Can good looks hurt you?

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wood41

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Hi I was wondering if say a good looking candidate were to walk into an interview. Would the committee not take them as seriously. I feel good looks will only cut it in business school but for medical school, it could hurt you?

i.e. the person looks hot.
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wood41 said:
Hi I was wondering if say a good looking candidate were to walk into an interview. Would the committee not take them as seriously. I feel good looks will only cut it in business school but for medical school, it could hurt you?

i.e. the person looks hot.
Click to expand...

It could only help. Would you rather work with a bunch of butter faces or extremely attractive people?
 
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nervous? post your picture! we'll do the evaluating :thumbup::D
 
Only if your idea of "good-looking" involves 4-foot platinum hair extensions, DDD implants, restylane lips, and a major fake orange tan.
 
everyone knows that med school doesn't accept ugly people. People with really awkward social skills and massive ego problems: yes. But ugly people: no.
 
maestro1625 said:
everyone knows that med school doesn't accept ugly people. People with really awkward social skills and massive ego problems: yes. But ugly people: no.
Click to expand...

This is true. Why do you think that schools ask you to send a photo of yourself along with your secondary? To help themselves remember you? I think not.
 
of all the dumb threads on this forums.. i think this one gets the trophy :laugh:
 
Doode... this thread is worthless without pictures. =P
 
Pretty stupid thread. Haven't all the studies pointed to the exact opposite? Fat, unattractive people have a harder time in life because people discriminate against them. Getting a job, getting into med school, both require you to convince people that they should choose you for something. If anything, us attractive ones are at an advantage.
 
I read a study somewhere, that in college admissions, students who sent in photos juged to be attractive (rated by survery) were more likely to admitted than students judged unattractive. They did say that it was likely due to unconscious prejudice, rather than conscious discrimination.
 
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i think thats looks give the first impression, which is always subject to change. So Yes, good looks does play a role by altering a person's immediate perception.
 
I wish attractive people would get rejected:( Then i would defintly get in:laugh:
 
RogueNine said:
I read a study somewhere, that in college admissions, students who sent in photos juged to be attractive (rated by survery) were more likely to admitted than students judged unattractive. They did say that it was likely due to unconscious prejudice, rather than conscious discrimination.
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So what should I draw from that study? Don't send in optional photos because I might be discriminated against? Or send one in because the good looking people will have a leg up on me?
 
Actually, Social Psychology points to people who are attractive getting in.

I won't cite the study (Because I'm at an at-home computer, and don't have access to all those neato online scholarly journal databases outside of college), but there have been quite a few studies correlating attractiveness to higher perceived intelligence. In one memorable one, a subject was given a picture of someone he was going to be talking to on the telephone, and was to rate the person on the other end based on the conversation (the picture was either attractive or unattractive). Though subjects talked to the same few people, wildly different results came back for ratings of their personality based on Physical attractiveness. Those who were rated "hotter" were also rated as more intelligent, more amiable, etc.

So, if you're hot, kudos. If you're not, see a beauty specialist?...
 
wood41 said:
Hi I was wondering if say a good looking candidate were to walk into an interview. Would the committee not take them as seriously. I feel good looks will only cut it in business school but for medical school, it could hurt you?

i.e. the person looks hot.
Click to expand...

I think it might have something to do with the school you are applying to.

My thinking is, if your applying to a school that does tons of academic and theoretical research - then probably they'll be like "This kid is a player, put his or her application to the side"

But if the school isn't to heavily into research and they see that "hot" picture of you then they'll be like, "This kid must be a people person, let's take him or her"

:hardy:
 
if u have good looks i wld say u have a better chance... its all social psychology, it is known that beautiful ppl are more accepted in society than us ugos.
 
All I have to say is that every Mohs fellow who's trained at the derm practice I work at has looked good. I mean sure they're brilliant at what they do, but is it coincidence? Sure it is. :)
 
I think the focus is on looking well-groomed and professional for the interview. If everyone's in a suit, I consider them all on the same playing level. Attractiveness helps, but interviewers probably will pick an average personable applicant over a very attractive but unconvincing/superficial candidate. Good looks can help, but don't count on it.
 
I completely identify with the OP. I was rejected from alot of schools, and I have a feeling it was because Im too beautiful. Sure, they made up alot of CRAP excuses when I asked for feedback, like my 2.9 GPA and my 21 MCAT was too low, but I know I was just far too sexy for them to handle! ;)
 
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
 
axp107 said:
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
Click to expand...
I guess voirlesetoiles (had to copy/paste that one) is right then. Being professional counts for something too.

And regarding that pic, wow.
 
CatsandCradles said:
I think it might have something to do with the school you are applying to.

My thinking is, if your applying to a school that does tons of academic and theoretical research - then probably they'll be like "This kid is a player, put his or her application to the side"

But if the school isn't to heavily into research and they see that "hot" picture of you then they'll be like, "This kid must be a people person, let's take him or her"

:hardy:
Click to expand...


ok that's good. it's just that i would always associate smart peopel as looking nerdy and the beautiful people as being the ditzes, dumb ones.
 
wood41 said:
ok that's good. it's just that i would always associate smart peopel as looking nerdy and the beautiful people as being the ditzes, dumb ones.
Click to expand...
Y'know, some of the best doctors I've seen have also been incredibly good looking. Life isn't fair sometimes.
 
Ya know this assumption that all or most doctors are incredibly intelligent just seems to make me giggle.

I know everybody thinks that the smartest people in the world become physicians, and I'm sure for a certain cross section this may be true...

But there's lots of really smart people all around ya folks <g>

As for who's good looking or ugly and the like , who really cares...

You can have a total bulldog face but if you can sell yourself better than Colonel Sanders sold chicken who cares, You can also look like brad pitt but if the admissions committee thinks you're more concerned with your hair gel than your MCAT scores... you'll also be easily forgotten.

All seems like a completely unrelated variable to me.. But hey who knows maybe that adcomm will give ya the sexy wink if ya think ur a greek god... Lol.. somehow I doubt it.:laugh:
 
jochi1543 said:
Only if your idea of "good-looking" involves 4-foot platinum hair extensions, DDD implants, restylane lips, and a major fake orange tan.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure DDD implants would help. The interviewers won't forget your........face.
 
i think one of the guys from class 2009 at columbia p&s was a abercrombie & fitch model

ps: if heidi klum were to be a doctor, she can cut me up anyday
 
if anything it would help your chances.

the halo effect from social psych is a theory that good looking people just get things easier in life, catch more lucky breaks...etc .
 
axp107 said:
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
Click to expand...

they look like skanks because they are dressed like prostitutes. if you put them in suits and pulled their hair back they could probably make a good impression. it's all about how you present yourself. no cleavage. no miniskirts, no making out with other people at the interview. no alcohol. no dancing on the interviewer's desk.
 
Actually this thread is not really that stupid. There have been many studies done on this. Ofcourse they are not going to conciously base their decision on your looks, but it may have a significant impact on their first impression!
Just make sure you don't look like a skank or a male prostitute...
 
I agree with being atractive can only help you because we as humans have an unconscious bias toward things we perceive as attractive as we correlate it with health and ability in some animal part of our brain.

That said, however, make sure that if you make yourself "attractive" realize that the admissions committee is not made up of the twenty something girls who you meet at dance clubs on the weekends.

One of my interviews was with a guy (who was a colossal jerk too in the small time I knew him) who came in with frosted tips (which aren't bad in themselves, but these were quite gaudy) lathered in "product" and spiked way up. He wore a suit, but I never saw him with the jacket on, always slung over his shoulder. He had a white dress shirt, but he kept it open two or three buttons the entire time I saw him and was wearing no tie. Looked like he was auditioning for "The Real WOrld"
 
wood41 said:
Hi I was wondering if say a good looking candidate were to walk into an interview. Would the committee not take them as seriously. I feel good looks will only cut it in business school but for medical school, it could hurt you?

i.e. the person looks hot.
Click to expand...

no. it definitely helps.
 
axp107 said:
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
Click to expand...

THATS MY F*&(ING GIRLFRIEND!!!

j/k
 
ecking said:
I guess voirlesetoiles (had to copy/paste that one) is right then. Being professional counts for something too.

And regarding that pic, wow.
Click to expand...


ah..I love this country.
 
Just don't make good looks or nice pecs one of your EC's.
 
Think about the patient's perspective. Would you want a hot doctor to take care of you or just a plain Jane ( or Jim ) ?? I'll take Dr. Hot stuff, thank you. I see patients get excited to see some of our Docs that are good looking.

I would think that if one is being compared to another that has the same MCAT score, same GPA, same extra curriculars, and blah blah blah, that whoever might be more attractive would be accepted. It's a plus if you have the brains and the looks to go with it.

It all goes back to basic human psychology. That's just the way we work. Most of the time when we look at people we think, " They look good, so they must BE good." So, I should be safe then.
 
axp107 said:
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
Click to expand...

Four hot chicks and a handle of SKOL. Mmmmmmmm.
 
those girls are so fine looking.

axp107 said:
Well... what about your typical " barbie-slutty-looking" girl. I would honestly think their chances would be slimmer.

For example

jailbait.jpg


LOL I found this pic thru google images.
Click to expand...
 
wood41 said:
Hi I was wondering if say a good looking candidate were to walk into an interview. Would the committee not take them as seriously. I feel good looks will only cut it in business school but for medical school, it could hurt you?

i.e. the person looks hot.
Click to expand...

Am probably the best looking guy on SDN and am not complaining.
 
p.s. that's miami in that pic, isnt it.
 
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