piercings in interview?

[biobossx99]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

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[astrife]

I would.

 

[beponychick]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

absolutely.

 

[lropp]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

unfortunately, it's probably advisable... as silly as i think that is.

 

[Mutt]

Why would you take them out? Schools these days are not as stuffy as they used to be. They don't want everyone to look alike and they know that you can relate to a certain crowd, you add a sense of diversity among student preferences that enriches the environment.

Besides, if you take them out, you ensure that you someone with more sense won't take your spot because of the piercings.

 

[pattayapus]

i agree! totally, 100%, absatively posilutely don't take them out. you definitely want to show you have a personality! you have no idea how much that matters, for med school or any endeavor you make in life. 🙂

 

[emac]

Are you kidding?? You are applying to one of the most anachronistic, conservative, and traditional professions in existence. Could you actually take a doctor seriously if he had a nose ring or a tattoo?

 

[Law2Doc]

i agree! totally, 100%, absatively posilutely don't take them out. you definitely want to show you have a personality! you have no idea how much that matters, for med school or any endeavor you make in life. 🙂

I hope you are being sarcastic. Med schools and older physicians tend to be quite conservative. Most med school interview forms have the interviewer rate you on professional appearance. Additionally, since most med schools try to incorporate some degree of patient exposure as early as first year, quite a few almost certainly will give you guidelines as to what piercings, hair colors and attire are going to be permitted (and what parts of the body, visible tattoos etc., are going to need to be covered up) any time you venture into the hospital. Time to find another way to express your individuality, I'm afraid.

 

[Its_MurDAH]

I hope you are being sarcastic. Med schools and older physicians tend to be quite conservative. Most med school interview forms have the interviewer rate you on professional appearance. Additionally, since most med schools try to incorporate some degree of patient exposure as early as first year, quite a few almost certainly will give you guidelines as to what piercings, hair colors and attire are going to be permitted (and what parts of the body, visible tattoos etc., are going to need to be covered up) any time you venture into the hospital. Time to find another way to express your individuality, I'm afraid.

I am afraid I am going to have to agree with law2doc 100% on this one.

sorry, mate.

 

[jpwinsmcgee]

i had an eyebrow ring, LOVED IT, and took it out. just what i thought they were looking for. it's one thing to show some personality/individuality, it's another, i think, to have facial piercings. unfortunately people are not quite liberal enough for us to keep those rings and for them to look at us with the same amount of respect.

 

[Nakhrewali]

Any advice for us South Asian females with nose rings? Mine's very normal looking and tiny and I would hate to have to take it out. I'm definitely taking out my cartilage piercing but my nose ring is something that looks very natural on my face... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[prana_md]

yank 'em.
too bad we can't show more personality, but this is one f*cked up game we're all playing.
you should celebrate your acceptance by getting another piercing or a tattoo. that's what I'm doing!

EDIT: this is for the OP. South Asian women can probably get away with a nose stud.

 

[NapeSpikes]

Any advice for us South Asian females with nose rings? Mine's very normal looking and tiny and I would hate to have to take it out. I'm definitely taking out my cartilage piercing but my nose ring is something that looks very natural on my face... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I think that may be fine.

For the OP, get rid of them for the interview.

 

[psipsina]

So a friends mom who's husband is on a Texas adcom and who's brother is on Duke's adcom actually calls me before each of my interviews and says "So you've already taken out that tongue ring riiiiiggghhhhtttt??" to remind me. If she thinks its that big of a deal I'm not messing with it. I take it out before the trip so I don't forget the morning of the interview (I've had it for so long I often forget is presence until someone else comments on it) and I put it back in when I get home.

 

[TinyFish]

I have to agree with most of the posters here. You are dealing with people who tend to be more conservative...and they WILL judge you on your appearance, whether they are supposed to or not. You are also dealing with something that will affect your future in a very important way, and you don't want to play around with that. Now is not the time to start expressing yourself if doing so can screw you over.

That being said, I would suggest taking the brow ring out for the interview, and leave the earrings up to you. Take the location and atmosphere of the school into consideration.

I have tongue, tragus, and daith piercings. I took the barbell out of my tongue for the interviews, but left the ear piercings visible (I pull back my hair). Having strange ear piercings has not affected my application process adversely mostly because, I think, it is clear in my application and during my interviews that I have a straight head on my shoulders and I am serious about becoming a doctor.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Tongue rings are hideous. As are eyebrow rings.

Guess I'm going into the right profession 😉

 

[Law2Doc]

So a friends mom who's husband is on a Texas adcom and who's brother is on Duke's adcom actually calls me before each of my interviews and says "So you've already taken out that tongue ring riiiiiggghhhhtttt??" to remind me. If she thinks its that big of a deal I'm not messing with it. I take it out before the trip so I don't forget the morning of the interview (I've had it for so long I often forget is presence until someone else comments on it) and I put it back in when I get home.

I suspect tongue rings tend to be the worst regarded, both because they tend to inhibit good diction, and because there is some some segment of the population that gets tongue rings for certain sex act performance reasons. This may not apply to you, but you'd risk interviewers coming to their own conclusions.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Tongue rings are hideous. As are eyebrow rings.

Guess I'm going into the right profession 😉

Gotta agree about the tongue 😱

... but sometimes the eyebrow rings work. I've seen it work on a few girls.

In general I don't like tattoos. To each their own, I guess

 

[CTSballer11]

Ask yourself this question. When was the last time you have seen a doc wearing a nose ring, tongue ring, etc. in the workplace? I would not take a risk like that.

 

[speranza]

Ask yourself this question. When was the last time you have seen a doc wearing a nose ring, tongue ring, etc. in the workplace? I would not take a risk like that.

👍 I agree. There's plenty of time to exhibit your individualism after interviews.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Trust me- take them (all) out. Don't worry about "being yourself" "individuality" etc- frankly if a brow ring is the only thing that makes you "you", you're in trouble.

 

[kirexhana]

Trust me- take them (all) out. Don't worry about "being yourself" "individuality" etc- frankly if a brow ring is the only thing that makes you "you", you're in trouble.

yea, don't want to be remembered as that applicant with the facial piercing.... be remembered as the applicant who was incredibly personable and friendly, who might not be seen if the interviewer already has preconceptions based on said piercing.

 

[Aptamer]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

Take it out...plain and simple. The interview is the wrong venue to individual and liberal. Unfortunately, like others said, you might have to conform, even if you beg to differ.

Save it until after the acceptance letter comes. I did the same.

 

[Law2Doc]

Take it out...plain and simple. The interview is the wrong venue to individual and liberal. Unfortunately, like others said, you might have to conform, even if you beg to differ.

Save it until after the acceptance letter comes. I did the same.

Again, even after acceptance, there may be dress codes to the extent you will be in the hospital during first year (something most schools now strive to do). Time to move those piercings to parts of the body that cannot be seen when clothed.

 

[Belarus1995]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

Honestly, I would take off any eye catching jewelry. I work for a doctor and he would not hire anyone with facial piercings. Unfortunately, there is some negative stigma associated with it even today. You never know how your interviewer will feel abou it. Also, many advice books I have read tell you the same thing as well. It's just for one day. Once you are accepted you can do what you want! 😀

 

[DrRads101]

Once you are accepted you can do what you want! 😀

That's certainly not true. Unless you want to look like a fool in front of your patients.

 

[tank you]

piercings are hot on girls, but i think they should be taken off for the interview. they will most likely do more harm than good.

 

[Chinorean]

Honestly, I would take off any eye catching jewelry. I work for a doctor and he would not hire anyone with facial piercings. Unfortunately, there is some negative stigma associated with it even today. You never know how your interviewer will feel abou it. Also, many advice books I have read tell you the same thing as well. It's just for one day. Once you are accepted you can do what you want! 😀

Plus, it could be potentially distracting--your interviewer will end up staring at your piercings and wondering 1) why you didn't take them out, 2) why you got them in the first place, 3) why do kids nowadays think that's attractive, 4) etc. etc. and he won't be paying attention to YOU as a person.

 

[nikibean]

Any advice for us South Asian females with nose rings? Mine's very normal looking and tiny and I would hate to have to take it out. I'm definitely taking out my cartilage piercing but my nose ring is something that looks very natural on my face... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not South Asian, but I have a tiny nose stud.

When I went to interview at UVA last year, the admissions office staff took me aside and said, "Wow, you're really polite, but take out your nose ring. We know they're in style, and they look cute on a lot of people, but you're dealing with fuddy-duddys."

I chose to take it out for interviews. I will be wearing it proudly at my white coat ceremony.

 

[gary5]

Keep 'em in. Have some character. I'd add a lip bolt too. Those are kuul.

 

[paki20]

definitly take off your piercings, dont listen to some people they just want to give you bad advice on purpose...honestly most employers even ask their employees not to wear such piercings..its just not professional..plus med schools are very very conservative and as bad and close-minded as it sounds their first impression of you when they see you with those earrings MIGHT be a negative one..and a first impression is HUGE....just my 2cents

 

[Pewl]

I adopt a "no needles unless absolutely necessary" policy.

I mean, there's no better way to show your self-esteem and individuality than by perforating your skin in about a half dozen places, right? Yeah, right.

My philosophy is that, barring any unfortunate genetic problems or illnesses, you are born with all of the 'holes' that you need. There's no need to add any more! Doing so just makes you one of those generic non-conformists. Tribal societies have been doing piercings for millenia! It's nothing new! How can it possibly be an original form of self-expression if everyone's been doing it for so long. If you wanna do something original, go castrate yourself in the parking lot with a coke can or something.

Ah, I'm just ranting. I just don't like needles. I've had my blood drawn way, way too many times as a kid and I like to avoid being on the wrong end of one when I can. =P

 

[Its_MurDAH]

If you wanna do something original, go castrate yourself in the parking lot with a coke can or something.

man, that's just wrong...

 

[prettymd05]

I'm an asian guy, and I have two ear piercings and a brow piercing. Should I take them off when I get interviewed? Just a thought.

Do yourself a big favor and just take them out. Do you really want to risk this? Just think about going through this whole process again over the summer...dont take any unnecessary risks. Do you know how many people they have to choose from post interview? If they have to weed someone out that has the same numbers as you, do you really want them to think of you as the guy with the eyebrow ring? C'mon!

 

[Risa]

I definitely vote for taking out any jewelry that is distracting/eye-catching. This applies to all facial piercings. Ears are a little more flexible... I'm a girl, and I didn't even think about taking my cartilage ring out, but it's a pretty subtle one. Like others have said, you don't want your piercings to be the most memorable thing about you.

G'luck!

 

[noonday]

Gotta agree about the tongue 😱

... but sometimes the eyebrow rings work. I've seen it work on a few girls.

In general I don't like tattoos. To each their own, I guess

yes, to each their own.

and tongue rings are not generally for appearance. they are, um, "useful" piercings, shall we say.

tattoos are hot. especially full-sleeves on men with good arms. mmmmmm.

i'd love it if my doctor had both...

 

[Depakote]

Most schools will make you take them out to see patients, so yeah, I'd take them out for your interview.

I've had some very old school docs interview me, I can imagine their reaction to any facial piercing and it wouldn't be positive.

 

[styx]

Most schools will make you take them out to see patients, so yeah, I'd take them out for your interview.

🙁

I plan on getting another piercing once all chance of getting more interviews goes out the window, but I guess I can enjoy it for a couple of years at least.

For the OP, take them out. I took out all of my ear piercings except for one lobe in each ear and switched those for more "conservative" earrings. They were a bitch to get back in but it's better not to risk it. I did forget to take my tongue ring out for one interview, but I sat across a big table from my interviewer so I don't think he could see it. I did get waitlisted there though...

 

[Long Dong]

Don't be a fool, take them out. Put them back on after you get accepted.

 

[Law2Doc]

Don't be a fool, take them out. Put them back on after you get accepted.

But then you'd need to take them out again within the first month of med school when the school starts to try to give you some exposure to the wards. Bottom line is that very shortly you are going to need to have no visible piercings on a fairly regular basis. Get used to it.

 

[DrMike24]

But then you'd need to take them out again within the first month of med school when the school starts to try to give you some exposure to the wards. Bottom line is that very shortly you are going to need to have no visible piercings on a fairly regular basis. Get used to it.

ya, its going to happen... we're going to have to look like and act like adults 😳

 

[GoodMonkey]

But then you'd need to take them out again within the first month of med school when the school starts to try to give you some exposure to the wards. Bottom line is that very shortly you are going to need to have no visible piercings on a fairly regular basis. Get used to it.

not necessarily. i put in a retainer when i was interviewing for med school, but have worn my nose ring each and every day since then and i'm finishing up my 3rd year and going into a somewhat old-boys' club specialty (assuming i can match.) i'll take the nose stud out for residency interviews, but it will likely go back in once (if) i match.

i've never, EVER had a problem with it and i've never been asked to remove it. i've never had a physician comment on it and i've never received any negative comments. there are several girls in my class (s. asian and non. i'm as white and freckly as they come.) with noserings. none of us have had problems.

just my experience. make of it what you will. my personal opinion is you may want to take them out for interviews (at least the facial one - earrings i'm of the opinion they can stay) and put them back in when you're accepted.

 

[DrMike24]

not necessarily. i put in a retainer when i was interviewing for med school, but have worn my nose ring each and every day since then and i'm finishing up my 3rd year and going into a somewhat old-boys' club specialty (assuming i can match.) i'll take the nose stud out for residency interviews, but it will likely go back in once (if) i match.

i've never, EVER had a problem with it and i've never been asked to remove it. i've never had a physician comment on it and i've never received any negative comments. there are several girls in my class (s. asian and non. i'm as white and freckly as they come.) with noserings. none of us have had problems.

just my experience. make of it what you will. my personal opinion is you may want to take them out for interviews (at least the facial one - earrings i'm of the opinion they can stay) and put them back in when you're accepted.

I would say though that there is a difference between a male with an eyebrow ring, and a female with a nose ring. There are more girls with little tiny nose piercings then guys with eyebrow rings.