Campus Life
FILE 01
Yumi Hirato
YUMI HIRATO2nd Year, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
From Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Lives in lodgings / 20-minute commute
Flow of the Day
Today, 1st and 2nd periods were compulsory specialist subjects, in 3rd period, I was a supporter (ES*) in English class, and 4th period was English class. The morning periods were specialist subject classes. Depending on the week and the class, we might have a test or an assignment, so on the bus on the way here this morning, I prepared by re-reading the resume (in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, there is only limited time for independent study, so I recommend making the most of any snippets of time you have to study). In 3rd period, I attended the 1st Year English class as a supporter, which is known as ES. As well as supporting the students in the lower classes, I am also able to learn extra things for myself, and there is the added bonus of being paid, so being an ES has benefits both from the financial aspect and from the aspect of my own study. My English class in 4th period is a small class of students in my own department, so I felt free to interact with them by exchanging opinions and presenting in English. After class, I attended practice in the Tea Ceremony Study Club to which I belong. At the moment, because of my experiment report commitments, I am only able to attend every second week, but that just makes me more determined to engage fully in practice.
* ES (Educational Supporter)...Student staff who support lecturers and other students in classes. They provide back-up for the running of the class and the learning of their lowerclassmen, such as responding to questions in class and helping to prepare teaching materials.
Schedule on a typical day
- Extracurricular Plans
- Tea Ceremony Study Club
Why I Recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
It is so different from other universities! Ritsumeikan University has a study abroad program just for the college!
The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences has overwhelmingly fewer students than the other colleges, so the classes are more in-depth and you can receive more thorough support. For example, the laboratories used by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are beautiful and new and have equipment and an environment that are more than adequate. In terms of support outside of class, in the research laboratory of the professor who is my advisor, we often go out to dinner together, which are an invaluable opportunity to mingle with my upperclassmen and the professor. There seems to be an impression that you can’t study abroad if you’re studying pharmacy, but Ritsumeikan University has a 1-month study abroad program for the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences. It is held during spring break, so it doesn’t affect your regular classes. I actually took part it in the program, visiting the research laboratories of an American university and its affiliated hospital. I believe that the opportunity to gain that kind of experience while studying pharmacy is a major advantage of Ritsumeikan University’s College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
FILE 02
Daiki Kihara
DAIKI KIHARA3rd Year, Department of Pharmacy
Laboratory for Molecular Medical Science
From Kyoto City, Kyoto
Commutes from home / 80-minute commute
Flow of the Day
I had a test for Drug Information Studies in 1st period, so I woke up early and quickly headed off to school. After class in 2nd period, I had lunch with a friend in the student cafeteria. After class in 3rd period, I went to a golf driving range near Minami-Kusatsu Station with a friend to practice. I started golf as a hobby recently and now I am obsessed. After that, I went home before heading off to my part-time job. There’s a tendency to spend too much money when you become a university student, so I recommend being conscious of saving money.
Schedule on a typical day
- Extracurricular Plans
- 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Golf practice with a friend
7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.: Part-time job at restaurant
Why I Recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
It’s not all study! You can enjoy yourself to the full with the facilities there!
There is a swimming pool on campus, which I can use once a week. There are also barbecue facilities for students’ use. On the study front, if there is something you don’t understand in class, you can go to your lecturers’ research laboratories and they will help you generously. I was admitted through a designated high school recommendation, so I was worried about the study aspects in the beginning, but I took advantage of the kakekomidera* and other study support services, and I have been able to keep up properly with classes with peace of mind.
*Kakekomidera...A “tutorial center” where students can come for extra help with their studies in basic science subjects such as chemistry, mathematics, and physics. It is held every week. Graduate students and other teachers provide careful instruction and advice that is easy to understand.
FILE 03
Daichi Saito
DAICHI SAITO2nd Year, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
From Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Lives in lodgings / 10-minute commute
Flow of the Day
In the morning, I had specialist subjects one after the other, with Pharmacology in 1st period and Organic Chemistry in 2nd period. During the lunch break, I had a relaxing lunch with friends in the cafeteria, while I also made progress on my practicum report in my free time. 4th period was English, where I studied how to write a scientific paper on my own topic. After 4th period, I caught the inter-campus shuttle bus to the Kinugasa Campus! I take part in the Competitive Karuta Club. Competitive karuta is all about concentration! When it finishes, I am exhausted. I don’t get home until about 11:00 p.m. I get ready for the next day’s classes and make sure I get a good night’s sleep.
Schedule on a typical day
- Extracurricular Plans
- Karuta club from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Why I Recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Excellent support programs. You can enjoy your university life with peace of mind!
Firstly, there is the diversity of the people that only a general university can offer! Ritsumeikan University has 14 colleges, and the students come from all over. There really are so many different people and I am always surprised by the differences, even between fellow Japanese students. The campus is very large and the facilities are excellent. There are many extracurricular clubs, so you are sure to find something that you want to do! Also, Ritsumeikan has Orientation Conductor organizations*, which are groups of students in 2nd Year and above who provide support for 1st Year students to help them get more out of their university life. The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences also has an advisor program, in which professors are assigned to students from 1st Year to give them various advice. There are also opportunities to mix with students in higher year levels who belong to the advisors’ research laboratories. People who are worried about whether their life at university will go smoothly can put their minds at ease.
*Orientation Conductor organizations...Peer support for new students in various areas, such as study and campus life, to help them make a smooth start to their university life.
FILE 04
Yuki Uto
YUKI UTO3rd Year, Department of Pharmacy
Clinical and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
From Yamatokoriyama, Nara
Commutes from home / 90-120-minute commute
Flow of the Day
In the morning, I wake up a bit early at 5:30, and during my commute, I will do some review of one subject or another or I will nap. Around 8:00 a.m., I do some study or work on an assignment, and classes start at 9:00 a.m. I spend most of the afternoon and evening on assignments and leave the university at about 9:00 p.m. It depends on the day of the week, but I get up, leave for university, and get home at almost the same times most days. In addition to working on assignments and reviewing what we did in class, I have a part-time job on campus, extracurricular club activities, and I attend a public service course on campus.
Schedule on a typical day
- Extracurricular Plans
- Part-time job on campus in 5th Period on Wednesdays
Extracurricular club (Pharmacy Study Society) on Fridays
Why I Recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
People often say that when you study pharmacy, there is no time for part-time jobs or extracurricular club, but that is not the case.
The fact that you can take part in club activities, have a part-time job, and take other courses besides your regular classes “at your own pace” is a major attraction of this college. As well as there being a lot of reviewing and assignments in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, I also have a long commute, so it is difficult for me to have a part-time job outside the university. However, there are many diverse jobs for students on campus, such as ES and library staff, so I can also do that at my own pace. The public service course, which is usually done over a year, has a curriculum that accommodates the busy schedule of the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, so I was able to seek advice about what kind of pace I should take it at. The College has an environment that allows for many different things to be done “at one’s own pace,” so if there is something outside of class that you want to try, I recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ritsumeikan University.
FILE 05
Tomoya Yoshikawa
TOMOYA YOSHIKAWA2nd Year, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
From Kobe, Hyogo
Commutes from home / 100-minute commute
Flow of the Day
Today, I didn’t have class until 2nd period, so I was able to take things slow in the morning. I went to school a bit early and did some study in the library before class started. At lunch, the cafeteria was very crowded, so I have trouble finding somewhere to sit. Pathophysiology in 3rd period is a specialist subject. It is really difficult, but I worked hard to keep up. After 4th period, I caught the train straight to OIC for club. I belong to the cheer squad. It is so much fun to practice in such a new and beautiful environment! I have class from 1st period tomorrow, so I will do some study in the train home and got to bed early once I get home.
Schedule on a typical day
- Extracurricular Plans
- 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Club activity at OIC (Cheer squad)
Why I Recommend the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The fulfilling campus life on a large campus with people from many different places!
I don’t think there is another university with a pharmacy faculty that has as large a campus as this one. There are many extracurricular clubs and students gather here from all different parts of Japan, so you can enjoy a fulfilling campus life outside of your studies.
