I have an edgy/trendy haircut and my first MD school interview is in a few weeks...

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getsome111

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I was just wondering what the opinions are regarding appearance during interviews, particularly with haircuts. My haircut is very similar to that of Brad Pitt in Fury....

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/M...anBnXkFtZTgwMzQxMzY4MjE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg

some of my friends have told me I might want to go and get it cut to something more traditional, but with an interview that I really care about coming up soon, it will be hard to go for anything other than a high-and-tight.

thoughts?
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High and tight it is, then, IMO.
 
Couldn't you just style it more professionally?
 
If you want to apply for World War II-era tank commander jobs, dress like Brad Pitt in Fury: if you want to apply for medical school positions, dress like medical school interviewees.
 
I think you could just grow out the sides for 2-3 weeks and then cut the top a bit so that the fade isn't too drastic. It'll still be a high, heavy fade, but as long as it doesn't drop off it'll look a bit less "trendy," as you say.
 
referee3 said:
Seriously? I thought Adcoms would not be so shallow as to define an applicant based solely off their appearance.
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How you present yourself and the first impression are huge not only for medical school interviews but anywhere. Thats how the human mind works naturally and people tend to have a better time interviewing someone they may feel looks professional. So this is kinda immature of you to think that appearance does not matter in this day and age.

Someone dressing inappropriately, a bad hair cut, personality are the first things that are picked up in interviews and you dont want to be that person that is remembered for the wrong reasons
 
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That's too bad; I like that haircut.

I can understand adcoms being turned off by purple hair or a neck tattoo, but honestly - that much conservatism is baffling.

The general consensus is to let the sides grow out a bit and cut the top. I think it's up to you and your assessment of risk.
 
hqdefault.jpg

Looks pretty suave to me.
 
PlaqueBuster said:
How you present yourself and the first impression are huge not only for medical school interviews but anywhere. Thats how the human mind works naturally and people tend to have a better time interviewing someone they may feel looks professional. So this is kinda immature of you to think that appearance does not matter in this day and age.

Someone dressing inappropriately, a bad hair cut, personality are the first things that are picked up in interviews and you dont want to be that person that is remembered for the wrong reasons
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I realize all of this, but I guess I just imagine Adcoms as higher beings LOL I feel like they should recognize all of this and still be able to judge an applicant independently of his or her appearance. As long as their appearance not completely outrageous of course.
 
How one thinks they can define "judgment" from a Brad Pitt haircut baffles me.

Anyway, OP I would either cut it until interview season is over or wear a wig. I know it sucks but you're not the first or last to be in a situation like this (having a "trendy" haircut myself I understand where you are coming from)
 
Isn't this pretty much a variation of the high-and-tight, which is traditionally a military haircut? I feel like military haircuts are generally considered to be fairly acceptable in professional settings.
 
Adcoms are humans and they will have human instincts. Adcoms have to make predictions and invest in you as the representing face of their school. They are taking a risk on you and the less you reduce that risk taking decision the better it will be. In addition, once you become a physician your appearance can really shape what patients think about you and whether they would want you as their physician. I am not trying to disagree with things you are all mentioning but this is the world we live in and the way we think.

I agree that the haircut, if similar to Pitt in the movie, should be fine. I imagined something very different.
 
aprimenumber said:
Isn't this pretty much a variation of the high-and-tight, which is traditionally a military haircut? I feel like military haircuts are generally considered to be fairly acceptable in professional settings.
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It depends per professional setting and a company's specific interests, but I think in the scenario of med school admissions it's probably best to just play it really safe, especially since someone involved in medical administration already spoke negatively about the haircut within this thread.
 
Feelgood Inc said:
It depends per professional setting and a company's specific interests, but I think in the scenario of med school admissions it's probably best to just play it really safe, especially since someone involved in medical administration already spoke negatively about the haircut within this thread.
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I don't think OP did a good job in describing his haircut (the broken link didn't help). As long as it's styled neatly, there's nothing "edgy" about the haircut.
Top-10-Short-Hair-Styles-for-Men-.jpg

I don't know, I think the haircut above would be acceptable for an interview.
 
aprimenumber said:
I don't think OP did a good job in describing his haircut (the broken link didn't help). As long as it's styled neatly, there's nothing "edgy" about the haircut.
Top-10-Short-Hair-Styles-for-Men-.jpg

I don't know, I think the haircut above would be acceptable for an interview.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree with that picture, it looks professional and anyone would be fine with it. Easily achievable by the OP as well based on the similarities of the cut. I feel like there's a subtle difference between your picture and this picture, which was what I was thinking of when entering the topic
brad-pitt-fury-movie-wallpaper.jpg

that reduces the formality of the cut.

So actually, to @getsome111 I'd just try to modify your hairstyle over the next few weeks to what @aprimenumber posted. Or just shave it off 😛

EDIT: just remembered I have an appointment with my hair salon in an hour, SDN so helpful in many ways :^)
 
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referee3 said:
I realize all of this, but I guess I just imagine Adcoms as higher beings LOL I feel like they should recognize all of this and still be able to judge an applicant independently of his or her appearance. As long as their appearance not completely outrageous of course.
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In a high stakes situation everything counts. Knowing how to present oneself is important.
 
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I'm holding two acceptances after interviewing with an undercut. #2 buzzer all around. I mean, grow out the sides as much as you can, but I think it's ridiculous that you'd have to remove the whole thing for these interviews...
 
I don't get these threads. Why would you take any chances of presenting yourself negatively whatsoever? "Oh Adcoms are so uptight" blah blah. Guess what, they get to be as uptight as they want. They can slap every single candidate at their interviews and they'd still probably get 4,000 applications.
 
Bovary said:
I'm holding two acceptances after interviewing with an undercut. #2 buzzer all around. I mean, grow out the sides as much as you can, but I think it's ridiculous that you'd have to remove the whole thing for these interviews...
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I guess you made it look good!
 
Bovary said:
No, the more extreme versions of the haircut posted in this thread look good. Brad Pitt looks good. I was accepted because I chose institutions that value personality and hard work, not bland conformity and swift aesthetic judgements.
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Glad to hear of your success.
Hopefully others will share it. That is the purpose of these posts.
 
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Just try to part it to one side to make it seem more conservative.

While most of the people on my interview trail were pretty conservative, I saw some pretty stark extremes of not well dresses/groomed and some too stylish. You won't fall in those categories.
 
Why make the interview process any harder than it should be?
 
As with everything, YMMV.

Imagine yourself in the emergency department with an elderly relative or friend. The curtain parts and in walks the clinician. Would there be any personal style that you'd have an issue with? A hair style that would make you wonder if this person knew what they were doing? Tats, piercings, etc that would make you want to run for the hills?

That's pretty much my personal line in the sand, YMMV.
 
getsome111 said:
I was just wondering what the opinions are regarding appearance during interviews, particularly with haircuts. My haircut is very similar to that of Brad Pitt in Fury....

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/M...anBnXkFtZTgwMzQxMzY4MjE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg

some of my friends have told me I might want to go and get it cut to something more traditional, but with an interview that I really care about coming up soon, it will be hard to go for anything other than a high-and-tight.

thoughts?
Click to expand...

Get a traditional haircut. It's not worth the risk.
 
DesertSeaDiver said:
so dreadlocks are a no go for applicants?
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I cut mine prior to interviews, and I got in. Regardless of whether it made a difference I can grow them back in school or after residency. I'd hate to make a bad impression solely based on hairstyle. Your call though, I'm sure others can chime in for an adcom's perspective
 
Bovary said:
I'm holding two acceptances after interviewing with an undercut. #2 buzzer all around. I mean, grow out the sides as much as you can, but I think it's ridiculous that you'd have to remove the whole thing for these interviews...
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Multiple acceptances with the "no attachment" buzz cut. Try to look as sexy as me, and you should have no problem getting in.
 
BlueCircle said:
Whats your opinion on interviewees with beards?
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Generally speaking, clean-shaven is a safer choice, but a well groomed beard is not a liability.
No scruff!
 
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DesertSeaDiver said:
so dreadlocks are a no go for applicants?
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One of my favorite applicants a couple of years ago had dreads.
I can't say it's a better choice than something more conventional, but it's not a deal breaker.
 
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There's a trend these days (see: the Golden Globes 2015) for dudes to have these scraggy beards/scruff, and it can easily give off an unkempt, homeless person vibe. If I were a dude, I'd probably shave it before the interview. Just sayin'. 😀

Appearance is one of the few factors you can completely control, so don't let it detract from your stellar qualifications.
 
ridethecliche said:
An undercut parted to the side isn't really all that edgy though...
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Exactly. No one here even knows what OP was planning.
We do, however know that "edgy" is not a desired hair style for med school admissions.
Apparently it can be overcome in some cases, though...
 
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I usually rock a 0-guard undercut, with slicked-back hair, and a thick beard (which contrasts nicely with my nearly bald sides). However, when interview season rolls around, I'm clean shaving, taking some off the top, growing the sides out to a 3 or 4, and parting to the side. I'm not too proud to conform when I need to conform. I do not think I will need a haircut to showcase my personality or interests. That is what my application and communications skills are for.

In my opinion, one has to be extremely foolish to apply with dreadlocks without being an authentic Rastafarian (even then..). Personally, I wouldn't mind a guy with a nicely tamed beard treating my illness; Beards are timeless. However, a person with dreads will never be on my case. I just think it's the equivalent to a man bun or mohawk. Honestly, I would just grow up and cut the hair. If you are questioning the look, then I would consider altering it. Also OP, despite accepted students anecdotes, heed the adcom's warnings. They're the one's who are actually interviewing applicants.
 
I got multiple acceptances and I don't even have a calvarium
 
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