200 words or less.)

Please share your understanding of some of the unique needs of this cohort and how you might support them in the SRA role. (200 words or less.)

Reference Information

Applicants are required to submit information for one reference. References do not need to be Stanford affiliates, but should be able to speak to the applicant's skills for the position. Examples of references include professional staff, faculty, supervisors, and Resident Fellows. References should not be friends or family. If you are a current or past residential student leader, your reference must be from your Resident Fellow or Residential Education supervisor.

Summer Session will directly email your reference with a short form that shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete.

First Name

Last Name

Email

Relationship to Applicant

Employment History

List your present or most recent employment first. Enter N/A as needed.

Employer #1

Employer Name

Job Title

Start Date

End Date

Street Address

Hours Per Week

City, State, Zip

Last Supervisor's Name

Phone

Describe Your Responsibilities:

Reason for Leaving

May we contact this employer?

Yes

No

Employer #2

Employer Name

Job Title

Start Date

End Date

Street Address

Hours Per Week

City, State, Zip

Last Supervisor's Name

Phone

Describe Your Responsibilities:

Reason for Leaving

May we contact this employer?

Yes

No

Employer #3

Employer Name

Job Title

Start Date

End Date

Street Address

Hours Per Week

City, State, Zip

Last Supervisor's Name

Phone

Describe Your Responsibilities:

Reason for Leaving

May we contact this employer?

Yes

No

Resume
PDF documents are preferred.

Refer a Friend (optional)

Do you know someone who would be an amazing SRA? Let them know about the position! They'll receive an email with a link to the SRA job description. The email will also contain your name and email (as listed in this form) letting them know that you referred them. You may only enter one person. If you'd like to refer more people, please email them directly to encourage them to apply.

Your friend's first name

Your friend's last name

Your friend's email