I am graduating soon and I am trying to find a good baptist based Christian university that has a pre-med program because I want to go into medicine but my faith is very important to me. I want to stay near Nebraska if at all possible. I looked at Creighton University but they are a Catholic and Jesuit University. Can someone please explain to me how that differs from Baptist views?
Lots of questions for you here - you can get into med school with any major, so look at the undergrad school’s pre-med mentoring program and success in getting students into med school. Can you go to a non-Baptist college and get involved with the local Baptist group on campus? Does your current church or pastor have any recommendations for you as far as Baptist colleges?
Finally, if you do not know the difference between Catholicism and Baptist/protestant religions, I’d actually encourage you to seek out a liberal arts education and learn a little more about the world. You’ll be a much more effective medical practitioner if you have experience beyond your own personal world.
Both are Christian. A difference is that Catholics believe parents must baptize their infants in order to save their souls (back when most children died by age 5) and as a promise to raise them Christian; then the child, once old enough, must confirm that by taking classes and going through a “confirmation” ceremony where the baptism wows are renewed. Another difference is that the Catholic leader is international (Pope Francis). Neither will impact your experience at a Catholic college. Furthermore, while you’d have theology classes, you wouldn’t have to take Catholic doctrine classes. You’d study Christian history and principles as well as other religions in such a way it wouldn’t force you to forget your own faith. The college would have CRU and FCA.
All in all, it’s important for future physicians to be aware of other cultures,languages, and religions. You’re expected to complete a diversity-focused class and to try and speak another language than English; in your extracuricular/co-curricular activities, it’s expected you’ll interact with lots of people different from yourself (at clinics, for instance). Those are med school requirements.
Creighton is well-known for the quality of its premed program, but it’s also quite competitive.
Other good Christian colleges that are especially supportive of faith enquiries and premedical aspirations include: Gustavus Adolphus, St Olaf, Luther, University of St Thomas in St Paul, St Benedict/St JOhn’s in MN, Wheaton Illinois, Hope Michigan.
Some universities that aren’t as reputable for premed but still OK would include: Bethel in St Paul (MN), Blufton, University of Sioux Falls.
@Margaret22 The top Baptist school with a great pre-med program that comes to mind is Baylor in Waco, TX. I visited there with my son last spring (we are Catholic, so we’re having the opposite “culture shock” that you would have at Creighton). My son really liked it – plus it is very affordable for a private school & has good merit scholarships. The campus is really big (1000 acres!) and it has everything! Waco has somewhat of a desolate small town vibe, but if you’re from Nebraska, maybe you won’t notice it as much as we did (we’re from SoCal).
Baylor’s tour guide said that they are “unapologetically Christian”. This means that while they welcome all faiths, you are expected to be respectful of the (Baptist) Christian values of the school. All freshmen must attend 2x weekly chapel (she said Mondays were “Motivational Mondays” – not scripture, but uplifting speakers) & Wed (traditional chapel). Students also have to take 1 religion course, many of which are cross-listed with the History Department – so it can be anything from a NT/Scripture class to a Western Civ/Philosophy course.
A note about Jesuit Catholic universities – they are more socially ‘liberal’ than other Catholic orders & their schools are much more inclusive to non-Catholics than some other Orders. (In Catholicism many priests & nuns belong to an Order, all which have different philosophies/missions – all within the confines of Catholicism. Think of it sort of like different fraternities – similar, but each with their own flavor). The motto/mission of the Jesuits is to be “a man or woman for others” & to seek God in all things. Jesuits are known (in the Catholic education community) to be very intellectual as well as social justice advocates. I suspect you could go to Creighton & never have to take a “Catholic dogma” class – instead you’d probably have to take 1-2 semesters of “religion” which could mean OT/NT or History of Catholicism of Philosophy, etc. You’d probably see a lot of social justice projects, though.
Where are you going? I’m Baptist and I can only go to a nondenominational college, Baptist college, or on of 2 local ones in my city. Tulane would be nice, but it’s too expensive. So it’s either UNO or some out of state christian university for me. I’m also planing on going to medical school.
Why can you only go there?
Use the list at the bottom of post #2 and see if some colleges still accept universities.
Tulane guarantees a full tuition scholarship to all Louisiana applicants it admits, are you sure it’s too expensive?
Baylor or OBU (oiachita baptist) are all I have any experience with.
Batlor is obvious and big here in Texas and OBU is small in Ark many kids premed kids go to a osteo or UAMS for med school.
Im sure there are many others.
@MYOS1634 is that true? Are you sure? Full tuition?
I misspoke: it’s not guaranteed 
However to the best of my knowledge that’s what it comes down to, although there aren’t any specific details.
Basically if you’re a strong student from Louisiana, regardless of your income status, they want you to apply.
Run the NPC and most importantly email your regional rep.
https://admission.tulane.edu/tuition-aid/louisiana-residents
@MYOS1634 thanks for the info. I’m in Louisiana and a couple students from my school have gotten full rides so I was just curious. Hope they do supply some good financial aid, I plan on applying this fall.