As freshman anxiously await the outcome of their Washington University Student Associate applications, they look to join an exclusive club that comes with an extensive commitment.

An online application for interested students was due Feb. 21, and individual interviews for applicants will begin on March 3. Group interviews will be held the weekend of March 27-30.

Though WUSAs are most well-known for their work with the first-year student experience, the program, consisting of upperclassmen of all years, has tangible benefits for its participants as well.

“The work that the program does in regards to leadership and professional development are fantastic, and it gave me a starting ground from which to begin finding my strengths and professional working styles,” senior Reggie Gacad, chair of WUSA recruitment and community development, said. “The program instilled in me a love for student affairs which I am now pursuing as my career.”

WUSAs represent 26 states and four foreign countries. Residents of California and Illinois are most frequent in the 2013-14 crop, with 14 and 13, respectively. Though many come from different backgrounds, the overall WUSA community is a big reason why many enjoy the experience.

“The First Year Center does a good job of building the WUSA community as a whole; they do a good job of building your team. There’s an incredible amount of support,” sophomore Jordan Finkelstein, a WUSA on Lee 1, said. “The WUSA community is very close…a lot of the ideas we have come from collaborating and bouncing ideas off each other.”

While many freshmen may know their WUSAs as the sophomores who bring them desserts, the time commitment is heftier than most realize.

“We don’t just bake and make friends with new students,” Gacad said. “A lot more thought and intentionality go into being a WUSA. From the meetings to trainings to planning sessions, WUSAs take on a lot when they take on this role.”

The WUSA experience begins well before classes start; all WUSAs report to campus about a week before orientation begins for training and team-building activities. The bulk of a WUSA’s role comes as an academic resource and mentor for first-year students.

“It’s kind of a heavy time commitment the first few weeks of school because you’re on the floor a lot. You’re helping with registration for the first time and helping with adding and dropping [classes],” Finkelstein said. “But it’s a fun time.”

Despite the expectations of the job, many, like sophomore and Lee 2 WUSA Celia Hensey, find the experience rewarding for the skills they gain.

“I’ve learned how to lead,” she said. “I’ve learned how to work within a team. I’ve learned how to build relationships with people, and I’ve learned a lot of really valuable time-management and programming skills.”

“I really love—we have WUSA Wednesdays every week when I spend two hours on the floor,” Hensey added. “We bake a cake, and no matter how crappy and busy my week has been, those two hours are the best two hours of my week.”

With reporting by Kimberly Henrickson, Zach Kram and Sahil Patel.