It shouldn't matter at all. I would also like to say in my experience in interviewing I saw most Caucasian and Asian girls with hairstyles that didn't seem professional to me (frizzy curls down swinging, hair in their face, or loose ponytails). I was stressing over what to do with my hair and I kinda got the impression that hair wasn't taken as seriously to them. And with how my interview experiences have gone (reactions from adcoms) I really don't think our natural hair is being perceived as negatively as it once was, as long as it's sleek, professional and not too distracting. I have super tight curls and I use Eco styler gel so The hair was laid and nothing was out of place. A super large fro is probably not the best option but you can always turn that into something cuter anyway like a side twist into a large neat bun. However, this is my own experience and it's not the end all be all. I truly believe if your hair is sleek and professional then you will be fine. Everyone one of these schools should have a diversity affairs office and asking them before you do anything would be the best bet to be safe. This will also help you establish a repor with adcoms from the diversity office
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Professional natural hair thread, anyone? I'm obsessed with hair and style search on a daily basis
The top knot in men was something I saw a lot on the interview trail o.o I thought that was interesting lol but I see what you're saying. It's always better to be safe than sorry but there are ways to get around that and still be able to have your natural hair during an interview. Our hair is not inherently messy and unprofessional. It just needs to be styled correctly. We shouldn't have to cover up who we are naturally just to game the system. We are not begging for seats and seats are not just being handed to us. What is important to us in a Medical school matters as well (diversity, outreach, cultural acceptance, support). I feel like that mentality you mentioned speaks to the regular common thought that "you should be happy with what you get as an URM, don't rock the boat, you are only here because of that anyway." It's like taking what "Massa" gave you and just being happy with it. Denying and lessening who I was born as, my wonderful blackness, my excellent melanin that God gave me specially just to get into Medical school would not sit well with me. This is not what medicine is about anyway. If we worked hard to get here and have the stats and ECs to prove it then we have a right to be sought after and choosy just like the rest of the superstars out there. Idk this is just my way of thinking into the late night of insomnia
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