Keeping a professional image

[duvaldentist]

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Ok so I was just wondering if a male has peirced ears would that effect his potential admissions. Of course during the interview the earings will be removed only leaving behind the small hole, but if that was noticed by admissions would it effect ones odds of getting an acceptance. I know in society now the acceptance of personal choices and displays has dramatically increased over the years, but what about professional views especially in the dental community. Is it frowned down upon or is it completely accepted now?

 

[tryp]

When I interviewed for medicine, I was SO paranoid about stuff like this - I have two holes in my earlobes. For the first few interviews, I took them out, but after the first few, I just kept them in, and I'm quite sure nobody noticed.

I highly doubt they're paying enough attention to notice holes in your ears - it could be anything - a scar, some dirt. MAYBE someone might notice if you actually wore earrings, but I can't imagine you having a problem with holes. Just my two cents.

 

[duvaldentist]

When I interviewed for medicine, I was SO paranoid about stuff like this - I have two holes in my earlobes. For the first few interviews, I took them out, but after the first few, I just kept them in, and I'm quite sure nobody noticed.

I highly doubt they're paying enough attention to notice holes in your ears - it could be anything - a scar, some dirt. MAYBE someone might notice if you actually wore earrings, but I can't imagine you having a problem with holes. Just my two cents.

Hey thanks for your input, not to get to personal or anything but are you a female? because i would think peircings for females is a little more aceptable than males. Also i read a little bit of your blog and its truely insperational keep up the good work and GL. once i find the time i deffinantly am looking foward to reading the rest of your blog and the future posts.

Does anyone else have any input lol

 

[Blarelli]

I can't speak for any adcoms, but you know as well as I do that some people look down on men having pierced ears and in those cases it could potentially play a role in your chances.

 

[duvaldentist]

I can't speak for any adcoms, but you know as well as I do that some people look down on men having pierced ears and in those cases it could potentially play a role in your chances.

Ya totaly agree with you there. I guess i was just wondering if anyone knew or had any first hand experiance. Because I mean peirced ears is deffinantly diffrent then lip and nose piercings, or a sleeve but I guess its still seen as slightly unprofessional.

 

[Blarelli]

Ya totaly agree with you there. I guess i was just wondering if anyone knew or had any first hand experiance. Because I mean peirced ears is deffinantly diffrent then lip and nose piercings, or a sleeve but I guess its still seen as slightly unprofessional.

There were several men I interviewed with that had pierced ears. All of them had them pulled out. Just keep them out and you should be fine.

 

[sacapuntas]

Ya totaly agree with you there. I guess i was just wondering if anyone knew or had any first hand experiance. Because I mean peirced ears is deffinantly diffrent then lip and nose piercings, or a sleeve but I guess its still seen as slightly unprofessional.

These days I would say pierced ears are even more unprofessional than a sleeve to a lot of people...tats are becoming pretty accepted. Granted if a 60 year old is interviewing you and you have a sleeve, they might wonder if you spent some time in prison.

As far as the pierced ears, I would think that if they aren't gauged just taking the earring out is adequate.

 

[duvaldentist]

Lol thanks for the input, see I dont curently have my ears peirced but for some reason I have been wanting to get them for a while now and I was thinking about doing it as a treat to my self if I do well on the DAT. But its somewhat counterintuitive doing good on the DAT to help increase chances fallowed by peircings that may or may not reduce my chances lol. If anything I dont want to do anything that will hurt my chances so I may hold off but I guess we shall see. I just figured I would see what the dental comunity thought about it.

I might still argue though peirced ears are still less severe than a sleve lol, because having a dentist with a sleve working around buzzing equipment may put the patient under the false impression that they are in an alternate location other than at the dental office lol.

 

[321931]

Ok so I was just wondering if a male has peirced ears would that effect his potential admissions. Of course during the interview the earings will be removed only leaving behind the small hole, but if that was noticed by admissions would it effect ones odds of getting an acceptance. I know in society now the acceptance of personal choices and displays has dramatically increased over the years, but what about professional views especially in the dental community. Is it frowned down upon or is it completely accepted now?

You are over-thinking/worrying about something that is relatively trivial. It's like worrying about a tattoo. It doesn't matter as long as its not mike Tyson/full body tattoo/showing tattoo, just like it doesn't matter if your ears are pierced as long as its not that crazy 5 inch holes that I see some kids have.

I'm sure in general the professional community doesn't appreciate tattoos/earrings etc, but if it's covered and not shown/conservative you are good to go.

 

[lovelyinpink11]

These days I would say pierced ears are even more unprofessional than a sleeve to a lot of people...tats are becoming pretty accepted. Granted if a 60 year old is interviewing you and you have a sleeve, they might wonder if you spent some time in prison.

As far as the pierced ears, I would think that if they aren't gauged just taking the earring out is adequate.

I highly doubt a person with a sleeve openly showing at an interview would be more acceptable than a person with pierced ears, especially in the field we are interested in...

 

[SoulPower]

I highly doubt a person with a sleeve openly showing at an interview would be more acceptable than a person with pierced ears, especially in the field we are interested in...

I don't know how they would see a sleeve though, your shirt should be covering up to your wrists.

 

[slm266]

Before jumping to pierced ears you may take some of the intermediate steps. Maybe get a good Jean jacket, or get a tatoo on your lower back. Baby steps...

 

[sacapuntas]

I don't know how they would see a sleeve though, your shirt should be covering up to your wrists.

Exactly, part of why they are becoming so accepted. Unless you wear Dwight Schrute short sleeved dress shirts.

And once you're working, you could cover it...but each year that goes by less and less people will care about it or think down on you for having it.

 

[chippy]

even if they do somehow notice your tiny piercing holes in your ears, I think the fact that you are serious enough about your appearance and the interview to remove the earrings is a testament to your commitment. don't worry about it.

 

[kingjaxn2013]

I think it also depends on where you apply and with whom you interview. I know of a few guys who interviewed with dreads and got into medical school, so....

 

[CJS]

Just make sure, above all, your demeanor is professional. They want to make sure you are a mature individual. I am sure that there are some applicants with pierced ears who are more mature than applicants without.

 

[duvaldentist]

Maybe one of your tattoos could have the name of the dental school you're trying to get into, so they know you mean business.

Seriously though, what's becoming more "socially acceptable" for our generation is still probably a whole lot less socially acceptable for the generation that will be interviewing you. So I think it might be a little more risky than people realize.

Ya totally agree with u there

 

[lovelyinpink11]

Exactly, part of why they are becoming so accepted. Unless you wear Dwight Schrute short sleeved dress shirts.

And once you're working, you could cover it...but each year that goes by less and less people will care about it or think down on you for having it.

Lol if you say so

 

[SoulPower]

Remember, you must cater to your audience.

Also, I would love to be able to get like a 1/4 sleeve if people wouldn't look down or unprofessional of me to do it, but alas my own self-conscious tells me not to.

 

[jeffity]

Sort of related...

Some gal was admitted to dental school (UCSF). Good for her. When school started up, they noticed she was pretty heavy on the makeup. The guy telling the story used "raccoon" to describe it. "This wasn't the same girl form the interview." She was asked to clean it up and tone it down. He went on to talk about professionalism as students and in the clinic. I'm guessing it was some sort of scene chick with heavy eyeliner and sparkly eye shadow or something. But I just wonder what this guy would think if you rolled up on the first day with all sorts of color creeping out of your sleeves.

 

[sacapuntas]

Sort of related...

Some gal was admitted to dental school (UCSF). Good for her. When school started up, they noticed she was pretty heavy on the makeup. The guy telling the story used "raccoon" to describe it. "This wasn't the same girl form the interview." She was asked to clean it up and tone it down. He went on to talk about professionalism as students and in the clinic. I'm guessing it was some sort of scene chick with heavy eyeliner and sparkly eye shadow or something. But I just wonder what this guy would think if you rolled up on the first day with all sorts of color creeping out of your sleeves.

Well, who cares...you're in already!

 

[DrDSA]

Admissions committees are incredibly diverse. That means it's absolutely impossible to predict how any one person might react to your appearance. One piece of advice:

Don't worry about it -- be yourself, and present yourself as professionally as you possibly can. If you can't change it, don't waste your time thinking about it. Doing so will distract you from the things that are actually going to get you in! I've seen people with nose piercings / ear piercings / crazy hair colors / etc at the interview table.

 

[dantemac]

Admissions committees are incredibly diverse. That means it's absolutely impossible to predict how any one person might react to your appearance. One piece of advice:

Don't worry about it -- be yourself, and present yourself as professionally as you possibly can. If you can't change it, don't waste your time thinking about it. Doing so will distract you from the things that are actually going to get you in! I've seen people with nose piercings / ear piercings / crazy hair colors / etc at the interview table.

Finally a practical reply. I agree with this.

 

[jeffity]

Well, who cares...you're in already!

I know, right? Just flip admissions the bird, call them suckers, and continue on to class for the day.

The point of the story wasn't about getting accepted. It was to introduce the concept that the school just might have a few thoughts on professional image and ask you to comply.

 

[SeattleRDH]

I have a full sleeve and I don't think anyone I know professionally has seen it. That's because I always show up to work wearing a long sleeved shirt (plus no pictures on Facebook).

I still think a neck tattoo is too much.

 

[dantemac]

Once you're in dental school no one will care about tattoos or piercings. Just don't scare your patients away.