Another PS question...

[altered states]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was wondering if it would be a good idea to include religion into my personal statement. It is part of the reason of the reason why I want to pursue medicine, but not sure how this will sit with the adcoms. Any suggestions?

 

[altered states]

bump...

 

[TooMuchResearch]

bump...

No 27 minute bumps. I don't know the answer to your question.

 

[familyaerospace]

I was told not to include or mention religion. However, I can tell you what I've learned from reading PSs, if it can help you honestly and strongly answer the question "Why Medicine?" consider using it. It probably shouldn't be your whole statement though and might even lead to some discrimination unless it's a religious school. I did read one statement from a NT who had some religious stuff woven into his PS.

Almost all followers of my religion are healers (it just comes with the territory), but I had other reasons for pursuing medicine and didn't use that as the reason. I certainly could have used it, but it would have put me way over the character limit and probably wouldn't have added much to my answer. Might have ended up being cliche too or given me other problems.

 

[Baron Samedi]

Mention how religion has been an outlet for community service and charity, but whatever you do do NOT say that God told you to become a doctor. In the same vein, don't talk about "callings", or "destinies", or anything like that.

 

[brandnew1]

It's your personal statement, so you must do as you see fit. if religion has played a huge role, then go ahead. However, you should understand that you run the risk of potentially turning someone off or rubbing someone the wrong way. It all depends how you phrase it though I guess.

If you're looking for a clear cut yes or no, then you probably won't find it. There are few hard and fast rules when it comes to abstract things such as these.

 

[altered states]

I was told not to include or mention religion. However, I can tell you what I've learned from reading PSs, if it can help you honestly and strongly answer the question "Why Medicine?" consider using it. It probably shouldn't be your whole statement though and might even lead to some discrimination unless it's a religious school. I did read one statement from a NT who had some religious stuff woven into his PS.

Almost all followers of my religion are healers (it just comes with the territory), but I had other reasons for pursuing medicine and didn't use that as the reason. I certainly could have used it, but it would have put me way over the character limit and probably wouldn't have added much to my answer. Might have ended up being cliche too or given me other problems.

thanks for all the replies. Religion is not the main reason for me, but i was just brainstorming and it was one of my bullet points. I guess I'll just see if I have room to include it, because although it is not my main reason it certainly is a significant one.

and baron, no God did not tell me to become a doctor lolol

 

[Hope0913]

Mention how religion has been an outlet for community service and charity

Good point, same thing i was thinking

 

[Baron Samedi]

thanks for all the replies. Religion is not the main reason for me, but i was just brainstorming and it was one of my bullet points. I guess I'll just see if I have room to include it, because although it is not my main reason it certainly is a significant one.

and baron, no God did not tell me to become a doctor lolol

The reason I mention it is that this last application season I helped do some pre-med advising and part of that included reading over PS's and committee LOR interviews, and I saw several PS's saying, "I prayed about it and God said to become a doctor" or something along those lines. The first question I asked in the interview was immediately, "So what if during MS2 God tells you to become a cafeteria lady(no disrespect to cafeteria ladies, btw)?"

The point wasn't to pick on the person for their religion. The point was that you need to convince the ADCOMS that you will be a good doctor, not that some other force(whether it be your parents or God) are driving you to the career.

 

[BrainPain]

What do you folks say about including religion if it describes your background and illustrates that some religous restrictions/stigmas were challenges that had to be overcome (before even thinking it was possible to become a doctor)?

Thanks.