Be a Graduate Resident Advisor
Graduate Resident Advisors (GRAs) are live-in role models, guides, and resources for the students who live in MIT’s Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups (FSILG), undergraduate residence halls, and graduate residence halls. GRAs work to foster a supportive, safe, and positive living environment built upon shared community standards and mutual respect.
GRAs reside in one of MIT’s undergraduate residence halls or one of the fraternities, sororities and independent living groups (FSILGs) located in Cambridge, Boston, and Brookline.
As both mentors and educators, GRAs encourage personal growth, provide outlets for managing stress, and facilitate positive interpersonal relationships. GRAs are expected to spend about 10 hours per week related to their position. This varies according to student concerns and programming.
All GRAs are required to complete mandatory training (August 2026).
- Further the mission of MIT, the Division of Student Life, and Residential and Community Life, as a live-in paraprofessional.
- Engage as members of a cluster or house team whose charge is to support and enhance the residential living and learning environment.
- Foster a safe and inclusive community among the residents by building awareness and understanding of individual identities.
- Build relationships with all residents, house team members, and other stakeholders within the MIT community
- Serve as a supportive mentor and role model through relationships that promote growth and development through their college experience.
- Provides residents with care, support, and resources when addressing urgent matters.
- Provide residents with programming, resources, and positive learning experiences so they can thrive at MIT
A qualified candidate must possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education prior to the start of their appointment and be enrolled as a full-time graduate student throughout their appointment period. A candidate that attended MIT as an undergraduate will not receive an appointment to their own FSILG or a house they have lived in.
If you are an incoming graduate student, your application will not be reviewed until you are officially enrolled and your status is updated as ‘Eligible to Register.’
Employment is contingent on the successful completion of a two-tiered background check, consisting of an HR background check, and an internal MIT IDHR and OSCCS check. There is a space on the application to disclose any IDHR or OSCCS history that may appear on the check.
- Eligible for GRA positions in Houses and FSILG residences
- Must have completed one semester at MIT
- Eligible for GRA positions in Houses and FSILG residences
- Must have completed one semester at MIT
- Must be eligible to work on campus (such as a full-time student in F-1 or J-1 student visa status)
- Currently employed on-campus for 10 hours or less per week at a job/TA/RA role
Fellowships that require performance of services in return for funding are considered employment hours. International students in F-1 or J-1 status are limited to a total on-campus employment, combined of all work at MIT, to a maximum of 20 hours per week during fall and spring semesters.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to your ISO Advisor.
- Eligible for GRA positions in FSILG residences
- Must be enrolled full time in a graduate program
Non-MIT international students are not eligible to apply.
| December 2025 | 1 – Monday | 2026-27 GRA Application Opens |
| January 2026 | 5 – Monday | Priority Application Deadline at 9am for Round 1 Consideration |
| 12 – Monday | House Teams will begin the Screening and Interviews Process for Round 1 GRA Candidates | |
| March | 11 – Wednesday | Deadline to Accept Round 1 GRA Offers by 12pm |
11 – Wednesday | Priority Application Deadline for Round 2 Consideration (9am) | |
| 13 – Friday | House Teams will begin the Screening and Interviews Process for Round 2 GRA Candidates | |
| May | 5 – Tuesday | Additional GRA Candidate Screening and interviews proceed on a rolling basis as necessary |
| 8 – Friday | Deadline to Accept Round 2 GRA Offers by 9am |
All applicants should complete the online application, which includes a mix of multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and two 250-word essays. Applicants are also required to submit a professional reference.
The interview process then begins with an asynchronous interview — a brief, seven question interview to learn more about you as a candidate. Individual Houses and FSILGs conduct their own interview process and make recommendations to the Undergraduate Residence Life (URL) and FSILG offices in mid-March.
You can learn more about being a GRA and the application process at our virtual info sessions held November through January. If you have any inquiries regarding the position, you can contact beagra@mit.edu.
Applying to become a GRA is a major life decision, not simply because of the impacts you will have on the lives of students at MIT, but because of the impact this position will have on your life. What follows are some commonly asked questions about the GRA position. As you will find, some questions will only be able to be answered once you have started the interview process and you are meeting with particular communities. However, if you do have a question you would like us to help clarify before engaging in the interview process, please contact us at beagra@mit.edu
You are welcome to apply, but you will not be considered until your status shows that you are fully enrolled. This usually happens after the Round 1 priority deadline or later in the Spring.
As part of the GRA application process, applicants are required to have a Professional Reference and/or their Academic Advisor submit a reference form on the applicant’s behalf. In their initial application, applicants will provide the name and email of their Academic Advisor and Professional Reference. Once an applicant has submitted their application, the candidate’s Academic Advisor and Professional Reference will receive a link to the Reference Form to complete.
The person who completes your GRA Professional Reference portion of your application should speak to your leadership experience as well as your ability to connect with the diverse undergraduate student body. They should highlight instances where you have served as a positive mentor, worked effectively on a team, and supported a student or peer through a stressful situation.
The person who completes your GRA Academic Advisor reference should attest to your ability to take on the roles and responsibilities of the GRA position and fulfill an average of 10 hours per week while maintaining satisfactory academic performance.
Please note, a candidate’s application is not considered complete until both the Academic Advisor and Professional References have been submitted. Therefore, if you wish to have a completed application by the priority deadline, you must submit your application in advance with enough time for your references to fill out the google form.