WUSA applications are now closed, as of Tuesday, February 13 at Noon CST.

Applicants will be notified whether they have moved on to the individual interview stage by Friday, February 16 at 5:00 PM CST.

1. Talk to support systems about the time requirements and experience

We encourage you to talk to support systems or family members regarding your decision to apply. We know that there are many factors that go into applying to a position and encourage you to make the decision with your campus or personal support systems. If you have any questions about the role, please reach out to Student Transitions & Family Programs or your current WUSA or TXSM.

2. Review the position descriptions and important dates here

We provide the position description and important dates ahead of time so you can fully plan and envision the scope and commitment required for the WUSA position. Please review the below documents to ensure that you have no conflicts. If there is an anticipated conflict, please reach out to Renaldo Luna Gacad, Associate Director.

3. What we are looking for in an applicant

All current Washington University undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the First-Year (FY) WUSA position. 

Current Washington University undergraduate students with either extensive international experience or experience transferring to WashU from another institution are eligible to apply for the Transfer & Exchange (TX) WUSA position. 

  • The ideal applicant:
    • Is approachable, dependable, dedicated, knowledgeable, respectful, empathetic, a conflict-resolver, an adept communicator, and a positive role model.
    • Exhibits leadership potential and takes initiative.
    • Displays a strong commitment to the University, the WUSA program, and STFP’s values.
    • Is committed to becoming informed and knowledgeable about the University’s academic policies, procedures, deadlines, and various advising systems.
    • Exhibits strong interpersonal and group presentation skills.
    • Possesses a genuine concern for others.
    • Has an open mind and a positive attitude.
    • Demonstrates the ability to work with a diverse group of people, including students, parents, faculty, and staff.
    • Is in good conduct and academic standing at the University.
    • Has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of the spring semester, or at the end of the fall semester if a first-year student. 
4. Ask us questions regarding the WUSA position

Student Transitions & Family Programs hosted a live virtual Information Session to introduce the WUSA role, explain the application and interview process, and answer questions. There were also three in-person Information Sessions in February.

WUSA Application Process

Our selection process is multi-step: (1) A Written Application and (2) an Individual Interview. Not every applicant will receive an invitation to interview. Below contains information regarding each step in the process.

To initiate your application, please complete all steps in Round One: Written Application. We will notify all applicants via email if they are or are not moving on to Round Two: Individual Interview.

Round One: Written Application

In order to apply for the WUSA position, you must complete all steps below. Applicants who fail to complete or pass one of the below steps will not be considered for the role.

Step One: Prepare a Resume and Cover Letter for the Written Application

A resume and cover letter prompt is provided. This prompt outlines how your resume and cover letter should be formatted and what information should be included. Please follow the prompt carefully. 

A few tips: 

  • Use the position description(s) to guide your writing.
  • Proofread your submissions. 
  • Have someone you trust review your resume and cover letter. 
  • Utilize the following service from the Center for Career Engagement for additional support:
  • Utilize services from the Writing Center for additional support.
Step Two: Ask Someone to Serve as Your Reference

The Reference Form should be submitted by your reference no later than Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

The person serving as your reference should be someone who can speak to your interpersonal skills and work style. Your reference should be a WashU faculty or staff member, current or former supervisor, high school instructor or staff member, or your current RA, WUSA, or TXSM. Family members or other WashU student leaders who are not your current RA, WUSA, or TXSM are not appropriate references for the WUSA position. If your current WUSA or TXSM sits on the Student Executive Board, they may not serve as a reference.

Please send your reference an email with the following information in advance so they have time to complete it:

When you submit your online application form, you will be asked to submit the name, position title, email address, and phone number of your reference; make sure you have this available when completing your application. 

It’s also helpful to send your reference a copy of your resume and a brief summary of why you are applying for the position and what you hope to gain from the experience.

Step Three: Submit Online Application by Tuesday, February 13 at Noon, Central Time.

The application cannot be saved and must be completed in one sitting to avoid losing your information or the form timing out.

We recommend waiting to submit your application until after you have attended an Information Session, as important information will be shared during this Session that will assist you in submitting a strong application.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming your application has been received and reminding you to send the Reference Form link to your reference. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your application was not received. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact Student Transitions & Family Programs.

Make sure to leave plenty of time to submit your application as they are time stamped and we are not able to accept late applications. 

Please note, we are not able to extend individual interviews to all candidates. It is important to put thought and effort into your written application.

STFP will conduct checks for academic and conduct standing

STFP will conduct academic standing checks which includes reviewing both semester and cumulative GPA. Applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and semester GPA of 3.0 or higher during semesters employed. We may additionally call four-year advisers regarding status. This includes reviewing educational records including institutional data, demographic information, courses, unofficial transcripts, and grades, and GPA. 

Additionally, Student Transitions & Family Programs collaborates with Student Conduct and Community Standards and the Office of Residential Life regarding student conduct standing. 

Lastly, due to WUSA’s status as mandatory reporters as a result of their role, Student Transitions & Family Programs coordinates to the Gender Equity and Title IX Compliance Office for instances of individuals who may not be able to serve as mandatory reporters.

Email notification for Round Two: Individual Interview

WUSA applicants will be notified via email on a rolling basis until 5:00 PM on Friday, February 16, 2024, if they are moving on to individual interviews. All applicants will be notified, so please check spam or junk mail if you have not received a notification by 5:00 PM on February 16, or email Student Transitions & Family Programs.

Individuals who are not invited to an individual interview may email our office to receive feedback.

Round Two: Individual Interview

WUSA Individual Interview Logistics and Information

WUSA applicants who move forward will be invited to sign-up for an individual interview with a student leader and a university staff member.

Sign-ups will be sent via email and applicants are required to sign up for a slot no later than Monday, February 19 at 8:00 AM to accept the offer for an individual interview.

Interviews will take place between Wednesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

Interviews are 20-minute behavior-based interviews where applicants will be asked to share examples of experiences or instances applicable to the questions. Applicants will also be asked to share personal reflection and understanding of the role and department. 

Information about Business Casual Dress

We ask applicants to arrive to their interviews in business casual dress. We recognize that dress codes are form of societal oppression and acknowledge that students must learn to navigate these expectations to be successful in future workplaces.

We use this as an opportunity for applicants to practice business casual dress during interviews for the future. We do not take applicant dress in consideration in the process.

We understand that not everyone may own business casual attire. We recommend you try borrowing clothes from a friend or checking SWAP located in the Gregg House storefronts. 

For examples of business casual attire, please see below:

  • Business casual attire includes clothing such as a dress shirt, khakis, a skirt, dress, dress pants, and closed-toed shoes.
  • Business casual does not typically include jeans, leggings, sneakers, shorts, and/or sandals.
Resources to Prepare for an Individual Interview

We encourage applicants to refer to the Center for Career Engagement for opportunities to practice interviewing skills.

One resource the Center for Career Engagement provides is Big Interview, an online portal that assists with various interview skills and techniques. As another resource, check out the tips around successful interviews skills which includes information about business casual dress.

Additionally, the Center for Career Engagement offers opportunities to schedule mock interviews through the Career Advisers.

Request for Accommodations

If you are in need of any accommodations during the application and/or interview process, please reach out to Maggie Hermann, STFP Administrative Coordinator and Accommodations Manager. She will work with you to determine the best path forward.

Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

  • Virtual interview request.
  • Reading and writing tasks.
  • Computer based tasks.
  • Physical tasks including walking or lifting.
  • Religious accommodations and observances.
Sample Questions and Reflections to Help you Prepare

Tell us about yourself. We will begin by asking you to share a little about yourself. This should be your 30-60 second elevator pitch: your year in school, what you’re studying, and campus or community involvement. This is an opportunity for us to really get to know you as an individual. We hope you can share meaningful aspects or insights into your life. Please note that STFP is looking for a diverse pool of applicants, so we want you to present your authentic and genuine self.

What is your understanding of the WUSA role and its time commitment? This question lets us know if you have read the position description. Before answering this question, you need to fully understand the WUSA position. You will also want to reflect on why you are applying for the role. Avoid cliché answers of “I want to help people.” Let the interviewers know more specifically why you want this position. This is an opportunity to explain not only why you want to be a WUSA but also what you can bring to the table. Did you have a positive experience with your WUSA or TXSM that inspired you to apply? Please share anything and everything that can give us a keen insight into your motivations for applying to the position while also demonstrating that you understand the role. 

Tell us about a situation you have been involved in where there were individuals who had different opinions than you. In this answer, the interviewers are trying to determine how you handle conflicts. As a student leader, you will be working many hours with people who will have different personalities and perspectives from your own and the interviewers want an honest assessment of how you handle these situations. Think about class projects or teams that you have been a part of, roommate conflicts, problems at work, or conflicts that have arisen with customers you have worked with in the past. Even if the example you give does not have a perfect ending or may show you were at fault, you can use this example to show what you have learned since then and the changes you will make in the future.

Describe a time when you needed to seek out academic help for one of your classes. What advice would you give to a student struggling academically? An important role of a WUSA is to direct their students to proper academic resources. Think about places or people you’ve gone for help or would go to if need be. The interviewers want to hear about your understanding of WashU’s resources and how students should access them, as well as the support you would provide for your students struggling with the academic transition. The adjustment from high school to college or from one higher education institution to another can be very tricky for many students. We want to hear about your experiences navigating your academic career at WashU since WUSAs play an important role in helping first-year, transfer, or exchange students access academic resources to find success on campus.

What questions do you have for us? Have 1-2 questions prepared for us. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and what you will be doing throughout the year. Is there something unclear about the position that you want some clarity on?

WUSA Individual Interview Questions

We encourage all applicants to review the WUSA Individual Interview Questions. Applicants should reflect on how they plan to respond to each question, while being mindful of the time each response is taking them. These are the exact questions that will be asked during the individual interviews.

We will also provide a copy of these questions to applicants during the interview.

Tips for success in the individual interview
  • If offered an individual interview, sign up for a time that works well for you and affords you time to travel and get settled for the interview.
    • We are not able to interview candidates who arrive late.
  • Confirm the date, time, and location of your interview.
    • If you request a virtual interview, please check the Zoom Link of your interview which is provided upon signing up.
  • Read through the position description.
    • If there is something you would like further clarification on, you can ask at the end of the interview.
  • Be thoughtful about how long each of your responses will be. The interview is 20 minutes, and we want to include time for you to ask us questions at the end.
    • If you take an excessive amount of time on the first few questions, you may not have enough time to answer all questions. 
  • Treat the WUSA interview as if it were a job interview – it is!
  • Be prepared 10 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.
    • If doing a Zoom interview, log into the Zoom session 2 minutes before the interview begins to ensure your technology is working.

Hiring Notification for WUSA Position

Email Notification of WUSA Selection

Applicants will be notified via email no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, March 1, 2024 if they have been selected as a WUSA, a WUSA alternate, or not selected.

All applicants will be notified. Please check spam or junk mail if you have not received a notification by the date and time above, or email transitions@wustl.edu.

Individuals who are not selected to be a WUSA or are selected to serve as an alternate may consider emailing transitions@wustl.edu to set up a feedback session.