Question about Jesuit Schools

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freakedout06

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Does anyone know if religious beliefs are pushed on the students in the curriculum in any way at schools such as Georgetown, St. Louis and NYMC? I was raised Jewish, but I'm not religious at all. If I do go to one of these schools, I'm concerned that I would feel like an outsider because of this. Anyone currently a student at any of these schools or know someone who is, that can shed some light on what the atmosphere is like? I don't mind if people have strong religious beliefs, I just don't want to be preached to.
 
I've interviewed at NYMC, Creighton, St. Louis, and Georgetown and I never felt like they were pressuring me to be more Catholic. I have friends who go to Loyola who echo this idea. I for one am agnostic and all my ECs involved pro-choice stuff, so I made a point to ask the adcoms about this. No one will make you feel uncomfortable. Since these are all private schools, only about half the student body (if that) is of Catholic/Jesuit belief.
 
I went to a Jesuit undergrad so I can't say for sure what the med schools would be like, but since I also know people who went to Jesuit high schools I will give this info to be taken with a grain of salt. The atmosphere did not drip with religion amongst the students. Many of the teachers and professors were Jesuit priests, but the subjects taught were all standard (we had a Jesuit teaching a class on evolution which I thought was interesting). There is a leaning towards issues of social justice and ethics, but wasn't done with a focus on religion specifically. In my undergrad we had to take three courses from the religious studies department, but they ranged from in depth looks at your choice of all the major religions to classes dealing with ethics or cultural morality. I would anticipate that the medical schools would probably be more likely to have workshops on the more touchy-feely aspects of medicine, and I would be surprised if they don't have some free clinics and mentorship programs affiliated with the school. However, they are a more liberal group and are more focused on promoting higher education, human rights, and helping the poor that on forcing their views down your throat. I don't think you would feel like an outsider no matter what your spiritual beliefs are.
 
I was wondering about this too. Are the affiliated hospitals where we would do our clinicals also Jesuit (I'm thinking particularly of georgetown)? Do these hospitals prescribe birth control or emergency contraception or perform abortions? As a liberal pro-choicer who is thinking about OB/GYN as a possible specialty, I don't think I would do well or learn as much as I could in that kind of environment.
 
Thanks dpmd. I appreciate your perspective on things.
 
I interviewed at Georgetown recently and they did a lot to dispell the myth of them being labeled super religious. At Georgetown's hospitals, physicians can presribe birth control but patients have to get their prescriptions filled at a local pharmacy instead of in the hospital. I'm pretty sure it was said that the hospitals do not perform abortions but medical students learn the procedures (don't quote me on this).

Also, Georgetown's students and faculty are extremely diverse and I don't think that you'd be at a disadvantage if you were to attend.

I was wondering about this too. Are the affiliated hospitals where we would do our clinicals also Jesuit (I'm thinking particularly of georgetown)? Do these hospitals prescribe birth control or emergency contraception or perform abortions? As a liberal pro-choicer who is thinking about OB/GYN as a possible specialty, I don't think I would do well or learn as much as I could in that kind of environment.
 
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