Does being attractive offset a low GPA/MCAT during an interview?

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fritolays08

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Say your stats are below average for a school, like you have a 3.6 when the average is a 3.7-3.8, and a low 30 MCAT when the average is like 35 (these are not my stats, this is completely hypothetical). If you are invited to an interview, would being attractive and a good interviewer push you over in this case?
 
Being a good interviewer might but I wouldn't think being attractive would help that much. Well...depends on how attractive...are we talking 10/10 or what? But honestly I wouldn't think your looks should compensate for below average scores.

Legally Blonde spinoff?
 
At all of the schools I interviewed at, the interviewer would write up a summary of their impressions, and that would be given to the admissions committee. The admissions committee would then review everything about the applicant - gpa, test scores, primary and secondary app essays, and the interviewer's feedback - and make a decision. I know that being well-spoken works to your benefit, and I'm guessing that being attractive doesn't hurt. In general, being good at interviews will not necessarily make up for low grades and test scores, because your interviewer isn't really making the decision.
 
Yes, being attractive helps but not explicitly. All else being equal, the interviewer will probably be more positive overall when commenting on your personality, well spokenness, confidence, etc even though these personality traits do not come from what you look like. It's just a psychology thing. Same reason attractive people get served quicker at bars and are more likely to have people pull over to help them on the side of the road.
 
mystifire said:
yes, being attractive helps but not explicitly. All else being equal, the interviewer will probably be more positive overall when commenting on your personality, well spokenness, confidence, etc even though these personality traits do not come from what you look like. It's just a psychology thing. Same reason attractive people get served quicker at bars and are more likely to have people pull over to help them on the side of the road.
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lol
 
It probably would not be directly because the interviewer thought the applicant was super attractive, but there have been a lot of studies that it helps in a lot of ways. Generally, more attractive people are better spoken and more confident, leading them to be better interviewers. Additionally, there's this well documented thing called the "halo effect" where people tend to view attractive people as smarter and nicer than their less attractive peers.

So.... yeah, probably.
 
Yes. Anyone who says no is ugly or in denial. All people, no matter how impartial they claim to be, are more receptive to people they find attractive.
 
circulus vitios said:
Yes. Anyone who says no is ugly or in denial. All people, no matter how impartial they claim to be, are more receptive to people they find attractive.
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I agree.

I had a pervy interviewer. He stared at my chest and compared me on a number of occasions to his ex-wife. I think he enjoyed the interview more than I did.

It depends on the interviewer, but I think it's possible leave a better impression than someone who isn't as attractive.
 
mystifire said:
Yes, being attractive helps but not explicitly. All else being equal, the interviewer will probably be more positive overall when commenting on your personality, well spokenness, confidence, etc even though these personality traits do not come from what you look like. It's just a psychology thing. Same reason attractive people get served quicker at bars and are more likely to have people pull over to help them on the side of the road.
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Exactly... if anything it's a subconscious thing. There are numerous studies showing how attractive people can be the most successful... also have an easier time finding jobs... you will find some of the most richest powerful people are attractive and smart.
 
I'm an ugly dude. Is that gonna hold me back?
 
studies show that even babies prefer more attractive people!

DON'T go flirting or sticking out your chest though! haha not a good look
 
SiriusA said:
I'm an ugly dude. Is that gonna hold me back?
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Fair or unfair, almost every study ever done has shown that being overweight/unattractive as a male is much, much less detrimental than if you are female.

Part of an interview is getting your interviewer to like you... an otherwise bad interview can be salvaged if the interview finds you attractive. I don't think a good interview will be "ruined" by the fact that you are unattractive, as that requires explicit dickishness from the interviewer.
 
IniestaDeMiVida said:
I agree.

I had a pervy interviewer. He stared at my chest and compared me on a number of occasions to his ex-wife. I think he enjoyed the interview more than I did.

It depends on the interviewer, but I think it's possible leave a better impression than someone who isn't as attractive.
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Wow, I didn't know you were really attractive. Congrats!

fritolays08 said:
Say your stats are below average for a school, like you have a 3.6 when the average is a 3.7-3.8, and a low 30 MCAT when the average is like 35 (these are not my stats, this is completely hypothetical). If you are invited to an interview, would being attractive and a good interviewer push you over in this case?
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I hope so. I'm pretty much stunning and all the women around me faint when I enter the door. Somehow, they really like my smile. 😳

Honestly, being attractive is the least factor that will help you (unless you're a 9-10/10 girl).
 
The answer is yes, unfortunately. But it has to be natural. In other words, as said above, don't do overt things to try to make yourself more attractive. Just be well put together (clothes, hair, not too much make up if you are a woman) and look nice in a "normal" sort of way 🙂

EDIT: it will not help for low scores, but it will help you do better in your interview/give a better impression and all that.
 
i don't think it makes a huge difference. if it did wouldn't all med schools have super attractive girls?
 
Yes. Subconsciously everyone is more receptive to goodlooking people.

I have a great body, always in the gym, worked as a personal trainer, etc etc...but my face is average at best, and I have acne scars on top of that. I notice a BIG difference in how people treat me when I wear a jacket or something that covers my body up and when I wear a T-shirt that show off my muscles. Night and day. I seem to get automatic respect when my good assets are on display.

I wish I could wear a T-shirt to the interview instead of a suit. I would feel more confident that way too. But I'll have to make do.
 
SourD21 said:
i don't think it makes a huge difference. if it did wouldn't all med schools have super attractive girls?
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Because most super attractive girls don't choose this route, based on what I have noticed.
 
nikoness said:
Yes. Subconsciously everyone is more receptive to goodlooking people.

I have a great body, always in the gym, worked as a personal trainer, etc etc...but my face is average at best, and I have acne scars on top of that. I notice a BIG difference in how people treat me when I wear a jacket or something that covers my body up and when I wear a T-shirt that show off my muscles. Night and day. I seem to get automatic respect when my good assets are on display.

I wish I could wear a T-shirt to the interview instead of a suit. I would feel more confident that way too. But I'll have to make do.
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🤣
 
nikoness said:
Yes. Subconsciously everyone is more receptive to goodlooking people.

I have a great body, always in the gym, worked as a personal trainer, etc etc...but my face is average at best, and I have acne scars on top of that. I notice a BIG difference in how people treat me when I wear a jacket or something that covers my body up and when I wear a T-shirt that show off my muscles. Night and day. I seem to get automatic respect when my good assets are on display.

I wish I could wear a T-shirt to the interview instead of a suit. I would feel more confident that way too. But I'll have to make do.
Click to expand...

An investment in a well fitted suit goes a long way my friend.
 
Attractiveness may help make the interviewer's impression and presentation of you to adcoms more positive (assuming interview performance isn't completely flat).

But whether a positive interview can outweigh MCAT/GPA is beyond me. Much of this screening is done before you have the chance to interview anyway.

Edit: but whether you consider yourself naturally attractive or not, remember that it's always attractive to SMILE (at least at the beginning of the interview).
 
Last edited:
Depends on how old and how single the interviewer is (or how unhappy the interviewer is with his/her marriage).
 
IniestaDeMiVida said:
I agree.

I had a pervy interviewer. He stared at my chest and compared me on a number of occasions to his ex-wife. I think he enjoyed the interview more than I did.

It depends on the interviewer, but I think it's possible leave a better impression than someone who isn't as attractive.
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And you're a football fan?? Although I dislike barca... I'm a huge ManU fan 😀

Tough tie against PSG this last week, will make for a great match up this week though.
 
AdmAckbar said:
And you're a football fan?? Although I dislike barca... I'm a huge ManU fan 😀

Tough tie against PSG this last week, will make for a great match up this week though.
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That tie was because of the refs' terrible calls.
 
Do you guys think that adcoms would straight up reject someone because of their weight? 😕 I've got a close friend that seems to think so... She reapplied this year after a school told her all she needed was more clinical experience. Even after fulfilling that, she still got a rejection.
 
HSUReddie said:
Do you guys think that adcoms would straight up reject someone because of their weight? 😕 I've got a close friend that seems to think so... She reapplied this year after a school told her all she needed was more clinical experience. Even after fulfilling that, she still got a rejection.
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I don't think they would purposefully do this but being overweight may certainly be putting the adcoms off in some way.

In general, I think it really helps to be appear well put together and appropriately dressed during an interview. You have to give off the appearance that you could fill the role of a professional.

Survivor DO
 
I always tried to show a little extra man cleavage at my interviews.
 
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