Technology & Student Accounts

Rush Medical College Student Technology Requirements and FAQs

All Rush Medical College (RMC) students are required to own BOTH a laptop and an iPad, and a pair of wired headphones. 

The system requirements outlined below are absolute minimum requirements for your devices. Since these devices will be used across all four years of the curriculum, we recommend that your devices exceed these minimum requirements for an optimal experience.

¹ Only genuine, U.S.-English, French, Portuguese, Swedish, and British versions of Windows Operating Systems are supported. Our required software cannot be used on virtual operating systems such as Microsoft’s Virtual Machine, Parallels, VMware, VMware Fusion or any other virtual environments.

² Only genuine versions of Mac Operating Systems are supported. Server version of Mac OS X is not supported.

³ Only genuine versions of iOS are supported. iPad must not be jailbroken.

Microsoft Surface Devices, Netbooks, Chromebooks, and Android Tablets unfortunately do not fully comply with the technology platforms RMC uses in the curriculum.

Any pair of headphones will work, so long as they are wired with a mini plug (3.5mm). Some of our exams feature audio and video information. The testing software RMC uses strictly controls the wireless connections available to your devices while a test is in progress, which prohibits the use of Bluetooth headphones.

Microsoft Office 2013 and 2016 (PC) and Microsoft Office 2011 and 2016 (Mac) are available for free, along with other software packages, to RU students here. You must have your Rush email address set up in order to claim the free or discounted software.

We will provide instructions for installing other software and accessing other systems you will need during orientation.

Students are responsible for having both a functioning laptop and iPad that meet the system minimum requirements throughout the entire RMC curriculum. As such, we recommend that you have a contingency plan in case one or both of your devices need to be replaced at some point during your time at RMC.

For your laptop, you may choose to purchase a manufacturer’s extended warranty (e.g., AppleCare, although this policy does not cover accidents such as drops or spills), a retailer’s supplemental coverage (e.g., Geek Squad Protection by Best Buy), or third-party insurance (e.g., SquareTrade). If you elect to pursue one of these policies, please read the terms carefully so that you are clear about what is and is not covered.

Your iPad mini 4 comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary software support starting the day you receive your iPad. We encourage you to extend your coverage for your iPad mini 4 by purchasing Applecare⁺, which will provide two years of hardware repair and telephone technical support as well as coverage for two incidents of accidental damage. If you would like to purchase Applecare⁺, please visit an Apple Retail Store (bring your iPad) or call (800) 275-2273. Since these iPads are purchased by RMC, the typical 60 day retail purchase window does not apply, so, if interested, you should purchase Applecare+ by September 30.

Finally, you may also choose to create your own insurance policy by, for example, reserving some of your books and supplies allowance from your financial aid package to ensure that any future technology mishaps are not an undue burden.

Your devices are your own property. RU and Rush University Medical Center do not support hardware that is not owned by Rush. Information Services has a help desk (help@rush.edu; (312) 942-4357), which can offer assistance to students/faculty/staff with connection problems to any Rush-wide systems (e-mail, RUConnected, Blackboard, Rush wireless networks, etc.). The Office of Medical Student Programs assists students in connecting to RMC-specific software (e.g., Examsoft, Oasis), and the McCormick Educational Technology Center (METC) can assist students with University-owned systems (e.g., Blackboard).

If you have any additional questions, please email Bill Fleming, Director of Medical Student Systems, at Bill_P_Fleming@rush.edu.

Student Accounts and Support

Students have a number of accounts to different systems at different times in the curriculum. The following grid provides information on support information for the various accounts.

MyRushPC

All students are given a virtual desktop account upon matriculation to RMC. MyRushPC provides you with a “virtual” Rush workstation, which you can access from almost anywhere. Once logged in, it provides you with the look and feel of a Windows 10 desktop which has Microsoft Office 2010. It will also provide you with space to store documents. MyRushPC also allows for remote EPIC access, since the desktop is technically on the Rush campus. Additional questions regarding MyRushPC can be directed to the Information Services Help Desk: help@rush.edu; (312) 942-4357.