Picture Un-Perfect

[sexlethal]

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Do schools really put weight on an appearance (photo)?
I'm not photogenic and very scared. 😱

I look a million times better in person, and am feeling like I'm screwing my application by adding photos.

 

[FlowLimited]

The principle reason why med schools request a photo is simply to put a face to a file. Don't stress too much about how photogenic you are, because most likely your picture is not going to be something your acceptance is hinged on. However, try to look decent.

 

[nick_carraway]

Schools use it primarily to ensure that you are who you say you are when you interview. They'll also receive your photo from your MCAT sitting so it's not like you look perfect in that photograph either.

As saqrfaraj said, however, try to look nice since adcoms are humans too and your image will matter. A dermatologist I worked with trains fellows for one of the most competitive subspecialities in medicine and he made comments about photos sometimes. He might've been joking but he might've been serious when he criticized one applicant and for all I know, she didn't get the fellowship for that reason.

 

[MassTransport]

They'll also receive your photo from your MCAT sitting so it's not like you look perfect in that photograph either.

Haha, crap.

 

[ICanDoThis]

They'll also receive your photo from your MCAT sitting so it's not like you look perfect in that photograph either.

i probably looked like i was about to throw up 😱....haha. good to know
😀

 

[UnderdogMD]

Do schools really put weight on an appearance (photo)?
I'm not photogenic and very scared. 😱

I look a million times better in person, and am feeling like I'm screwing my application by adding photos.

No worries, you will soon find that the majority of med schools are full of ugly people. You will be judged on your credentials and not on how you appear.

 

[bigman43]

hahahahahahaahahahahahahhahahahahaha

 

[TheRealMD]

No worries, you will soon find that the majority of med schools are full of ugly people. You will be judged on your credentials and not on how you appear.

Of course, that's still no excuse to stick out like a sore thumb. You would feel odd having class with a guy who had a mohawk all the time. First impressions are everything.

 

[Jorski]

They'll also receive your photo from your MCAT sitting so it's not like you look perfect in that photograph either.

Oh my god. I was trying to be cute and made a face when they took my picture at my MCAT site.

 

[bluesTank]

Send your avatar picture

 

[spicedmanna]

Do schools really put weight on an appearance (photo)?
I'm not photogenic and very scared. 😱

I look a million times better in person, and am feeling like I'm screwing my application by adding photos.

I wouldn't sweat over that too much. As mentioned above in another post, secondary application pictures are used chiefly for identification purposes, to ensure that the person they are interviewing is in fact the person who sat for the MCAT and received those scores (you had to submit a picture in order to sit for the MCAT).

I think as long as you appear professional, that's all that matters.

 

[sehnsucht]

Do schools really put weight on an appearance (photo)?
I'm not photogenic and very scared. 😱

I look a million times better in person, and am feeling like I'm screwing my application by adding photos.

my secondary application picture...