Do all schoosl ask for photos?

[badasshairday]

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Do all schools ask for photos as part of the secondary?

I did U of Cinncinati and I don't remember seeing anything about a photo. Either I missed it and I am screwed, or it just isn't there......

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Not all schools ask for a photo. Remember that every school is different with regards to their secondary application. Some require photos, most require a fee to be paid, some require additional essays, some require you to photocopy and send your AMCAS, and various other stuff that varies between each school.

 

[maestro1625]

Do all schools ask for photos as part of the secondary?

I did U of Cinncinati and I don't remember seeing anything about a photo. Either I missed it and I am screwed, or it just isn't there......

nah, most schools wait for the interview to play "is this person good looking enough for our med school"



however, many will ask that you bring a photo to the interview itself.

 

[nick_carraway]

Most are optional or not even solicited until the interview. I think that med schools know that they're on iffy legal ground since an applicant could theoretically complain that adcoms made a decision based on the applicant's picture instead of his credentials if they solicit pictures too early in the process.

 

[Law2Doc]

Do all schools ask for photos as part of the secondary?

Not all, but many do.

 

[Phoenix.]

I've submitted 11 secondaries so far, and I've sent 4 photos with snail mail applications, and uploaded about 3 for online applications. Of those, some were optional, or said that it was optional at this time, but that you'd have to bring one if you got an interview.

 

[Sir Buckethead]

Why is this? The only reason i can think of is if someone tries to pull a fast one on URM status, like a white south african or arab north african trying to pass themselves off as african american.

 

[nick_carraway]

Why is this? The only reason i can think of is if someone tries to pull a fast one on URM status, like a white south african or arab north african trying to pass themselves off as african american.

The Dean from Michigan State, I believe, said that it's for ID purposes so that you are who you say you are when you show up at the interview. Apparently they also receive your photo from your MCAT sitting to compare against your submitted photograph.

Makes you wonder what other crazy things people were pulling in the past.

 

[Sir Buckethead]

oh they photograph you at the mcat? interesting.

in the past? Man, I'll bet you people are still pulling crazy stuff. Just now you have to have an identical twin to do it.

 

[badasshairday]

So I have to not only have a good GPA, high MCAT, EC's, and LORs, but I also have to be good looking to get in!?!

I will hit the gym tonight.

 

[Phoenix.]

oh they photograph you at the mcat? interesting.

in the past? Man, I'll bet you people are still pulling crazy stuff. Just now you have to have an identical twin to do it.

I'm guessing they mean the photo from your license/passport that they download into the computer when you take the MCAT. At least that's what happened when I took it in June. They scanned the photo from my license and I saw it pop up on the screen whenever I signed in or out with the fingerprinting. Never realized that med schools would see my license photo. Glad it's not horrendously inappropriate looking or anything.

 

[nick_carraway]

I'm guessing they mean the photo from your license/passport that they download into the computer when you take the MCAT. At least that's what happened when I took it in June. They scanned the photo from my license and I saw it pop up on the screen whenever I signed in or out with the fingerprinting. Never realized that med schools would see my license photo. Glad it's not horrendously inappropriate looking or anything.

Wow I was actually photographed by a webcam. Or was I? I can't remember and it's only been 6 months. Sad times.

Younger SDNers be warned! Wear a suit to your MCAT sitting! And to your license photo, I guess.

 

[Phoenix.]

Wow I was actually photographed by a webcam. Or was I? I can't remember and it's only been 6 months. Sad times.

Younger SDNers be warned! Wear a suit to your MCAT sitting! And to your license photo, I guess.

Perhaps this should come into play when choosing which form of ID to bring: a passport or a license. Bring whichever you'd rather have in your file.... Maybe this should be added to the MCAT test center thread. To let people know whether they will be photographed, or just have their ID scanned depending on where they take the test. Then again, this probably isn't a big deal.

 

[TheRealMD]

No suit @ MCAT = fail med school apps.

 

[nick_carraway]

No suit @ MCAT = fail med school apps.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Keep in mind though, that if you want to stand out, wearing nothing or very nearly nothing is also a possibility.

But ONLY if you're competitive.

 

[whiterose]

Someone who used to be on adcom told me that pictures are seen as reflections of the applicant's character. If the applicant can't make the effort to get a good picture, will he really make a good doctor?

It's all a little ridiculous if you ask me.

 

[Despina]

Someone who used to be on adcom told me that pictures are seen as reflections of the applicant's character. If the applicant can't make the effort to get a good picture, will he really make a good doctor?

It's all a little ridiculous if you ask me.

What types of photos are you guys using? Since I was an actress/singer in my previous life, I was going to use my professional head shot, but my boyfriend discouraged it saying, "You don't want to use a glamor looking shot for your application." (well and my head shot is brushed). So I put on a suit and makeup, went down to Costco today, and got 20 passport size photos. Your adcom's friends comment makes me a little worried though that I should use the head shot. I think that is kind of silly. Head shots are expensive and that's a lot to ask of most pre-meds who are already going broke applying to schools.

 

[bane84]

Lets say a school says its optional to put a pic of yourself in the secondary. Is it suspicious to leave a picture out?

I am kind of concerned about profiling. 😳

 

[nick_carraway]

Lets say a school says its optional to put a pic of yourself in the secondary. Is it suspicious to leave a picture out?

I am kind of concerned about profiling. 😳

There was a book by Dr. Ken Iserson called "Getting into Medical School for the Perplexed" where he advocates not including an optional picture until the interview for the exact reason that you mentioned. Adcoms are human too and you don't want to throw another variable into your application.

In other words, I'm not including optional pics either.

 

[bane84]

There was a book by Dr. Ken Iserson called "Getting into Medical School for the Perplexed" and he advocates not including an optional picture until the interview for the exact reason that you mentioned. Adcoms are human too and you don't want to throw another variable into your application.

In other words, I'm not including optional pics either.

Thanks for the rapid-fire-response 🙂

 

[nick_carraway]

Thanks for the rapid-fire-response 🙂

It's either this or Pritzker's secondary 😉

 

[bane84]

It's either this or Pritzker's secondary 😉

HAHAHAA! nice one!