Thoughts on attending religious dpt program for unreligious students

[mk187]

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Im interested in applying to Loma Linda University, however, I am not Christian, nor religious. I think LLU has a great program and it is in California relatively close to my hometown. I was actually raised Jewish, I can appreciate religious people and respect their beliefs, but Im not sure what the environment would be like there.

When applying, will they ask me my religious faith (is that legal?)? If I say Jewish, will my chances of getting accepted decrease?
Will I be judged if I do not follow their ways? I know there are some classes on religion we need to take during DPT. I'm not too fond of the idea especially if I could be learning something else, but I will do it if I go to the university, of course.

I have many close friends who are Christians and I love their company. I'm just afraid, I cannot be myself in front of most of my class because they would look down on me for some of my facetious remarks or silly stories about my past, etc.

Please share your insights.

 

[One Punch Man]

You might want to think twice about it. I'm pretty open about my atheism, and I wouldn't be able to be in an environment that claims Christianity is true. You should be in a school where you can be who you truly are.

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

I think it depends on if you're asking religious school v non or religious v not going

No harm in applying. If it's the only acceptance you get then I'd worry more.

DPT = DPT

 

[Chasingwaterfalls]

I interviewed at Loma Linda. You aren't required to take religion courses for DPT that I'm aware of, however, you do have to attend church on campus once a week. They also ask you to abstain from alcohol and drugs and maybe meat, but obviously they can't control what you do but they don't want to see pictures on social media of you doing things like that.

In regards to your question about whether or not they ask about your religious beliefs: THEY DEFINITELY DO. They have a secondary application that has like 6 different essay questions and at least one of them asks about religious background. I am not religious at all and I said that in my application and was still offered an interview but during my interview realized it wasn't the right place for me...and I was rejected from LLU (you can see my stats in my previous posts if you're curious).

So, basically, I would say...if you're ok with those things (attending church once a week etc) then go for it. I hear it's great program, but it wasn't the right one for me, being agnostic. I also interviewed at Azusa Pacific (a christian school) and although I wasn't excited about the fact that it's a christian school, they seemed much more accepting of anyone and everyone. I was upfront with them at my interview and told them I'm not religious (they didn't ask but were talking about the religious aspects of school). I was accepted to APU. Just added that in for some perspective. 🙂