Medical School Interview Photo Appropriateness

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PsychoPass987

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When you receive an II, you have to upload a photo of yourself. Would a graduation photo (cap and gown) be considered appropriate? I'm trying to find a good professional photo of myself from my collection of pictures...
 
It's probably best to avoid a grad picture, or at least get one without the cap. Think like a passport type photo. I just had my SO take a picture of me from shoulders up in our living room in front of a bare section of wall (it's like taupe, or light brown). No schools had a problem with it at all, that I'm aware of
 
I believe the general consensus is to take a shoulders-up photo of you wearing a shirt, jacket and tie. Also smile
 
Screen-Shot-2015-10-22-at-12.25.00-PM.jpg

this kind of pic is perfect too, shows med schools your face and height 😏
 
One UC I applied to sent me an II and then asked for a neutral-expression photo taken against a white background--within the last six months.

I was in the rural Guatemalan highlands at the time. All my clothing was pretty much in rags by that point, and I had no make up. Washed my hair, brushed my teeth, and sent a photo of myself in my torn t-shirt. Result: accepted.

They just want to be able to recognize you when you show up.
 
pageantry said:
One UC I applied to sent me an II and then asked for a neutral-expression photo taken against a white background--within the last six months.

I was in the rural Guatemalan highlands at the time. All my clothing was pretty much in rags by that point, and I had no make up. Washed my hair, brushed my teeth, and sent a photo of myself in my torn t-shirt. Result: accepted.

They just want to be able to recognize you when you show up.
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This sounds more reassuring, although I want to look a bit nicer. 🙂
 
PsychoPass987 said:
Thanks for the information. Out of curiosity, do you know if adcoms have ever rejected or waitlisted students post-interview simply because the photo wasn't professional enough?
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As I have often said on here, would that make any sense for a school to lose out on an otherwise good applicant because a photo wasn't professional enough? 😛 If it doesn't make sense, it probably isn't true!

I've never heard of it. We use it to remember who you are, not much else. I mean if you had some ridiculous photo of you, I'm sure it could affect things, but that is more by your choice of photo rather than what you are actually doing.
 
This is not a passport picture where a neutral expression is required. Please smile. I have had applicants who were evaluated at interview as being dour or humorless and someone will say, "let's see their picture" and if the photo is someone with a negative expression on their face, the outlook is not good for that applicant whereas, at that point, a photo showing someone with a cheerful expression might have helped.
 
PsychoPass987 said:
When you receive an II, you have to upload a photo of yourself. Would a graduation photo (cap and gown) be considered appropriate? I'm trying to find a good professional photo of myself from my collection of pictures...
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If you are chair, board or member or any med related club in college, chances are they will do some kind of photo shoot with you in shirt and tie. If you have shadowed any physicians, you would also most likely be in suit and tie so just ask the medical assistant to snap a photo of you. If not, put on a lab coat from your research lab or something and ask your PI to take it for you? There are tons of ways to get it, just don't take a selfie lol.
 
mimelim said:
As I have often said on here, would that make any sense for a school to lose out on an otherwise good applicant because a photo wasn't professional enough? 😛 If it doesn't make sense, it probably isn't true!

I've never heard of it. We use it to remember who you are, not much else. I mean if you had some ridiculous photo of you, I'm sure it could affect things, but that is more by your choice of photo rather than what you are actually doing.
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You haven't seen the photos I've seen!
 
PsychoPass987 said:
When you receive an II, you have to upload a photo of yourself. Would a graduation photo (cap and gown) be considered appropriate? I'm trying to find a good professional photo of myself from my collection of pictures...
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Nope - go to CVS and take a passport like photo in a solid color shirt. That's what they want
 
Dr Tony T. Chopper said:
Oh do tell!
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Briefly: nude, in Halloween costumes, group pics (without any indication which is the applicant), Tinder fodder, mug shots, uncombed/unshaven selfies while driving...
 
gyngyn said:
Briefly: nude, in Halloween costumes, group pics (without any indication which is the applicant), Tinder fodder, mug shots, uncombed/unshaven selfies while driving...
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hahahaha, bet you had fun!
 
gyngyn said:
Briefly: nude, in Halloween costumes, group pics (without any indication which is the applicant), Tinder fodder, mug shots, uncombed/unshaven selfies while driving...
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How will he get that coveted acceptance letter without first giving out free tickets to the gun show am I right?
 
My go to photo of myself for whenever I have to submit one for something (scholarship recipient columns, profile pictures, applications, etc) is one that was taken semi-professionally of me kneeling next to a small snail statue in a park. I've been told on many occasions (including by one adcom member) that it's a great picture because it looks nice, the colors are bright, and I look cheerful. I've been told that it is eye catching and memorable (in a good way) which works in my favor. I think there can be a subtle difference between a photo that doesn't hurt you and a photo that draws the eye.
 
RurouniKarly said:
My go to photo of myself for whenever I have to submit one for something (scholarship recipient columns, profile pictures, applications, etc) is one that was taken semi-professionally of me kneeling next to a small snail statue in a park. I've been told on many occasions (including by one adcom member) that it's a great picture because it looks nice, the colors are bright, and I look cheerful. I've been told that it is eye catching and memorable (in a good way) which works in my favor. I think there can be a subtle difference between a photo that doesn't hurt you and a photo that draws the eye.
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:wtf:
 
mimelim said:
There is no way that you are serious...
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These are only a sample. Wedding photos, surrounded by starving children... I could go on (but it's so painful).
 
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And don't forget the dread locks photo one user posted here, wondering why he didn't score any interviews.
 
LizzyM said:
This is not a passport picture where a neutral expression is required. Please smile. I have had applicants who were evaluated at interview as being dour or humorless and someone will say, "let's see their picture" and if the photo is someone with a negative expression on their face, the outlook is not good for that applicant whereas, at that point, a photo showing someone with a cheerful expression might have helped.
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Yes! that default expression should be a pleasant one!
 
Come on! Who sends a nude photo???
 
😱😱😱 at the stories here.
You'd think that someone smart enough to be offered an II would have the sense to pick an appropriate photo
 
PsychoPass987 said:
When you receive an II, you have to upload a photo of yourself. Would a graduation photo (cap and gown) be considered appropriate? I'm trying to find a good professional photo of myself from my collection of pictures...
Click to expand...


Someone please refresh my memory. I thought that I had to upload a pic for the AMCAS app (2012-13 app cycle). I don't remember also sending a pic after getting an II. Maybe I did both? That part is foggy.

BTW...I "cleaned up" and just put on a shirt and tie, and one of my parents just snapped a pic. It was fine.

Some of the pics that Admins are describing suggest that perhaps pics should be the first line of down-selection.
 
SOMBound13 said:
Someone please refresh my memory. I thought that I had to upload a pic for the AMCAS app (2012-13 app cycle). I don't remember also sending a pic after getting an II. Maybe I did both? That part is foggy.

BTW...I "cleaned up" and just put on a shirt and tie, and one of my parents just snapped a pic. It was fine.

Some of the pics that Admins are describing suggest that perhaps pics should be the first line of down-selection.
Click to expand...

There is no place to upload a photo in AMCAS. Many schools ask for them in their secondaries.
 
Pusheen said:
😱😱😱 at the stories here.
You'd think that someone smart enough to be offered an II would have the sense to pick an appropriate photo
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You'd be surprised at how stupid some people that get into med school are. I've met some people (not at my school, thankfully) that seriously made me question how they even got into undergrad let alone med school...

@OP, listen to the adcoms here. Don't use a passport photo unless you're professionally dressed and smiling. Just look nice, smile, and make sure you're easily identifiable. Beyond that your actual application and interview are what will actually matter, not how you look in one photo.
 
rilte4 said:
There is no place to upload a photo in AMCAS. Many schools ask for them in their secondaries.
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Thanks for the clarification. I know I had the pic taken in the summer when home, so I guess I thought I needed it needed it for the app, not II's. Now that I think about it, I think I sent pics with secondaries. Is that memory wrong?
 
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SOMBound13 said:
Thanks for the clarification. I know I had the pic taken in the summer when home, so I guess I thought I needed it needed it for the app, not II's. Now that I think about it, I think I sent pics with secondaries. Is that memory wrong?
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That's right. That's what I meant in the second sentence.
 
Sounds like AMCAS could make Adcoms' lives easier if it required a pic with primaries, and then have some sort of "recognition software" that screens out apps that include pics of nudes and any other bizarre things.

Anyone who doesn't possess the discernment skill of an appropriate pic has no business having his/her app go any further.
 
What would be the worst possible thing to send in? A dick pic?
 
gyngyn said:
The nude did have genitalia covered, a bit like the Burt Reynolds centerfold for Playgirl.
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Oh my, had to google Burt Reynolds, but that is a truly funny story. Obviously uploaded the wrong photo with his app. But you did remember him!
 
gyngyn said:
The nude did have genitalia covered, a bit like the Burt Reynolds centerfold for Playgirl.
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Loooooooool! What on Earth?
 
WingedOx said:
my year we had a girl take her med school ID photo in a tube top. It looked how you'd expect.
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We sometimes veto the especially bad photos for the MS1's.
 
Goro, you may be west of the Mississippi...but you sure as heck ain't in California! Nothing coming from CA folks shocks me anymore. We definitely do live up to our reputation in some areas. 😱
 
Ladies you definitely want the cleavage bursting out with a slight angle on the face. Guys you definitely want a close up picture of you doing a keg stand.
 
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