Wait...this is a JESUIT school?!

[Nottingham]

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Alright, so I'm looking at the Creighton Supplemental and one of the essays is:

1. You have chosen to apply to a Jesuit institution, founded on Ignatian values. How do these values fit with your educational and professional goals?

Hahaha, I had to look up what Ignation values are as I have never ever heard of them. I did grow up attending a Catholic convent school (taught by nuns, cute little uniforms, rampant lesbianism etc) but consider myself an athiest. Do I mention my religious upbringing/current religious beliefs (or lack thereof) and then go on to say how some of these values are universal and how I believe in them? Or just skip my theological history and dazzle them with crap? Because there's going to be a small amount of crap anyway as one of the values is "Finding God in All things" and another is something to do with doing service for the greater glory of god. I have to say that if I saw God in my coffee it would totally ruin my morning 😉

I'm applying for the distance program so I hope my apathy towards religion won't be an issue if I get in. Any current Creighton students care to comment?

 

[confettiflyer]

Stay honest....BUT, atheism is not really socially acceptable within the US. You won't be penalized for not "being Catholic enough" so I would stick to generalities when answering this question (ie morality, honesty, etc...)

Kind of how scientific theories often allude to God but don't outright say it (ie "Big Bang" theory). I don't know if this makes sense.

 

[sashagrl259]

I'm currently working on my undergrad at a Jesuit school, and I'm definitely not very religious. In fact, I'm not even Catholic. Here's a link from my school's website that explains the "Mission of the University" that might help you answer the question in a semi-religious fashion.

http://www.luc.edu/mission/mission_vision.shtml

Good luck! 🙂

 

[Nottingham]

Would it be too obvious if I just didn't mentioned God at all? From what I can gather, the Ignatian values are all about the greater good, which is something in which I DO believe very strongly. That's pretty much what my personal statement is about.

 

[Jammerdez1]

Are you agnostic or atheist? There's a big difference, but people usually get the 2 confused. If you're an atheist, I would recommend strongly against continuing your application to the school. If you are agnostic, then simply skip around the finer details and go with a generalized statement as others have talked about.

 

[rxlynn]

I believe that the essay prompt may have changed somewhat, but your post got me curious, so I went back and looked at the essay I wrote for Creighton. I did not once mention God, or any other deity, and I was accepted. So, in my experience, you should be able to write a successful essay for them focusing on the more general (not specifically Catholic) values.

 

[Nottingham]

Are you agnostic or atheist? There's a big difference, but people usually get the 2 confused. If you're an atheist, I would recommend strongly against continuing your application to the school. If you are agnostic, then simply skip around the finer details and go with a generalized statement as others have talked about.

I guess I'm towards the atheist end of agnostic, perhaps nontheist? It's not that I avidly don't believe a god exists, it's that it just never figures in my day to day life. I don't really think about a higher power, I don't pray to a higher power that's watching over me. I do agree with the basic values of most religions (do unto others, give to the poor, be a good person etc) but so far there hasn't been a particular pantheon that's really "fit" with me. I grew up with all the Catholic hoo-ha, so I know scripture inside and out. I've tinkered with Hindisum, Islam, Buddhism but all the time I feel like I'm just faking it. I respect people's faith, and find it fascinating from a socio-cultural view but unless a god shows up on my doorstep with proof-of-existence papers signed in triplicate, I'm just not buying it. I'm comfortable with my lack-of-faith, and I don't think I'm any worse off for it. Now Karma on the other hand...THAT I do believe in.

So I think I'm going to focus on the generosity, service to others, for the greater good kind of Ignatian values and skip the whole God thing. If they don't want me because of my choice, so be it.

 

[Hels2007]

I don't know about Ignatian values and all that, but I do know that many people who went/go to Creighton are not at all religious, and many are not Catholic.

 

[117296]

I guess I'm towards the atheist end of agnostic, perhaps nontheist? It's not that I avidly don't believe a god exists, it's that it just never figures in my day to day life. I don't really think about a higher power, I don't pray to a higher power that's watching over me. I do agree with the basic values of most religions (do unto others, give to the poor, be a good person etc) but so far there hasn't been a particular pantheon that's really "fit" with me. I grew up with all the Catholic hoo-ha, so I know scripture inside and out. I've tinkered with Hindisum, Islam, Buddhism but all the time I feel like I'm just faking it. I respect people's faith, and find it fascinating from a socio-cultural view but unless a god shows up on my doorstep with proof-of-existence papers signed in triplicate, I'm just not buying it. I'm comfortable with my lack-of-faith, and I don't think I'm any worse off for it. Now Karma on the other hand...THAT I do believe in.

So I think I'm going to focus on the generosity, service to others, for the greater good kind of Ignatian values and skip the whole God thing. If they don't want me because of my choice, so be it.

Creighton's big on the Ignatian values, yet at the same time they do not care whether you believe in God or not. The Ignatian values are used as a way to create caring health providers, not to make someone believe something they dont want to believe. That being said, if you do end up here, you will know the Ignatian values and what they mean. Part of orientation is doing a service project which afterwards each small group has to tell where they went and which Ignatian value they saw in their time spent.

I definitely wouldn't disclose my religious beliefs in an interview or application because its none of their business, but do talk about the Ignatian values if you do happen to fit any of them into your life.

Really, the best thing about here is the awesomeness of the support staff. They are good peoples 😛

 

[gabapentin]

I went to a Jesuit school for undergrad...that lasted 1 semester.

Jesuit history: Lie to the rich in order to take their money.

Have fun with those Jezzies

 

[medicalCPA]

@ gabapentin: Totally uncalled for.

 

[Amina]

I agree medicalcpa......

 

[Nottingham]

Alright, so I have another question regarding another aspect of this supplemental, not related to the whole religion thing. They ask:

3. Describe your plan to adjust your personal and professional schedules to meet the demands of our rigorous program.

Would it be good to tell them that I'll still be living at home, so I can focus on school and not on trying to support myself? Not sure if this will be viewed as an entirely good thing, I hope it doesn't show a lack of maturity. In reality if I get accepted there (for the distance program) I will probably live at home initially to gage the work load but if it's doable I'll be moving out faster than a speeding bullet.

 

[medicalCPA]

No one knows what's "good" to tell the adcom, except the adcom. Be honest and don't posture, because they want to get to know the person who's truly behind the application.

 

[gabapentin]

@ gabapentin: Totally uncalled for.

How is it uncalled for when Jesuit priests even admit to it?

If you want to impress the adcoms, discuss how the Jesuits are excellent in their educational approaches: a well-rounded person.

 

[pharmco2012]

Alright, so I have another question regarding another aspect of this supplemental, not related to the whole religion thing. They ask:

3. Describe your plan to adjust your personal and professional schedules to meet the demands of our rigorous program.

Would it be good to tell them that I'll still be living at home, so I can focus on school and not on trying to support myself? Not sure if this will be viewed as an entirely good thing, I hope it doesn't show a lack of maturity. In reality if I get accepted there (for the distance program) I will probably live at home initially to gage the work load but if it's doable I'll be moving out faster than a speeding bullet.

One reason they ask this question is because they want to know whether you are aware that this is a full time program. Many people think the distance program is easier because it is online... not true.
I don't know that living at home would look good or bad... but I think it shows some responsibility to live at home and not to try to live on your own and work full time.. .that shows commitment to the program. I would even say what you said above- stay at home, gauge how difficult it is going to be, evaluate how much you can work, then see if you can work enough to support yourself and live on your own.

 

[ajh88]

Would it be too obvious if I just didn't mentioned God at all? From what I can gather, the Ignatian values are all about the greater good, which is something in which I DO believe very strongly. That's pretty much what my personal statement is about.

That is the approach I chose way back when. I liked what I read about the Ignatian values (yes, I had to Google them too) and I just tried to illustrate ways in which I already lived my life by some of those values.

Creighton is my first experience with Jesuit (or any religion) education - the only thing I would say is that Ignatian values are an integral part of the program and they are discussed in many different classes (to varying degrees). All other religion-associated activities are purely optional (unless you count the prayers and such at the professionalism ceremony, etc.).

I don't think it would hurt to say you're living at home - you have good reasons for doing so. I would caution a tiny bit about gauging workload from the first semester (although I'm sure you would get a wide array of opinions if you asked! 😉 ) because I found the first year to be not so bad but this 2nd year is kicking my booty!

Good luck!