do looks count ?

[determined little korean girl]

I know that this may seem to be an odd, even stupid question, but do those of you who are in medical school know if looks are important? I've been studying my (_|_) off and my GPA is sky high, but a lot of people say that I look young for my age . One person even said I may not be taken seriously because I look too young. "You don't look like a doctor, you're too cute" were his exact words; "cute" as in "like a little girl cute" . Will I not be taken seriously because I look "too young" and not profressional enough ? Lately, I've been browsing through the medschooldiaries. All of these people "look" like doctors, whatever that look may be . Maybe I'm worried about nothing . Grades, publications, MCAT scores, and extra curricular activities count the most right ? I'm just afraid that looks may influence my acceptance into a good medical school . I just need some reassurance, I guess .

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[andy toth]

looks are very important; everyone uses the way you look to create some kind of "energy-profile" about you. young and sexy, disgusting approach-on-demand...etc. we're not going to get rid of it. from what i've seen, when a scientist or physician is also "sexy"-- of course everyone takes note, but they keep it in the back of their minds as some kind of "extra benefit" about the person.

some parts of the group are not going to be able to ignore your sexiness, and others are not going to pay attn at all.

of course credentials count, but your energy does as well. i think it is beneficial to be sexy.

 

[Amy]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'm often told that I look young for my age, and I'm an MS 1. My dad's worried that people are gonna thing I'm a Doogie Houser and not take me seriously, but I don't think it'll be a problem. Many of the women in my class are short and "cute." You sound like you're doing all the right things to get in. Have faith.

 

[Epi]

don't let looks give you added stress about applying to med school. people have told me that i look young as well, but i dont think that is a disadvantage. all you have to do is carry a mature attitude and act like an adult, and people will treat you like one. i've gotten into some great med schools and its the whole application that schools are looking for.

 

[Nikki]

Don't worry. Someone at the mall this weekend told me that I looked 14 and I haven't had a problem getting in. I don't think I look 14 . . . but hey

 

[Dr. Will]

I sometimes still get carded when I try to buy movie tickets! Beat that!

 

[Scooby Doo]

Don't worry...just look at Trek or SWO. They are HIDEOUS!! Like run home to your mommy and cry ugly!
And they still have had a very impressive time interviewing and being accepted :wink:

 

[maitai]

i'm 24 and most people think i'm about 18, sometimes younger, but one of my interviewers asked when i'd graduated, and when i told him 1999, he said he could tell by my mature attitude that i wasn't still in school. so don't worry, it's how you act, not how you look, that matters most! and you'll be glad when you're 40 and people think you're 30.

 

[matthew0126]

exactly! when all you other suckas are 40 and your skin is starting to fall off, us young-looking people will still look great!

and koreangirl -- i agree w. every1 else, don't worry about how young you look; their initial reaction yes may be that you look young, but as soon as they talk to you and notice your mature demeanor, they will see that you are indeed ready for med school (i still get carded left and right... hehe)

•••quote:•••Originally posted by maitai:
•i'm 24 and most people think i'm about 18, sometimes younger, but one of my interviewers asked when i'd graduated, and when i told him 1999, he said he could tell by my mature attitude that i wasn't still in school. so don't worry, it's how you act, not how you look, that matters most! and you'll be glad when you're 40 and people think you're 30. •••••

 

[dr. momo]

don't worry, i'm 5'4", and there were many interviews where all the girls were shorter than me!

funny story: my friend and i went straight to the mall after the mcat because we wanted to get crazy clubbing clothes and go out. while we were there these two middle schoolers started following us around and finally came up to us and asked, "umm, do you girls want to walk around with us or something?" i couldn't believe it!! we got picked up by 12-year-olds after taking the mcat! the proctor at the test even said, "you girls hardly look old enough to be taking the mcat." anyways, i never had a problem at any of my interviews...the suit definitely helps you look older/more professional. don't worry about it, you can always use looks to your advantage. &lt;he he, evil smirk&gt; <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Maybe it was just the day that I interviewed, but when I was at Tulane it seemed that everyone at the medical school was good-looking. Damn that was one fine-ass school.

 

[Scooby Doo]

UCS: it's because you live in San Francisco...land of the FUGLY women

 

[determined little korean girl]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•UCS: it's because you live in San Francisco...land of the FUGLY women •••••Jeez thanks Scooby .. I'm from San Francisco .. =P .

 

[determined little korean girl]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who replied ! I felt a little foolish posting that question .. after I posted I tried deleting it .. But I found out , the people at SDN are there to help .. you guys are so cooL ! and I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR REPLIES !

 

[Trek]

From what SWO tells me, it's not so much about the looks as the oral skills. Don't hate! --Trek

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by determined little korean girl:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•UCS: it's because you live in San Francisco...land of the FUGLY women •••••Jeez thanks Scooby .. I'm from San Francisco .. =P .•••••Just telling it like it is....but I guess I never have met you

 

[Legend]

I don't know why but in general Korean girls tend to look younger than their ages.

I don't think you should worry at all!
Young is always better than Old in the long run !

 

[Patiently Waiting]

I think most Asians in general tend to look younger than their age, esp. us girls, since we have an option to use a concealer to cover all our wrinkles...

 

[deleted4401]

Thanks for the Tulane comment, SF! We, as a school, appreciate it.

Yeah, a lot of us (including myself) look young or in my case, really young ... but seriously, when I interview a patient and I put on the white coat, they totally take me seriously. I've been called doctor, even, and I swear I look 19.

So don't sweat it ... Promise you, if you have a good bedside manner, and excellent diagnostic skills, no one will care if you look 17 or 71 ... okay?

good luck,

Simul
Hot Tulane Guy
Just kidding... It's not true ... We must have had our body doubles out that day ...

 

[matthew0126]

so not only do tulane med students party all day and still get high board scores, but they are apparently beautiful too?

wow

•••quote:•••Originally posted by SimulD:
•Thanks for the Tulane comment, SF! We, as a school, appreciate it.

Yeah, a lot of us (including myself) look young or in my case, really young ... but seriously, when I interview a patient and I put on the white coat, they totally take me seriously. I've been called doctor, even, and I swear I look 19.

So don't sweat it ... Promise you, if you have a good bedside manner, and excellent diagnostic skills, no one will care if you look 17 or 71 ... okay?

good luck,

Simul
Hot Tulane Guy
Just kidding... It's not true ... We must have had our body doubles out that day ...•••••

 

[Patiently Waiting]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by SimulD:
•So don't sweat it ... Promise you, if you have a good bedside manner, and excellent diagnostic skills, no one will care if you look 17 or 71 ... okay?

•••••I'm not sure about looking 71's OK...

BTW, what's considered "little" for girls in general? I swear, a friend of mine thinks she's little even though she's like 5'7".

 

[Sonya]

My friend looks really young (when i first metter i'd of said 13/14 but she was probably 19 or so then), and she's got admittances and such. Now, i don't think she looks young, but maybe i'm just used to her.

Come on, you a girll right? for admittances, what matters is at the interview. If you can dress up professional enough and such, i'm sure you can make up for it. For me, the way my hair is done makes a big differences. when i was 16/17 people said i looked everywhere from 13 to like 24/25.

People assume i'm around 22 and such, b/c i'm a senior. but, i'm 18, but i could apparently qualify for 22, i suppose.

Will it make a difference as a doctor? Yeah, likely. But, by then you'll be grown, and you'll look older.

In admission? That's okay, i think you'll fit in. As long as you ACT mature and such.

Sonya

 

[deleted4401]

Not any more beautiful than anywhere else ... I don't think. And we don't party harder than anyone else ... I don't think. And our board scores ?!? I think that's a sore spot around here ... I love it here, but I have no idea where the hell these comments come from.

Dumbfounded,
Simul

 

[Elysium]

I think a more interesting topic is: do looks count in general? DO you think that good looking men and women do better? Do you think good looking women get treated better by a mostly male interviewing staff? Just a question...