Theology major - inappropriate for personal statement?

[ex_animo_92]

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Talking about religion and anything relating to it can be dangerous/controversial, but I want to talk a bit about my theology degree (i doubled in religious studies / bio). The focus of my PS is why medicine, but the degree is relevant.

Aside from all the benefits of majoring in humanities, medical ethics and sociology courses were part of my major. They were fantastic and complementary to my shadowing / clinical volunteering experiences.

At my undergrad, the theology major was not prescriptive but more like a mix of philosophy and religious studies. So it wasn't "here is what the catholic church and other religions teach and this is why they're right," but more of "here is what the church and other religions teach on X issue, now argue your own stance on X issue."

Also, the rest of my app is very research and hard sciences heavy, and this is basically the only space I can talk about my humanities major. Can I make it non-controversial and safe, though?

 

[deleted480308]

depends on how you do it.....have it proofread by an athiest

lots of people in medicine are religious......they are fine with doctors who are religious, they are not looking for theologians dabbling in medicine.

 

[ex_animo_92]

they are not looking for theologians dabbling in medicine.

Yeah I really hope I don't come across that way. It's more the other way around...

 

[ndafife]

Your personal statement is supposed to be about your journey toward a career in medicine. Did a theology major affect your decision to be a doctor? Can you talk about skills learned in the class that you will be able to apply to medicine?

Honestly you don't need to say anything more than something like: In my course "Title"/in my theology major I took courses that promoted discussion about topics like X, Y, and Z that are part of why I am in medicine.

 

[ex_animo_92]

Did a theology major affect your decision to be a doctor? Can you talk about skills learned in the class that you will be able to apply to medicine?

For sure. I'm just wondering if this is inappropriate.

 

[NickNaylor]

It's appropriate if it played a role in your decision to become a physician. If it didn't, leave it out. Just be weary of using too much of your space to discuss this unless it was really, really important. The emphasis should be on specific things that you have done that have led to your interest in medicine and the things that you have done to develop that interest.

 

[ndafife]

For sure. I'm just wondering if this is inappropriate.

Why would it be inappropriate? Its your journey.

You don't need to get into any discussion of Theology and the courses you took or the explanation of the major you put up there. Being a theology major doesn't make you a priest/nun, it doesn't make you a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. "I am a theology major" or "I took theology courses" is a pretty neutral stance. I'd leave the mention of the theology major short and sweet and focus heavily on you, the real point of your statement.

And either way, its not like medicine and religion have a huge divide. I think I read somewhere like 20% of all hospital beds are in Religious Hospitals

 

[Goro]

I think it can be pulled off, and pulled off well.

Talking about religion and anything relating to it can be dangerous/controversial, but I want to talk a bit about my theology degree (i doubled in religious studies / bio). The focus of my PS is why medicine, but the degree is relevant.

Aside from all the benefits of majoring in humanities, medical ethics and sociology courses were part of my major. They were fantastic and complementary to my shadowing / clinical volunteering experiences.

At my undergrad, the theology major was not prescriptive but more like a mix of philosophy and religious studies. So it wasn't "here is what the catholic church and other religions teach and this is why they're right," but more of "here is what the church and other religions teach on X issue, now argue your own stance on X issue."

Also, the rest of my app is very research and hard sciences heavy, and this is basically the only space I can talk about my humanities major. Can I make it non-controversial and safe, though?

 

[allantois]

Unless you went to a religious university, it's unheard of for universities to indoctrinate students in any major, theology including.

 

[DokterMom]

I agree with @Goro and also with @sb247 Religion has become somewhat of a contentious issue, but philosophy and medical ethics are of vital importance. If you can stress those aspects of your education over the specific doctrines of your religion (sounds like you would), then I think you've got something strong to work with.

I do specifically like the suggestion to have your PS read by some people who are not religious to see how it plays.

 

[Catalystik]

depends on how you do it.....have it proofread by an athiest

. . . and maybe a few folks who are adherents of non-Christian faiths.