I hope that with this blog post I can explain a few things.
First of all, this website is the most important website for you now. It tells you relevant information about what you need to do before starting your studies.
I got this email that confirmed my study place:
Tuition & administration fee payment
Firstly, make sure you make payments to the correct accounts. It's a bit confusing, since they have two separate accounts for both payments.
You can find both of the accounts on this website.
The same email had information on the amounts I was to pay to each account. The admissions fee is a one time payment, whereas the semester fee is a fee you pay twice a year.
You should attach your information to the payment (name, surname, study programme, year). I actually forgot to do that... but I sent them proof of it via email (to admissions@rsu.lv) and it got handled really quick:
Study contract
13 days later (once I had sent the payments), I received the study contract email.
I will say, the study contract signing was such a hassle... What I did step by step:
1. Downloaded the Study Contract (attachment titled my name in the email) to my laptop
2. Printed out two copies.
3. Signed both contracts (both had two signatures, so four total signatures)
4. Went to the post office and got one big envelope. Put both study contracts in the envelope and wrote the International Admissions Office address on it:
Rīga Stradiņš University, 16 Dzirciema Street, Riga, LV-1007, Block K, Room No. K-218
5. Sent it :)
You will receive one of the contracts signed on Orientation Week!
Orientation week
I got a lot of emails after this about starting studies, but maybe the most important one was about the orientation week.
It had the timetable for the orientation week, as well as information about what to bring with you there. There was also information about events ISA would be hosting for the week. (I really recommend going to each! Met my boyfriend there :D)
Would I say orientation week was useful? The first few days definitely. You'd get familiar with the people in your group. You will be seated with your group for the presentations and therefore get to mingle a little bit. It's really easy to make some friends that way. But if you don't instantly click with your group mates, just go to the ISA events!
Orientation week is hosted in the main RSU building, 16 Dzirciema Street. You can see how to get there from this youtube video I made :)
Honestly on my orientation week I spent all my nights out partying and making stupid decisions... Haven't had a drink of alcohol since LOL!
Precourses - are they worth it?
Uhm.... no.
Hate to say it but I swear, you can get such a better grasp on the first semester subjects by literally going on YouTube.
I skipped half of the precourse lessons because I just didn't see any use in them. Waste of 200€!
It is very nice that RSU offers them, but I think what they taught just didn't end up really helping me in my courses.
I would recommend watching some Amoeba Sisters youtube videos to remind yourself on some basic biology! They're so good at explaining the concepts in a way that makes sense.
I would also recommend downloading Anki on your laptop for free. I have a few blog posts about how to use Anki in medical studies:
- Using Anki in medical studies (General advice, card types)
- How I study for Anatomy (How I use Anki specifically for anatomy)
- My first Anatomy Colloquium - How to study (Detailed explanation of the anatomy exams)
What do I need to get?
I actually made a separate post about all the things you need for your first semester. You can read it here!
It includes study materials, apps, lab coat/scrubs
Timetable
The week before my studies started everyone was so confused as to which classes would be in person, would you need a labcoat, etc. I've written more about this topic here.
I've also compiled my ratings and thoughts on first semester courses in this post. But some courses are different now (e.g. Latvian and Latin are combined to one course). But many of them still apply, like anatomy, physics, chemistry, e.g.
I've also made a separate post about things I wish I knew before my studies at RSU. You should read it here :)
I wish you luck on your studies, and if you have any questions, feel free to message me on Instagram! I try to check my DMs quite regularly.
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