Is it dangerous to mention religious beliefs during interview/personal statement

[seals44]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is it dangerous to mention your religious/spiritual beliefs during an interview or in your personal statement? I assume that the stock answer would be "it doesn't matter", but I could see an atheist reviewer/interviewer balking when I mention feeling connected to a higher power and called by him/her/it, or a very religious reviewer/interviewer doing the same when I mention that I believe in a creator and have a relationship with him/her/it but don't subscribe to organized religion. I realize these people are supposed to remain open minded, and have undoubtedly had people of every single belief at some point. I'm just worried that it might make them unconsciously judge everything from that point on in a different way due to unavoidable personal bias.

Note: this isn't the main reason for my "why medicine", as I can paint the reason of why in a secular, rather than spiritual, way nearly just as easily. However, it would probably lose ~15% of my reasoning if I didn't.

Thoughts?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Is it dangerous to mention your religious/spiritual beliefs during an interview or in your personal statement? I assume that the stock answer would be "it doesn't matter", but I could see an atheist reviewer/interviewer balking when I mention feeling connected to a higher power and called by him/her/it, or a very religious reviewer/interviewer doing the same when I mention that I believe in a creator and have a relationship with him/her/it but don't subscribe to organized religion. I realize these people are supposed to remain open minded, and have undoubtedly had people of every single belief at some point. I'm just worried that it might make them unconsciously judge everything from that point on in a different way due to unavoidable personal bias.

Note: this isn't the main reason for my "why medicine", as I can paint the reason of why in a secular, rather than spiritual, way nearly just as easily. However, it would probably lose ~15% of my reasoning if I didn't.

Thoughts?

I feel like you answered your own question. I wouldn't mention it; you might lose that 15% of everyone, but you won't lose 100% of anyone who reads it. See other PS threads on top of the premed allo forum; your goal is to avoid self-injury, not to achieve greatness.

 

[pre med 2014]

Don't talk about religion or politics in an interview.

 

[postalkwk]

I would definitely not include religion in your essay past the point of some EC that was really important to you that you learned from and inspired you to do medicine that happened to be church sponsored or something. I'm not an adcom, but I think most would view "I feel connected to god and he calls me to do medicine" as a negative statement. It is inspiration from something that is disconnected with concrete medical experiences (shadowing, research, family member having serious illness, etc) that will show a real understanding of the career path.

Different people have different views and it's completely fine for you to believe in god and feel inspired by that to do medicine. That being said, I think that sort of thing has no place in a personal statement, just like I think it would be completely inappropriate for a doctor to bring up god inspiring them to a patient.

 

[jemstone]

Although I agree with you that I feel called to medicine for spiritual reasons, I made almost an effort not to deliberately include this in my application. It was almost unavoidable in my ECs, as I spent a lot of time leading Bible studies, etc. So when I explained my ECs, I went into detail with the leadership experiences rather than the spiritual experiences.

Because I had a religious EC, my interviewers brought it up, but in a friendly manner because I think my interviewers themselves were Christians, and I feel many physicians have the understanding that many people go into medicine with some sort of "calling", whether religious or not. My interviews went very well in this regard, because my interviewers offered suggestions for me on how to become involved with the Christian groups on campus, etc. and were sensitive to my beliefs.

I understand this may not be everyone's experience, but like I said at the beginning, I intentionally removed it from my application, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. In those cases, focus on the leadership/other aspects from the experience you gained, rather than spiritual. Hope this helps.

Edit: I was accepted.

 

[darkjedi]

politics, money and religion are the big dinner table nono's

 

[Planes2Doc]

My non-clinical volunteering was through a Jewish organization. I don't think anyone mistook me for an Orthodox Jew or thought my life revolves around it. For some people, religion is who they are. If it's so important, they should mention it. If it's not something that defines you as a person, there is no need to force it out for the fun of it. No one will ask you about politics or religion unless you bring it on first. Most people shouldn't.

 

[DrZed]

politics, money and religion are the big dinner table nono's

This...

 

[I Love Cats]

If it is dangerous to talk about with everyday people you come across, don't talk about it when building a strong positive connection is the most crucial.

 

[DrHart]

Doesn't hurt if you mention it. Probably hurts if you start spouting.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I don't see how religion has anything to do with medicine. Also the whole "I don't subscribe to organized religion" thing is a meme propagated by Christians who want to seem like outsiders and underdogs. You won't impress anyone.

 

[touchpause13]

it's weird, don't mention it.

 

[StudyShy]

If you have a burning desire to include it somewhere, maybe you can incorporate it into one of your secondaries especially if you apply to some more religious institutions.