Interviewing with dread locks

[Buddhasmash]

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Thanks for all the comments, guys. I appreciate the vigorous discussion. So far there have been a lot of med students/pre-meds speculating, with a pretty much even split between them. Aside from Catalystik's (much-appreciated :-D) response, none of us is really in a position of authority on the issue. Now if only we could get LizzyM to weigh in...

Seriously, we need some sort of bat-signal-esque device for that woman! :-D

 

[gettheleadout]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I appreciate the vigorous discussion. So far there have been a lot of med students/pre-meds speculating, with a pretty much even split between them. Aside from Catalystik's (much-appreciated :-D) response, none of us is really in a position of authority on the issue. Now if only we could get LizzyM to weigh in...

Seriously, we need some sort of bat-signal-esque device for that woman! :-D

This exists.

 

[LizzyM]

I was just in a faculty meeting with two women with dread locks. Both had locs narrower than a standard #2 pencil and very neat and clean. In an urban area with a large number of black residents, most people have seen dread locks and it isn't somthing "exotic" or "strange". If you were to interview somewhere like North Dakota, the situation may not be the same. Much of what is "acceptable" depends on what people are familiar with. If you are neat, clean, and interviewing in areas with relatively large black professional populations, I think that you may be OK.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I automatically discredit any white kid with dreadlocks before he/she even talks.

Stupid. That's like saying that you discredit any black person who has straight hair instead of an afro.

 

[AMEHigh]

There are a couple of students at my school with dreadlocks. I also went to a large national conference for medical students (SNMA) and there were students there with dreadlocks. Dreadlocks can look professional and presentable.

 

[tabascosauce]

i automatically discredit any white kid with dreadlocks before he/she even talks.

+2

 

[SimplyMars9]

stupid. That's like saying that you discredit any black person who has straight hair instead of an afro.

+1

 

[Overmjnd]

so your smart enough to get the grades but you won't realize that this is something you could be shooting yourself in the foot over. Not everyone shares the same view, and what happens when you wear dreadlocks to a school interview you had worked your whole life to get into and the interviewer has a bad subconscious reaction? Interviewers are human too, you know.

I am 100% with you in wanting to take the lead in changing the system, but that is not what your trying to do here. The ONLY purpose of this whole admissions process is to get in. To do something that may have such a large negative impact is pretty dumb, imho. I'd go for that goal once your in.

 

[nabeel76]

I think we all need to get on the same page. Its seems to me that people are getting the terms dread locks and braided hair confused.

As I understand it dreadlocks are thick-locks of hair, which only comes about from not washing your hair. If you wash your hair - you don't have dread locks. I don't think this type of hair can ever look professional and would not be a good idea in an interview.

On the other hand, braids, or rolls, which are essentially long hair strands braided together, are usually not that thick, and most definitely washed. They can be professional depending on how its done and who its on. This on the other hand shouldn't be a problem. I believe this is the type LizzyM is referring to in her post.

Could be wrong but that is my understanding of it.

 

[bookfreak89]

I think we all need to get on the same page. Its seems to me that people are getting the terms dread locks and braided hair confused.

As I understand it dreadlocks are thick-locks of hair, which only comes about from not washing your hair. If you wash your hair - you don't have dread locks. I don't think this type of hair can ever look professional and would not be a good idea in an interview.

On the other hand, braids, or rolls, which are essentially long hair strands braided together, are usually not that thick, and most definitely washed. They can be professional depending on how its done and who its on. This on the other hand shouldn't be a problem. I believe this is the type LizzyM is referring to in her post.

Could be wrong but that is my understanding of it.

Everyone is on the same page. Braids and dreadlocks are completely different and I don't see how anyone can confuse the two.

Edit: Buddha explained it better than I did. 🙂

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

OP, look at how much debate your post has generated. If people on here, who are likely to be younger than adcoms and, presumably, more understanding of this issue, are this divisive over this topic, do you really want to risk anything at the interview?

I recommend just going with "normal" hair for the interview. If you've worked hard to get through the prereqs and get that coveted invite, why risk setting a bad first impression just because you want to take a stand? Be smart about this. Play the game first. You can take a stand all you want once you get accepted somewhere.

 

[Buddhasmash]

I think we all need to get on the same page. Its seems to me that people are getting the terms dread locks and braided hair confused.

As I understand it dreadlocks are thick-locks of hair, which only comes about from not washing your hair. If you wash your hair - you don't have dread locks. I don't think this type of hair can ever look professional and would not be a good idea in an interview.

On the other hand, braids, or rolls, which are essentially long hair strands braided together, are usually not that thick, and most definitely washed. They can be professional depending on how its done and who its on. This on the other hand shouldn't be a problem. I believe this is the type LizzyM is referring to in her post.

Could be wrong but that is my understanding of it.

Your understanding of dreads is incomplete in several major ways. First of all, while dreads can form in some textures of hair from simply not washing it, this is not the only way to get dreads. There are several methods of getting them. One of the most popular is to coat the strands in beeswax for several weeks until they lock up. Using this method in conjunction with backcombing, you can get dreads of any length and thickness that you like. After they've locked up you can wash them every damn day if you want. I've washed mine twice today, in fact. It's only during that first month right after you get them that you have to limit hair washing. And even then you can still wash once a week, as long as you use a residue-free shampoo.

I'll make my decision based on where I end up interviewing. If I have interviews in any rural and/or almost exclusively white areas, I'll cut them. Otherwise, I'll just tidy them up.

 

[Overmjnd]

I'll make my decision based on where I end up interviewing. If I have interviews in any rural and/or almost exclusively white areas, I'll cut them. Otherwise, I'll just tidy them up.

go for it, it's your life

 

[MIAmedica]

Can you find a pic online that represents your dread look? I think this might give people a better indication as to how to respond here. At least it would for me; I'm a visual person 🙂

 

[circulus vitios]

Stupid. That's like saying that you discredit any black person who has straight hair instead of an afro.

Straight hair and natural hair look good on black people.

Maybe it's just the people I've seen with dreads, but dreads on a white kid makes it look like your mom drank during pregnancy.

 

[Ursa]

Remember that adcoms are usually in a former generation, and if they are, that generation will likely be more conservative than the one that makes up most of us SDN'ers. Remember that most of SDN agree's on things like EC's, MCAT/GPA combos, and clinical experience. If we cannot come to a consensus on SDN about a hair style, I would think the phrase "better safe than sorry" might apply.

If it were me, I'd sacrifice the locks for the short time in life that is the interview season.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

I'll make my decision based on where I end up interviewing. If I have interviews in any rural and/or almost exclusively white areas, I'll cut them. Otherwise, I'll just tidy them up.

Like it's been mentioned before, it's entirely up to you on whether you decide to interview with dreadlocks or not. Just understand that there might be certain risks associated with interviewing with dreadlocks. If you're cool with that, that's great. Because, ultimately, it's only going to affect you, not us.

 

[RTP424]

Like it's been mentioned before, it's entirely up to you on whether you decide to interview with dreadlocks or not. Just understand that there might be certain risks associated with interviewing with dreadlocks. If you're cool with that, that's great. Because, ultimately, it's only going to affect you, not us.

+1

Exactly my point. EVERYTHING you do/wear/look like can be subjective to someone. There's always a possibility that your interviewer will not like your hairstyle. But I'm fairly certain that the interviewees chosen carry some sort of maturity and responsibility, despite any minute personal beliefs. Someone MAY not like your hair, but if you rock the interview and prove to your interviewer that you are here to become a Doctor and nothing else, then your dreads MIGHT become an advantage to help you stand out.

 

[nerdtastic]

medical schools are essentially accepting you into the profession of being a doctor. it's not professional to have dreads.

our premed advisors told us that all guys need to get haircuts and look "not shaggy"- one kid went into interviews with a mohawk and got straight up rejections.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

medical schools are essentially accepting you into the profession of being a doctor. it's not professional to have dreads.

It's important that we all show up to interviews looking like this:

our premed advisors told us that...

Stopped reading right there.

 

[Emerica]

Your understanding of dreads is incomplete in several major ways. First of all, while dreads can form in some textures of hair from simply not washing it, this is not the only way to get dreads. There are several methods of getting them. One of the most popular is to coat the strands in beeswax for several weeks until they lock up. Using this method in conjunction with backcombing, you can get dreads of any length and thickness that you like. After they've locked up you can wash them every damn day if you want. I've washed mine twice today, in fact. It's only during that first month right after you get them that you have to limit hair washing. And even then you can still wash once a week, as long as you use a residue-free shampoo.

I'll make my decision based on where I end up interviewing. If I have interviews in any rural and/or almost exclusively white areas, I'll cut them. Otherwise, I'll just tidy them up.

I back you. Your hair has nothing to do with the type of medical student/future doctor you will be. Keep your dreads and I wish you the best of luck, your hair shouldn't be a factor in your acceptance. Just make sure all aspects of your interview are on point.

 

[Barcu]

Keep your dreads and I wish you the best of luck, your hair shouldn't be a factor in your acceptance. Just make sure all aspects of your interview are on point.

Key word is bolded. It shouldn't, but it might. Which is exactly why most people have said to be conservative.

We can argue the validity of the admissions criteria all we want, but it won't change the fact that dreadlocks could affect the interview in a negative way (not always, but it could).

And please stop with the, "well we need to change the system so you should keep them and interview" bs. You can talk like that when YOU walk into the interview with dreadlocks.

Ultimately, it is up to the OP. All the naysayers on here are just saying that it is taking a risk that is not necessary. This process is about eliminating as many negative factors as you can. Cutting your hair would be an easy way to do this. It is not necessary, but it would be a smart thing to do.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

This exists.

 

[bannie22]

dont change yourself for others. change yourself only if you intrinsically believe in it.

and dude. you have 4 years. by then you might have a mohawk

 

[floreat]

Key word is bolded. It shouldn't, but it might. Which is exactly why most people have said to be conservative.

We can argue the validity of the admissions criteria all we want, but it won't change the fact that dreadlocks could affect the interview in a negative way (not always, but it could).

I agree. while your hairstyle might have no bearing on the person you are or the doctor you might become there are so many people out there who will judge you instantly based on something like dreadlocks. I'm heavily tattooed (and female) and while that doesn't change the person I am, I realize that interviewing with sleeves just gives someone closed-minded the opportunity to negate my app that much faster.

I'd definitely say to give yourself the biggest advantage possible, even if that means having to change how you look temporarily. you can wow everyone by being the dreadlocked doc later.

 

[LaydeeDoc]

I have dread locks. Will this hurt me during the interviewing process?

I know plenty of people with dreadlocks that work in hospitals. However, their hair is always groomed and they look professional. I doubt it would be a good look to walk into an interview with rusty 3 inch thick dreads. But properly kept and pulled back dreads would not hurt you during the interviewing process.🙂

 

[Emerica]

Key word is bolded. It shouldn't, but it might. Which is exactly why most people have said to be conservative.

We can argue the validity of the admissions criteria all we want, but it won't change the fact that dreadlocks could affect the interview in a negative way (not always, but it could).

And please stop with the, "well we need to change the system so you should keep them and interview" bs. You can talk like that when YOU walk into the interview with dreadlocks.

Ultimately, it is up to the OP. All the naysayers on here are just saying that it is taking a risk that is not necessary. This process is about eliminating as many negative factors as you can. Cutting your hair would be an easy way to do this. It is not necessary, but it would be a smart thing to do.

If I wanted dreads, I would walk into my interviews with dreads... People are different and it's not necessary to "change the system" because normal people realize this.

 

[Negrodamus]

OP, look at how much debate your post has generated. If people on here, who are likely to be younger than adcoms and, presumably, more understanding of this issue, are this divisive over this topic, do you really want to risk anything at the interview?

I recommend just going with "normal" hair for the interview. If you've worked hard to get through the prereqs and get that coveted invite, why risk setting a bad first impression just because you want to take a stand? Be smart about this. Play the game first. You can take a stand all you want once you get accepted somewhere.

What would you define as normal for people of African decent? Right now I have a 'fro, and I plan on getting dreadlocks in a month or so.

 

[LizzyM]

I think we all need to get on the same page. Its seems to me that people are getting the terms dread locks and braided hair confused.

As I understand it dreadlocks are thick-locks of hair, which only comes about from not washing your hair. If you wash your hair - you don't have dread locks. I don't think this type of hair can ever look professional and would not be a good idea in an interview.

On the other hand, braids, or rolls, which are essentially long hair strands braided together, are usually not that thick, and most definitely washed. They can be professional depending on how its done and who its on. This on the other hand shouldn't be a problem. I believe this is the type LizzyM is referring to in her post.

Could be wrong but that is my understanding of it.

I know the difference between dreadlocks and cornrows and braids. As long as the hair is not covering your eye(s) and does not smell bad, I have no issues with hairstyles. A fellow faculty member has twisted dreads (very short, just starting) and a staffer has longer, but narrow, dreads.

It always comes down to this: could I see this person entering an exam room and conducting a history and physical?

 

[jvesco22]

What would you define as normal for people of African decent? Right now I have a 'fro, and I plan on getting dreadlocks in a month or so.

Lol, your username made me spit out my water...

When you compete against that brotha and his 'low cut Caesar with the deep waves,' then you will inevitably lose (unless he's ugly/socially akward).

Lettuce be reality brah. If you're trying to come off as professional, especially being a black male, appearing clean cut (clean shaven, low cut hair, etc...) will always trump wild'n out (fro, dreads, cornrows, etc...) unless you're going into the music industry or trying to be hard on your block. And please don't tell me you haven't noticed this throughout your life. Growing up black, you already know many people have a stereotype in their head about you. Why do something that would reinforce that stereotype before you even open your mouth? (i.e. dreads, cornows, baggy pants, and sometimes earrings). Most of it won't matter in your current atmosphere, but when you're trying to get into medical school or just a job in general, you need to swallow your pride and ensure yourself the best probability of success. Once in the door you can do what you please, within reason of course. But until you get there, play it safe, period.