okay to reject based on apperance

[jackets5]

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This came up in a random conversation today, if it was reasonable to reject an applicant based upon there apperacne/dress. For example say a man shows up for an interview in raggedy jeans and a T-shirt. A woman shows up dressed like a hunts point prostitute. another say someone shows up dressed up like a "goth". What do you guys think about this.

 

[Turkeyman]

Well, it shows that you have no respect for the professionalism in whatever you're interviewing for. At that point it isn't really "just being yourself," it's more of a recalcitrant behavior :O. If they dress like that for an interview, then maybe it carries over into other aspects.

Of course me personally, I don't care about that crap. Just saying how an interviewer might see it/what it might be.

 

[Flopotomist]

It is not only reasonable, it should be expected. If an applicant is too immature to recognize the importance of personal presentation during an interview, the applicant will not have the emotional depth, experience, and maturity to deal with the situations that physicians must deal with.

 

[madonna]

i agree. you dont look professional and might not be taken serious.
on a similar note, do you think good looking people have better chance of getting admitted?

 

[Turkeyman]

i agree. you dont look professional and might not be taken serious.
on a similar note, do you think good looking people have better chance of getting admitted?

There was actually a huge thread on this some time back, and many said they felt their appearances had detracted from/aided their acceptance status. I'm sure it's built into human nature to do so...but no one really knows for sure 😀.

 

[pagemmapants]

I dunno, I've definitely seen some interview outfits that would get a big fat "DELETED" on their file from me.

Some of those girls from the South amaze me. This is an interview - NOT a pageant. Leave the skin colored shoes and Jackie O suits at home.

 

[jackets5]

just thought id ask since the people i was talking to were argueing that it shouldnt matter that the persons qualification are most important. Personally, if i was an interviewer id tell the person just to leave and wouldnt even waste my time with them,couldnt care less if the had 4.0 and a 45 and all the best experiences in the world.

 

[SpeedRacer]

This came up in a random conversation today, if it was reasonable to reject an applicant based upon there apperacne/dress.

freudian slip?

 

[red dot]

while i don't think it's completely unreasonable, i find it unlikely that your looks can influence an interviewer THAT much. your interviewer takes your info back to the drawing board where s/he and the rest of the adcom decides. he can't take your looks. unless your photo is on the app itself -- which if digitally uploaded looks nothing like you.

 

[firebird69guy]

Personally, if i was an interviewer id tell the person just to leave and wouldnt even waste my time with them,couldnt care less if the had 4.0 and a 45 and all the best experiences in the world.

No offense, but It's actually illegal to do that.. You can't invite someone to an interview and then not interview them, cut the interview short, etc. There's also many illegal questions that are out there... honestly, they can't ask you anything about your personal life - like, "how are you going to attend medical school when you have kids", etc.. I can't believe they still ask stuff like this!!

On that note: If you know that your interview was shorter than everyone else's or they asked you very personal questions that did not pertain to medicine and/or your performance (and you get rejected), you have a good case against that school.

To the OP: Appearance can be misleading; however, it's a fact that biases do get in the way. I took an intervewing course (talent selection) at my biotech firm and they provided an example of a guy interviewing for a startup position for a software company. The guy looked horrible.... they said - we can't hire him based on his appearance. Well, a lot of geniuses don't know how to dress nice (i'm sure you've seen this). They took a chance and hired him, and he was absolutely a brilliant person and excellent for the job.

IMHO, Doctors don't always have to be goodlooking, dress nice, etc.. As long as they have good hygiene,. I'd say go for it. They're gonna be wearing scrubs anyways! And you can teach professionalism..

 

[firebird69guy]

while i don't think it's completely unreasonable, i find it unlikely that your looks can influence an interviewer THAT much. your interviewer takes your info back to the drawing board where s/he and the rest of the adcom decides. he can't take your looks. unless your photo is on the app itself -- which if digitally uploaded looks nothing like you.

I agree... good post

 

[hardy]

No offense, but It's actually illegal to do that.. You can't invite someone to an interview and then not interview them, cut the interview short, etc.

Why not? If you decide that you don't want somebody or are convinced right away you can cut the interview short as much as you want. The only thing that is illegal is discrimination of a protected class (like age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability etc.) But appearance is not a protected class, unless it is the result of a protected class status (such as disability).

There's also many illegal questions that are out there... honestly, they can't ask you anything about your personal life - like, "how are you going to attend medical school when you have kids", etc.. I can't believe they still ask stuff like this!!

This is a reasonable question. As far as I know family status is not a protected class under federal law but only under some state laws. Asking the questions per se is not illegal, only discrimination based on them. It has become common practice not to ask questions that could be construed as discrimination due to the litigation risk involved.

 

[Pretty POHA]

It is not only reasonable, it should be expected. If an applicant is too immature to recognize the importance of personal presentation during an interview, the applicant will not have the emotional depth, experience, and maturity to deal with the situations that physicians must deal with.

Yeah, what Flopotomist said.
It's not that your appearance "makes" you. However, perception is 99% of reality. **This is something that I fought and fought against in the working world right out of high school.** However, it's something that, with time, a person begins to realize and understand as they mature and grow. Part of your interview is your presentation. Your presentation represents your judgement. Social aptitude is also extraordinarily important for people in helping careers... There's no excuse for showing up to your interview looking less than your best.
**Note: I'm not talking about style, either... I'm talking about clean and appropriate professionalism...**
Edit: Oh yeah, and P.S. If I was an interviewer, and someone came to an interview dressed completely inappropriately yet had excellent stats, I'd probably make them reschedule and tell them that when they come back, I'd like to see them dressed more professionally. Not that I'll ever be an interviewer.

 

[{:(]

I think looks are extremely important. Not everyone can be a doctor. As a patient I would feel uncomfortable having a "nerd," or some hugely obese person treating me (be honest with yourself here). On top of that, I want my doctor to dress professionally while on duty. Like a lawyer, doctors need to put on a show for their customers otherwise patients may not trust them or just in general feel uncomfortable. I think acting classes would be a great addition to any medical curriculum so that doctors can better comfort their patients.

 

[-Goose-]

I recently interviewed at a school in NY, and one of the student tour guides told us that someone in their class showed up in blue jeans!!!

The kid was apparently from Canada, so the interviewer "forgave" him... I don't know why, but that really turned me off from the school...

 

[JBigioOU]

I dunno, I've definitely seen some interview outfits that would get a big fat "DELETED" on their file from me.

Some of those girls from the South amaze me. This is an interview - NOT a pageant. Leave the skin colored shoes and Jackie O suits at home.

Nothing wrong with a southern belle! haha I dig 'em. I miss Waffle House too!

 

[OSUdoc08]

This came up in a random conversation today, if it was reasonable to reject an applicant based upon there apperacne/dress. For example say a man shows up for an interview in raggedy jeans and a T-shirt. A woman shows up dressed like a hunts point prostitute. another say someone shows up dressed up like a "goth". What do you guys think about this.

This answer to this question is obvious.

YES.

 

[Orth2006]

just thought id ask since the people i was talking to were argueing that it shouldnt matter that the persons qualification are most important. Personally, if i was an interviewer id tell the person just to leave and wouldnt even waste my time with them,couldnt care less if the had 4.0 and a 45 and all the best experiences in the world.

Your appearance matters a whole lot. I don't think I would trust a person dressed in goth as my doctor whether or not he/she is smart. There is an accepted way of looking professional created by society. Anything above or below this standard will raise a flag. Truly what you wear does not really describe your abilities but then the practice of medicine is not just about ability. It is as much about PR, human relations, integrity and character as it is about being smart. So tell the people you were arguing with that good appearance definitely adds to your application and never subtracts. I'm with you on the interview thing. However my first question to them would be "Explain why you have come to this interview looking like this?" or "While your clothes do not have any bearing on whether or not you will be accepted, it is general knowledge that applicants should appear in professional attire when interviewing. Are you not aware of this? Why have you decided to be different?

 

[Bluntman]

HAHA...this thread reminds me of a story that I heard from last years inteview cycle: On an interview day that was scheduled on halloween, one of the MS1s dressed up in a pink costume and seriously pretended to be an applicant for the entire day's events. I would have LOVED to be there for that!

 

[angietron3000]

HAHA...this thread reminds me of a story that I heard from last years inteview cycle: On an interview day that was scheduled on halloween, one of the MS1s dressed up in a pink costume and seriously pretended to be an applicant for the entire day's events. I would have LOVED to be there for that!

it's too bad interviews are over by April 1, I can totally see myself doing that 😉

 

[45408]

IMHO, Doctors don't always have to be goodlooking, dress nice, etc.. As long as they have good hygiene,. I'd say go for it. They're gonna be wearing scrubs anyways! And you can teach professionalism..

Med schools have enough candidates that they can pick students with strong academic backgrounds who already have professionalism. It's a "buyer's market," if you will, as there are far more applicants than available seats.

 

[Turkeyman]

I recently interviewed at a school in NY, and one of the student tour guides told us that someone in their class showed up in blue jeans!!!

The kid was apparently from Canada, so the interviewer "forgave" him... I don't know why, but that really turned me off from the school...

HAha! Poor Canadian... 😀

 

[Law2Doc]

This came up in a random conversation today, if it was reasonable to reject an applicant based upon there apperacne/dress. For example say a man shows up for an interview in raggedy jeans and a T-shirt. A woman shows up dressed like a hunts point prostitute. another say someone shows up dressed up like a "goth". What do you guys think about this.

I've seen forms used by interviewers, and yes, appearance is often one of the categories noted (as is maturity).
Is it really so hard to come across as cleaned up and conservative for an hour of your life?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I think most of us are in agreement that it's reasonable to reject or at least seriously question someone who shows up to an interview dressed inappropriately. If you don't wear a suit to a med school interview, I think it's a pretty good sign that you're blowing the interview off.

Rejecting someone because you don't like their nose is a little different but probably happens (the reasoning would be subconscious, though).

 

[cbt81]

I worked with some of the Ph.Ds who interviews medical school applicants at my graduate school. One day a girl walked in wearing a skirt that was about six inches above her knee. She was interviewing with a 70 year old man who has granddaughters about her age. I believe his words were “I doubt her integrity.”
Believe it or not this was an isolated case…. there we times that people walked into my department and all I could do was laugh.

 

[Apparition]

In medicine, more so than in other careers, you're expected to dress in a certain way whether it's scrubs, coat, or suit. So interview is just a part of that. I'm all for self-expression but I wouldn't want to go to the hospital and be seen by a doctor dressed as a goth.

 

[humuhumu]

it's too bad interviews are over by April 1, I can totally see myself doing that 😉

Would the costume have fairy wings? 😉

 

[Depakote]

I agree with most of the opinions posted. If you do not take a medical school interview seriously enough to dress the way they expect you to, how can you be expected to gain the trust of a patient?

A large portion of the patient doctor relationship is implicit trust and much of that is built upon first impressions. If I were on the admissions committee, anyone showing my school that much disrespect would not get the chance to disrespect a patient.