.

[GrumpyGus]

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Because it seems a little strange to say that your beard is who you are just because it's comfortable.



Read the second paragraph again, bud. I think you missed the part where I said not to shave if it will cause you pain/discomfort. The "suck it up and shave" advice is usually for people without such a reason.

The thing is, according to gyngyn, interviewers are biased against it for no acceptable reason yet me, who actually can't shave, suffers cause of it. Whatever, I doubt my beard will make any lick of a difference.

I'd take my beard over the seemingly 50% of applicants who can't figure out how to comb their hair.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

The thing is, according to gyngyn, interviewers are biased against it for no acceptable reason yet me, who actually can't shave, suffers cause of it. Whatever, I doubt my beard will make any lick of a difference.

And so you have to make sure your beard is very well groomed. If you do that, I think you'll be a lot safer. A closely-trimmed beard and an inch of facial hair aren't the same thing.

I'd take my beard over the seemingly 50% of applicants who can't figure out how to comb their hair.

Agreed.

 

[Stagg737]

i have a well groomed, tight-to-the-face beard (after approxiately a week of growing it) and i think it looks professional

And that's fair. There's a difference between having a short, well-cut and groomed beard and looking like you're too lazy or careless to shave stubble. Keep in mind, it shouldn't look like stubble at all (no Drake 'beards'), but a legitimate trimmed beard or mustache. That means clear shave lines, no abnormal designs/styles, and a clean neck.

Also, if you're absolutely going to go with facial hair, I'd let it grow out more than a week. I know some people grow it out fast, but a week almost always still seem like stubble. This is coming from someone who can grow out a full mustache in 2 weeks (I'm not talking hipster mustache, I'm talking full 70's pornstache...).

 

[gyngyn]

And honestly it's incredible that as physicians you think that-- My dermatologist explicitly told me to never shave with a razor for acne purposes. Yet, according to you, it's just not important enough for me to shave. Should I be bringing an MD note with me to my interviews?

My purpose here is to provide applicants with a perspective that they may not be aware of. In this way, you can make an informed decision regarding your appearance.
Any individual may have a perfectly reasonable purpose for deviating from suggestions.

 

[Lawpy]

I always view SDN interview attire and fashion advice to be extremely conservative compared to reality. Good to follow as basic guidelines, but I would definitely avoid using it as some absolute truth.

 

[Lawpy]

At least none of us will be as bad as the guy at my last interview wearing this piece.

what about a wooden bow tie @gyngyn @Reckoner

 

[gyngyn]

what about a wooden bow tie @gyngyn @Reckoner

We had one of these last year...

 

[GrumpyGus]

Resurfacing this thread with an update.

5 acceptances so far.

Facial hair is fine if it's well groomed. People overthink things-- just be yourself.

 

[dioxane]

Resurfacing this thread with an update.

5 acceptances so far.

Facial hair is fine if it's well groomed. People overthink things-- just be yourself.

that's good to hear! and congrats! that's a lot of acceptances for so early on in the cycle


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[CoffeeMug13]

Hm, interesting. To tell the truth, I'm not going to shave - if that's a minus then that's fine. I'm an older applicant and I do see it as a part of who I am, which extends outside of my medical school interviews. I guess I'll report back on how it goes!

As an update, kept the full beard, here are the results as they stand: 3 interviews, 2 are non rolling until feb/march and 1 acceptance at a school ranked 20-40. Take from it what you will!

 

[canihazMDplease?]

.

 

[mistafab]

Acceptable hairstyle/facial hair for interviews (for men): Clean shaven and short hair.

End thread.

If you want an explanation, use the search function and find the same answer in the hundred other threads on this topic.

 

[CoffeeMug13]

Acceptable hairstyle/facial hair for interviews (for men): Clean shaven and short hair.

End thread.

If you want an explanation, use the search function and find the same answer in the hundred other threads on this topic.

Well, I did get accepted without being clean shaven - the point of my post was to present an alternative anecdote.

 

[Doggowar7]

And that's fair. There's a difference between having a short, well-cut and groomed beard and looking like you're too lazy or careless to shave stubble. Keep in mind, it shouldn't look like stubble at all (no Drake 'beards'), but a legitimate trimmed beard or mustache. That means clear shave lines, no abnormal designs/styles, and a clean neck.

Also, if you're absolutely going to go with facial hair, I'd let it grow out more than a week. I know some people grow it out fast, but a week almost always still seem like stubble. This is coming from someone who can grow out a full mustache in 2 weeks (I'm not talking hipster mustache, I'm talking full 70's pornstache...).

what's a "drake beard"

 

[GrumpyGus]

Acceptable hairstyle/facial hair for interviews (for men): Clean shaven and short hair.

End thread.

If you want an explanation, use the search function and find the same answer in the hundred other threads on this topic.

Except this answer is wrong.

Now excuse me as my hairy beard and longer hair rolls around in all my acceptances *bathes in the sun surrounded by acceptance letters*