Mentioned being raised by Christian Scientists in my PS?

[echidna]

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I was raised in a fairly religious home by Christian Scientists, who believe in faith healing and do not believe in medicine. In fact, seeing doctors is strongly discouraged. I was wondering if this was something interesting or relevant to mention in my PS since it's a probably unusual in an applicant, sort of the opposite of the "I was exposed to medicine at an early age and always knew I wanted to be a doctor" theme.

I've asked two med students and one said absolutely yes and the other said absolutely no. I think it could be interesting but making it somehow relevant might be a stretch... nevertheless I'd like to try developing it unless it has the potential for interview disaster. What do you think?


(and FWIW Christian Science =/= Scientology. The two are often confused.)

 

[buffywannabe]

You could probably fill out the disadvantaged part on amcas. the fact that you were kept from medicine and doctors I think is one of the reasons they allow you to check that. then you can write a short paragraph about that and have your whole PS for writing other more pertinent things.

 

[ajkby52]

I'd say yes if you think you can write a good PS around this. My friend wrote about chinese medicine and the nontraditional aspect of it, incorporating how he was treated with his old chinese physician using eastern medicine. Then he related it to how there were similarities between the two... pretty much the whole Dr. - Patient interaction was similar, and how he aspired to be like him. In the end, he's going to UCSD SOM so I think it worked out for him.

 

[Brent8927]

I think it is really interesting, and if being raised by Christian Scientists contributed to your decision to become a physician, then I'd mention it. I know you say that might be a bit of a stretch for you, but consider that it doesn't necessarily have to be a direct influence--it could be something that influenced your mindset/ethics and who you are (and who you are, presumably, is someone who would be a good doctor!).

It might be worth discussing that you learned the importance of faith in healing, and the importance of faith to others. But I would avoid supporting or denigrating their beliefs as with the former you're supporting religious beliefs that aren't really compatible with modern medicine and with the latter way you're offending some people's cherished beliefs. Of course you can support their right to believe what they believe.

 

[echidna]

Seems like the general consensus is to go with it- thanks everybody. I'm personally an agnostic and hoped my upbringing might explain my later-than-usual interest in medicine (end of college), which I was told might be seen as a red flag.

I think I'll make reference to it but not have it be the central theme or anything. Thanks again-

 

[dw2158]

Seems like the general consensus is to go with it- thanks everybody. I'm personally an agnostic and hoped my upbringing might explain my later-than-usual interest in medicine (end of college), which I was told might be seen as a red flag.

I think I'll make reference to it but not have it be the central theme or anything. Thanks again-

this is so unbelievably not true. as long as you have all the necessary "stuff" (volunteering, research, clinical, pre-reqs, blah blah blah) it does not matter at all when you became interested. in fact, i'm going to risk getting flamed and say that it's GREAT if you came to it later in life because then you avoid sounding like your reason for wanting to go into medicine is "because i've dreamed of being a doctor ever since i was a little kid!"

 

[Blesbok]

I think it has the potential to be a good PS subject; however, it also has the potential to be devistating. Remember that anytime you cover religious beliefs, whether they are yours or others, you are opening a can of worms. If I were to do it, I would use examples of where medicine would have been helpful and then go into the importance of a balance between faith and healing. Like others said, do NOT straight up insult any beliefs.

 

[Blesbok]

this is so unbelievably not true. as long as you have all the necessary "stuff" (volunteering, research, clinical, pre-reqs, blah blah blah) it does not matter at all when you became interested. in fact, i'm going to risk getting flamed and say that it's GREAT if you came to it later in life because then you avoid sounding like your reason for wanting to go into medicine is "because i've dreamed of being a doctor ever since i was a little kid!"

:werd: I am not an adcom, but if I was I would much rather hear a story about that than to hear "I broke my leg when I was 5 and ever since then I have wanted to do orthopaedics"

 

[LizzyM]

I think it would be rather interesting to read a PS that says, "I never saw a doctor as a child and my parents' religoius beliefs were antithetical to medical services, so it may be not surprising that I discovered my interest in medicine at an older age than many applicants, and started down this path as a "pre-med" only after college graduation." Then I'd go on to talk about what prompted this interest and how you tested and confirmed it (through shadowing, clinical service, volunteer service, consideration of other career paths, conversations with physicians and others, etc).

The childhood decisions to become a doctor and the broken legs and dead grandmothers and the ambulance sirens get old after awhile. This PS could be a breath of fresh air.