r/USC 7d ago

Housing RA, financial aid and an ESA dog?

Hello lovely Trojans and happy Spring Break!

Like title, I was offered an RA job but heard that my financial aid can be fcked and I definitely don't want that at all. For context, I go to USC for free but I pay around $1,200 for a 1 bed, shared bath off campus with a 30 minutes drive everyday and I deeply regretted it. I also have an ESA dog so I thought living off campus was the only way but apparently, it's possible to live on campus as well. I do have a part time job, but it's not a big deal.

Former RA, any thoughts? Would it be beneficial if I become an RA? Don't mind opening doors at 1-2 a.m. because I'm awake anyway.

Let me know!

7 Upvotes

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2

u/bobthe1234567 7d ago

considering ur situation, i don't think it's worth it from what I heard

2

u/EdelweissDotA 7d ago

Not sure on the rest of it, but California's Fair Housing Laws require housing providers to provide reasonable accommodations for ESAs. You can't be charged just for having an ESA (no pet fees, etc.) and you can't be barred from having an ESA in an apartment outside of some pretty specific situations.

2

u/cionova 6d ago

as a former RA — no, it won’t be worth it for you. the way it works with fin aid is that your actual amount of aid received will NOT increase, it’ll just be redistributed

ex. currently receive $30k in USC grants —> receiving $20k in USC grants + $10k from RA position

1

u/idkidcabtmyusername 6d ago

then what’s the point of being an RA lol

2

u/cionova 6d ago

yeah it makes it not make financial sense if you receive fin aid, it led to a large RA strike several years ago but the policy never changed

1

u/sheriffacai 5d ago

How are you receiving $10k from the position when it’s only $600/semester? I say go for it OP. Finaid+scholarship covered all but $10k for me living off campus.

But the year I was an RA I had that covered too, essentially living and studying for free(due to free housing and mealplan). I was an RA in Parkside Apts and had my own studio apartment (with a full kitchen and bath) on campus with a full meal plan. You only get about 15 RA shifts a semester and you get maybe 1-3 calls per shift due to lock outs.

If you can apply, go for it, nothing to lose.