Okay so the title pretty much asks the question. I was just wondering if some programs will consider an application without a photo incomplete. I did send out my pic to programs who specifically listed it in the required documents but most programs did not require a photo. I once heard somewhere that programs can't view the photo until after an interview is granted but this can't be correct right? Because in ERAS, it usually says sent when a program has downloaded the app.
Did you all send out your photos?
- Thread starter mamagir
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It used to be true that we couldn't see the photo until we indicated on ERAS that an invitation had been issued. That changed several years ago so that now the photo is an element of the application that can be screened or not (along with things like race/ethnicity, gender, date of birth, social security number, and a few other items). The screen can be added or removed at any point in time, but that choice applies to all of the applicants.
During this early part of the process I keep the photo screen on and it's not a big deal to me whether we have your picture or not. When interviews start, however, I need the photo to put with your file and it will become a very big deal if you didn't send me one. It's honestly too much of a pain to turn the screen on and off depending on the reason I'm accessing an applicant page, so at some point I'll just leave the screen off and will see all of the photos regardless of whether or not we offered an interview.
For the record, I much preferred the old way ERAS was set up.
During this early part of the process I keep the photo screen on and it's not a big deal to me whether we have your picture or not. When interviews start, however, I need the photo to put with your file and it will become a very big deal if you didn't send me one. It's honestly too much of a pain to turn the screen on and off depending on the reason I'm accessing an applicant page, so at some point I'll just leave the screen off and will see all of the photos regardless of whether or not we offered an interview.
For the record, I much preferred the old way ERAS was set up.
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I sent it to everyone because I didn't want to think about what programs require it vs. which ones don't.
If the reason behind not sending the photo is so programs won't judge you in some form based on how you look, wouldn't you prefer them to pass those judgements before interviewing you when you obviously can't hide what you look like and they would be making those same judgments on you in person. It would save you money on travel expenses.
If the reason behind not sending the photo is so programs won't judge you in some form based on how you look, wouldn't you prefer them to pass those judgements before interviewing you when you obviously can't hide what you look like and they would be making those same judgments on you in person. It would save you money on travel expenses.
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I don't understand why someone wouldn't send a picture in. That's the easiest part of the application (especially if you attend a school that sends your white coat picture in so you don't even have to take the picture yourself). Programs are going to see what you look like if they offer you an interview, so why even risk delaying your application being reviewed by not sending it in? Besides, if a program is going to judge you based on how you look, do you really want to be there? Save yourself the money and hassle of booking flights and hotels, as someone else already said.
