How important are the optional Photos

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
MrLahey

MrLahey

Trailer Park Supervisor
10+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2010
Messages
531
Reaction score
1
Members do not see this ad.
If I dont have a photo I'd like to put on the app at this point is it really that big of a deal? Most of the secondary apps say it's optional. So if I dont attach one for any of the optional ones is that ok?
 
Use common sense - don't put a photo if you're hideous or something. At least get to the interview stage before you let them reject you for that.

I honestly wouldn't put it down unless I was an objective 9/10. Upload your photo here - http://www.anaface.com/ - and this program will tell you how attractive your face is based on symmetry, placement of nose, eyes, chin, ears, etc.

I was a 6.8 so I decided not to send my picture (srs).
 
flatearth22 said:
Use common sense - don't put a photo if you're hideous or something. At least get to the interview stage before you let them reject you for that.

I honestly wouldn't put it down unless I was an objective 9/10. Upload your photo here - http://www.anaface.com/ - and this program will tell you how attractive your face is based on symmetry, placement of nose, eyes, chin, ears, etc.

I was a 6.8 so I decided not to send my picture (srs).
Click to expand...

Not sure if s-...

flatearth22 said:
decided not to send my picture (srs).
Click to expand...

😱
 
I think it's not just about being good-looking or not but also how the impression of your photo will complement the rest of your app. For example, if you seem like a really serious studious academic type on paper, having a baby face that looks friendly and approachable will lighten up the impression they get... but if you seem like you haven't really taken medicine seriously then a playful face will absolutely not help you. You would want to look more trustworthy. Whatever you think your biggest flaw is, your picture should dissuade that impression. If it can't, then don't include one.

Disclaimer is that I don't know how well this applies to med school apps but this is how they advise suspects who are getting ready to appear in court 😛 It's largely subconscious and definitely not that important though.
 
Huh. Interesting website. I got a 7.77/10. Not too shabby. It said my mouth was too wide but the only usable picture I had, I was smiling.

Anyway, I don't think any of the secondaries I sent back had "optional" photos; they were all a requirement. Also, I feel the need to link this thread... http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=551338

The secondary says: "This essay is optional."
She says: "Really, Honey, you don't need to get me anything for our anniversary…"
Click to expand...
 
I would send in a picture. It's not that hard to have mom/dad/sibling take a few pictures of you until you get one right. I usually look like an idiot in most pictures, but it only took about 10 minutes to get a decent one for applications.
 
AzDesertDoc said:
If I dont have a photo I'd like to put on the app at this point is it really that big of a deal? Most of the secondary apps say it's optional. So if I dont attach one for any of the optional ones is that ok?
Click to expand...

One of my old PI's commented on this issue: he said the purpose of the photo is to help adcom members remember and associate applications/interviews with a person
 
If you search through similar threads, you'll see responses from people (including adcoms) stating that pictures are used more for recognition purposes, rather than determining acceptance based on looks.
 
Damn, I got a 2 🙁

To quote Rodney Dangerfield'

"I was so ugly as a kid, if I wasn't a boy, I'd have nothing to play with"
 
lazy said:
what are opinions on headshots?
Click to expand...

As in... professionally done pictures? I know some people get them done, but unless you don't know anyone capable of operating a camera it seems unnecessary. If you do go that route, make sure you don't get anything tacky. Just get a normal picture in full color. No weird lighting or monochrome rendering necessary.
 
NickNaylor said:
As in... professionally done pictures? I know some people get them done, but unless you don't know anyone capable of operating a camera it seems unnecessary. If you do go that route, make sure you don't get anything tacky. Just get a normal picture in full color. No weird lighting or monochrome rendering necessary.
Click to expand...

Yeah that seems entirely unnecessary to me unless you already had them taken recently for another reason. Just go anywhere that does passport photos and have them taken there. Or better yet, just get a friend/sibling/SO/parent to take a few pictures of you behind a plain background, crop your favorite so it shows your head and shoulders (again, like a passport photo) and send that.
 
Geekchick921 said:
Huh. Interesting website. I got a 7.77/10. Not too shabby. It said my mouth was too wide but the only usable picture I had, I was smiling.
Click to expand...

Same! And I got the same score. :laugh:

eli20 said:
This was interesting. 8.57. I love how blunt the criticisms are though. "Your ears are too long for your nose." "You're face is too narrow/too long." :laugh:
Click to expand...

I know, right? One of mine: "Your innerocular distance is too big for your eyes." LOL!! :laugh:

MeowMeowCAT said:
I thought doctors did not have to be pretty.
Click to expand...

I work at a hospital and nearly every one of the interns/residents is really attractive. I don't know if it's just that program, but I haven't seen a single one who is ugly.
 
flatearth22 said:
Use common sense - don't put a photo if you're hideous or something. At least get to the interview stage before you let them reject you for that.

I honestly wouldn't put it down unless I was an objective 9/10. Upload your photo here - http://www.anaface.com/ - and this program will tell you how attractive your face is based on symmetry, placement of nose, eyes, chin, ears, etc.

I was a 6.8 so I decided not to send my picture (srs).
Click to expand...

Wow! :laugh:

Let me go upload a pic and see my score. :laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
I actually got a 6. something. Though it was hard to place the dots because most of my photos I'm smiling and my head is a little tilted
 
TheMightySmiter said:
I work at a hospital and nearly every one of the interns/residents is really attractive. I don't know if it's just that program, but I haven't seen a single one who is ugly.
Click to expand...


I think residencies either consciously or subconsciously put cute girls and tall guys higher on their match list. Hopefully this is true because I'm 6'1''!
 
Hmm, actually come to think of it most doctors I have seen are rather decent looking. Nursing is a bit more hit or miss, but still generally follow the same trend.

😱

We need stats and a spreadsheet, appearance vs. acceptance. 😀

****! I need to hit the gym if I am going to be medical school quality. 🙁
 
9.02 WOOT! although my ears are too long for my nose. guess I'm just really good at placing dots
 
You guys should also try uploading pics of celebrities...that thing generally works like a charm.

Ditto for Facebook friends. The hottest girl in my HS class got a 9.39 on there.
 
itt: a bunch of uggos :meanie: j/k j/k

8.47 😎
 
Last edited:
RogueUnicorn said:
itt: a bunch of uggos :meanie: j/k j/k
Click to expand...

image.php


























image.php
















































































































image.php
 
It seems to vary a lot from picture to picture. I tried three different pics and got three different scores! Maybe it's just because I have a hard time taking good pictures haha.
 
8.32.

So who wants to be a good SDN nerd and chart application outcomes based on anaface stats?
 
Yea you really need a perfect picture. My head is tilted so it tells me that my face is asymmetrical. Also some of the dots are hard to place (i.e. where is the top of my head exactly?) and changing them can make a big difference.

Overall I believe it seems to be in the right range though you can't expect it to be perfect when it doesn't check profile, hair/eye color (which is more subjective anyways) and so on.
 
Last edited:
5.96.........At least I'm in the top half of the beauty class

Prolly won't get AOA though🙁
 
Longshanks said:
8.32.

So who wants to be a good SDN nerd and chart application outcomes based on anaface stats?
Click to expand...

:laugh:

8.8, apparently my nose is way too wide compared to the width of my face AND too big for my mouth, whatever that means 🙁.

I always have kind of wanted a nose job...
 
That site has ads for make up and different sort of creams, but I am surprised they do not have ads for local plastic surgeons. Especially if the application critiques your actual facial features, it seems like would be a perfect ad space.
 
IDC what people say, looks matter in everything

if you are ugly--of course don't add your pic
 
thats a pretty cool site.. never seen that before.

it gave me an 8.89 but it's pretty blunt with the "your face is too narrow/too long" business.

guess i'll go see if i can gain some cheek fat before i take another photo and try to even things out. 😱



and unless you're hideous, i wouldn't be afraid to include a photo, just to trigger memory of you.
 
Petition to have Anaface scores added on MDApps.

That way we'll know why someone with a 3.9/42 and 2.1 Anaface score got rejected from Harvard, Stanford, UCSF, Penn, Hopkins, and had to settle for his state school or something.
 
7.77...Am I too ugly to even think about applying?
 
8.13. What up!!!!!

But as to the OP's question, just include a photo. I believe that for my interviews they took a photo of us, unless we had to include a photo in the app. Just do it.
 
Also, take these numbers with a grain of salt because I tested this beast out:

gal_ugly_04.jpg


And got a 8.49


Do you really think whatever the hell this is, is better looking than me?
 
Pending on which picture I use, I either get and 8.29 or a 7.14.
 
flatearth22 said:
Use common sense - don't put a photo if you're hideous or something. At least get to the interview stage before you let them reject you for that.

I honestly wouldn't put it down unless I was an objective 9/10. Upload your photo here - http://www.anaface.com/ - and this program will tell you how attractive your face is based on symmetry, placement of nose, eyes, chin, ears, etc.

I was a 6.8 so I decided not to send my picture (srs).
Click to expand...

so cool! I got a 7.7.. im not gonna send mine..
 
8.95. 😀 Pretty good considering how my face was slanted in that pic. It said "Your face has poor horizontal symmetry". No **** it's not horizontal in that picture. :laugh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
How important are Work and Activity Descriptions?
Replies
10
Views
2K
LizzyM
LizzyM
Firephoenix938
How BS are ranking sites?
Replies
17
Views
910
stonecutter4991
stonecutter4991
B
How important is preview for UCLA and Kaiser?
Replies
0
Views
869
baristawarista
B
Dr. Fiddlesticks
  • Locked
How important is research in 2024?
Replies
7
Views
1K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
kingkong6712
Can I wait in silence after an II for a decision? How important are updates/letter of interest? Do I have to continue begging...
Replies
4
Views
944
PickaGodnPray
PickaGodnPray
Top