Christian Pharmacy Schools

[dgroulx]

I noticed Triangulation's aversion to attending a Christian school of pharmacy. I'm curious as to other people's perspectives on this. My undergrad is from a small, private, Catholic school.

I have found that all the teachers have a caring attitude. They want you to do well, they will take their own time to help you through any difficulties you might be having in a class. The school does a lot of community service for the poor. There are Habitat for Humanity projects, raising funds in order to buy supplies for schools in depressed areas, etc. You were never forced into attending mass or anything.

I consider myself an atheist and I was very comfortable at this school. So, I applied to a couple of Christian pharm schools, Campbell U and Palm Beach Atlantic. My interview with Campbell is next week, so I'll be able to find out more about their school.

I will most likely still attend UF, because it will save me over 10K per semester.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[jdpharmd?]

I considered applying to Campbell, but they had pre-requisite classes of bible study. I don?t even know of a school around here that offers those types of classes. I went to catholic high school and loved it, but don?t really consider myself a practicing catholic. I haven?t been to church since they made me go in HS. I just kind of thought to myself that science and religion can sometimes conflict, and I really wanted just a straight science curriculum with no chance for bias (during school or after graduation). I was interested enough to request an application from Campbell, but that?s as far as I got. I don?t know anyone who goes there either, so I didn?t have a good idea of their curriculum/attitudes.

The first question that they asked me when I called to request an application was ?why do you want to go here??. I thought that their question was a bit premature since they hadn?t even send me their app materials yet, and I don?t know what kind of answer they were looking for, but if it was anything regarding me wanting to go to a religious school, then they are not for me. How many Christian pharmacy schools are there in the US? I would think that Loyola might have one, but of course they don?t. If they did, I would certainly consider going there?

Jd

 

[Triangulation]

Hey guys. I'm not averse to Christian schools. They're just not for me. As I would say, I'm not averse to east coast schools, I'd just as soon stay on the west coast. It just suits personal preference. I'm sure that Loma Linda will produce excellent pharmacists and compassionate care providers, that's just not my style of learning.

 

[phar]

I agree too...Religion Does Not Equate Healthcare

On the other hand, i have nothing against dgroulx choice of school...but you might have communications issues with your non-christian patients. Most pharmacist get to know their patients on a personal level during which the "differences" might come into picture and some patients may loose thier trust with the pharmacist.

But if you want to practice in a predominantly christian town you are actually better off going to a christian pharmacy school.

Yes, it is very much true that religious schools is where you get the most love.😍 As they believe in brotherhood & sisterhood. But you know wat i bet you wouldn't get much action from the opposite sex at a religious school. 😉


I think you might want to just agree with them if you are pressed for religious questions during the interview. If you tell them that you are an athiest, they might be biased and reject you.

Good Luck on your interview!

 

[Triangulation]

Originally posted by phar
If you tell them that you are an athiest, they might be biased and reject you.

[/B]

Yes, that would be unwise. On the other hand, I'm sure a sizeable contingent of the student body isn't that devout. Dunno, you could ask a Loma Linda Med student on one of the other forums.

 

[keiki]

i agree with everyone... i myself attended USF for my undergrad which is a jesuit school. i don't consider myself a practicing catholic, either. but what i did enjoy about the school was the attention you get from the small classes... i can't imagine going to a school where the professor doesn't even know your name...and, i dont' think that it being a jesuit school had any real impact on me as far as religion goes. we did have to take like a religion class and all, but it just makes you more well rounded..

 

[phar]

GEEZZZZZZZZZ....😳.......nobody even dared to post my thread....i guess i will delete it......there are hundreds of thousands of pharmD and pre-pharmacy students..SDN needs to do some advertising.....

 

[jdpharmd?]

I could be wrong, but I think that it's technically illegal to discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, race, creed, etc.. so being an atheiest (or anything else) wouldn't technically disqualify you, although I doubt that it's a good topic to bring up durring an interview. When talking about JOB interviews, it's IS illegal to ask questions regarding religion so don't worry about it then. Some interviewers still try to do it anyway and then come up with some other reason for not hiring the person, but that's just the world we live in.

Jd

 

[dgroulx]

I have several religion courses under my belt. I had religious requirements for my undergrad and they were easy A courses, which helped keep up the GPA.

I know not to say I'm an atheist during the interview. Campbell is my back up school right now. I have all the prereq's, but still lack a couple for UF which I have to take this summer. I'm planning on taking them, but what if I get in a car wreck or something? I have to have a good backup plan.

 

[jason UCSD2000]

originally posted by Phar

On the other hand, i have nothing against dgroulx choice of school...but you might have communications issues with your non-christian patients. Most pharmacist get to know their patients on a personal level during which the "differences" might come into picture and some patients may loose thier trust with the pharmacist.

I can't see how this could possibly be an issue if you decided to go to a christrian pharmacy school. I guess it would if you decide to practice in a christian-only pharmacy. Religion issues could come up with your patients regardless of what school you went to or what religion (if any) you believe in.

 

[Modnar]

Originally posted by phar
On the other hand, i have nothing against dgroulx choice of school...but you might have communications issues with your non-christian patients. Most pharmacist get to know their patients on a personal level during which the "differences" might come into picture and some patients may loose thier trust with the pharmacist.

As an atheist, I can tell you that religious differences only become an issue if a person chooses to make them an issue. Even if someone did walk up to you and ask what religion you were, you're under no obligation to tell them. I simply say that it isn't any of their business.

Atheists understand that there will always be ignorant people who choose to look down on us because of our beliefs. Such people will likely not be swayed by the fact that we had a Christian education. I speak from experience here, as I went Catholic schools.

 

[legrita]

Hello peoples!
I am a devout Christian and am excited about the opportunity to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University. Because I am a Christian, it doesn't mean that I am not qualified to work at Walgreens or any other non-religious based organization. I feel that if I have the knowledge, I am qualified. Me being religious brings another element to the table. It helps me to focus on others, when I 'd simply like to focus on my personal gain. So, dg-- if you feel more comfortable going to a Christian school, go. If you don't want to take out extra loans, don't. A Pharm.D. degree is a Pharm.D. degree. I feel that what better qualifies students are what they decide to do during and after their training: grades, residency, service, boards, etc.

Rache

 

[phar]

Originally posted by jason UCSD2000
Religion issues could come up with your patients regardless of what school you went to or what religion (if any) you believe in.

YEA RIGHT. They don't unless you are in some small feaken town where everything is connected to thier church and so they expect the pharmacist to be a christian or else you are in trouble. Big cities careless about religion issues so they don't come up at all.

 

[phar]

Originally posted by legrita
It helps me to focus on others.

How does religion do that for you? Have you ever read the "pledge" for new pharmD students at any school. I think that alone should be anyone focus. However, if you mean religion will help you focus on other things beyond pharmacy then i can agree.

 

[jason UCSD2000]

YEA RIGHT. They don't unless you are in some small feaken town where everything is connected to thier church and so they expect the pharmacist to be a christian or else you are in trouble. Big cities careless about religion issues so they don't come up at all.

Just to let you know, they do come up - even in larger towns. I'm currently a state employee here in Baton Rouge, and they start off every Health Unit meeting with a prayer. This town has a church on every corner,a jesus fish right above the Bush/Cheney sticker on every SUV, and creed blasting through every car stereo.

 

[Triangulation]

I'm currently a state employee here in Baton Rouge, and they start off every Health Unit meeting with a prayer.

Holy Crap. That sucks. Separation of church and state?

 

[jason UCSD2000]

Holy Crap. That sucks. Separation of church and state?

Yeah, that's exactly what I say to my supervisor and one of my co-workers. At least Target isn't very busy on Sunday mornings.🙂

 

[Glycerin]

Bump

I think this thread is very interesting. I, too, come from a Christian (Southern Baptist) background, but now I'm not quite sure what I am. Agnostic may sum it up. I didn't apply to schools like Palm Beach Atlantic for this reason. But, after reading Dana's post, it gave me a somewhat new perspective.

 

[Mags]

Just to let you know, they do come up - even in larger towns. I'm currently a state employee here in Baton Rouge, and they start off every Health Unit meeting with a prayer. This town has a church on every corner,a jesus fish right above the Bush/Cheney sticker on every SUV, and creed blasting through every car stereo.

I'm sorry! 🙁


i like "small" towns b/c you get to know your "regulars" but on the other hand.. i am jewish, and a conservative democrat... so sometimes a lot of small town ideology can make me twitch.. but... *shrug*

 

[bananaface]

I know alot of people who have gone into healthcare as an extension of their religious practices. To many, helping others is a religious calling.

 

[young skywalker]

Science is a method of thinking, based on assumptions which are tested by experimentation. That is its pure form. Anything more, and science would be biased. Some people choose to live based solely on science, which is very understandable, but since I don?t believe science really answers anything of real importance or substance in life, it is difficult to live with such a robotic outlook. I don't think people necessarily look down on Atheism, but if you take pure atheism to its logical conclusion, you become the center of the universe, and there is no absolute right or wrong. Understandably this would be a difficult individual to get along with. Thus I believe it is difficult for people to be pure "scientists" or "atheists. I do believe in the freedom of people to choose whatever viewpoint they desire.
I believe religion can thus help to compliment health care in many ways. Most notably, when at the end of ones life, or at the front of the grim riper?s sickle, science becomes rather unsubstantial.

 

[Modnar]

if you take pure atheism to its logical conclusion, you become the center of the universe, and there is no absolute right or wrong.

WRONG. Completely, totally wrong.

I am an atheist and I was extremely offended by that post. A longer response will have to wait, since I need to finish my lab report.

 

[Leah27]

Hello peoples!
I am a devout Christian and am excited about the opportunity to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University. Because I am a Christian, it doesn't mean that I am not qualified to work at Walgreens or any other non-religious based organization. I feel that if I have the knowledge, I am qualified. Me being religious brings another element to the table. It helps me to focus on others, when I 'd simply like to focus on my personal gain. So, dg-- if you feel more comfortable going to a Christian school, go. If you don't want to take out extra loans, don't. A Pharm.D. degree is a Pharm.D. degree. I feel that what better qualifies students are what they decide to do during and after their training: grades, residency, service, boards, etc.

Rache

Is Palm Beach Atlantic cool? I am applying there and I am a really liberal christian and I like basic christian ideals, but i get a little quesy when i imagine maybe everyone calling eachother brother and sister, and singing weird songs or opening every class with a prayer or something... what is it like?

 

[Caverject]

Is Palm Beach Atlantic cool? I am applying there and I am a really liberal christian and I like basic christian ideals, but i get a little quesy when i imagine maybe everyone calling eachother brother and sister, and singing weird songs or opening every class with a prayer or something... what is it like?

Liberal christian???? I didn't know there was such a thing! PBA is a Southern Baptist school. (aka not very liberal!) Usually, there is a prayer said before each class. During your years at PBA, you have to write weekly papers and write how a disease state is a reflection of God via the bible. I have friends that go there that are not exactly holy rollers and they seem fine about the program. If you are the type to question everything rather than letting things be, this is not the school for you.

Personally, I don't think I could survive in a program like that. There is a bias and you will not learn everything there is to know about the woman's body. Other than that, its great!

 

[young skywalker]

Did not mean to affend Modnar, my comments were very general I admit, and were not meant as an insult. Forgive me if you felt wronged. I would be interested in hearing your view.

 

[bananaface]

Most notably, when at the end of ones life, or at the front of the grim riper?s sickle, science becomes rather unsubstantial.

The grim reaper is a character in what religion? 🙄

I wonder what ethics classes are like at the religious schools. Do you think someone who attended a religious school would be programmed with different viewpoints than the rest of us? Would any of those conflict with professional obligations?

 

[Fermata]

Would any of those conflict with professional obligations?

Perhaps. I think one is obligated to elucidate all options and information to the patient but not to pressure them into a choice due to a personal moral bias.

Some might disagree.

 

[KauaiGirl13]

Is Palm Beach Atlantic cool? I am applying there and I am a really liberal christian and I like basic christian ideals, but i get a little quesy when i imagine maybe everyone calling eachother brother and sister, and singing weird songs or opening every class with a prayer or something... what is it like?

Whats your idea of a liberal christian??

 

[Glycerin]

Whats your idea of a liberal christian??

Labels are subjective. Perhaps her idea and opinion of what a liberal christian is may differ from your ideas or opinions. After all, we all have our own. 🙂

Now, to let Leah answer this for herself... 🙂

 

[Leah27]

Labels are subjective. Perhaps her idea and opinion of what a liberal christian is may differ from your ideas or opinions. After all, we all have our own. 🙂

Now, to let Leah answer this for herself... 🙂

lol..... I suppose the best way to answer this is that I believe in basic christian ideals... like treat others as you want to be treated, and I agree with basic christian morals as I interpert them from the bible, but i'm no holy roller.. i don't try to convert people, i'm not a literalist, and from what most people are saying maybe i'll have to withdraw my application from pba!!

 

[jemc2000]

As Creighton is also a Jesuit school, does anyone have any information on what this would mean to someone as a student there? Particularly distant learning? I'm not adverse to it; I just like to be prepared.

 

[lynzee]

Great question jemc2000. I too am interested in Creighton and am wondering how their Jesuit beliefs are integrated within their pharmacy program. Anyone?

 

[Vandykitten]

Liberal christian???? I didn't know there was such a thing! PBA is a Southern Baptist school. (aka not very liberal!) Usually, there is a prayer said before each class. During your years at PBA, you have to write weekly papers and write how a disease state is a reflection of God via the bible. I have friends that go there that are not exactly holy rollers and they seem fine about the program. If you are the type to question everything rather than letting things be, this is not the school for you.

Personally, I don't think I could survive in a program like that. There is a bias and you will not learn everything there is to know about the woman's body. Other than that, its great!

Hmmm...that's interesting. It's true we started off the interview with a little prayer. Nobody mentioned anything about writing 'weekly papers about how a disease state is a reflections of God' but it could be a possibility. I know we are required to do X numbers of community service and attend at least one mass a week.

If you live on campus, be wary of strict rules/regulations concerning alcohol/cohabitation etc. Most of the students I've spoken with live off campus. 🙄

 

[Glycerin]

As Creighton is also a Jesuit school, does anyone have any information on what this would mean to someone as a student there? Particularly distant learning? I'm not adverse to it; I just like to be prepared.

I'd PM unicornsinger, since she's a first year student there and takes the program online. 🙂