Piercings!!!?!?!?!?

[MissMary]

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This may be a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway. I'm thinking about getting this piercing thru the middle of my ear, but I can't help but wonder if eyebrow peircings or ones like this one look bad in interviews. Do you think it even matters???

 

[tigress]

Anything that isn't extreme should be fine, I think. There was a similar post in Allo about somebody wanting to dye his hair, and I mentioned there that I know of somebody who was asked to remove some of her piercings and let her dyed hair grow out because it didn't fit with the school's goal of "professionalism." That said, she was already a student, and probably had that when she interviewed. I'd guess that an ear piercing shouldn't have much effect on the interview in most places.

 

[January Friend]

If you really want to get a piercing, get one you can hide with clothes. 👍

 

[relema]

You can search the forum and there is a post just recently that asked a similar question. Point is, conservative is the way to go for interviews. I would not wear lots of peircings to interviews (especially guys). I wore only one pair of studs in the first holes in my ears( good rule for girls)Anything else and your risking standing out in a bad way.

 

[NPursuit]

I really have problems taking anyone seriously with piercings in odd places. I can only imagine what older adcoms go through.

I'd advise against it.

 

[LaurieB]

This may be a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway. I'm thinking about getting this piercing thru the middle of my ear, but I can't help but wonder if eyebrow peircings or ones like this one look bad in interviews. Do you think it even matters???

It can only hurt you. If you really want the piercing, wait until after your interviews.

 

[mdsadler]

When are you interviewing? Are you applying for 2006 or do you have an interview left this cycle? If you are applying for 2006 I say go for it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having any type of piercing. However, I do understand that a conservative approach is the best one for interviews because as you can see from this forum some people just can't take anyone with an odd piercing seriously (as strange as that may seem to me). Therefore I think you should get it done soon. This way, by the time you have interviews you can take it out and it should be fine for the day or you can insert a clear plug that isn't noticeable to hold the hole open. Also, double check with your piercer about how long a conch (I believe this is what you are getting done) takes to heal and how soon you can change the piercing or if you can take it out.

 

[Csv321]

I personally have a tongue piercing and have had it for 3 years. I don't have the big silver ball though. Instead, to keep my parents from seeing it when I first got it, I used a flat flesh-colored stud thing (don't exactly know what it's called) so it wasn't obvious. I forgot to take it out for my committee interviews and it was not mentioned at all in my reviews or during my interview.

However, for my interview, I just took it out before my interview and after it was done, I went to the bathroom to put it back in (to prevent the hole from closing). No one said anything about it throughout the day.

I guess it all depends on how comfortable you are with it. If you're applying now, you may not have enough time to let it heal so that you can take it out. If you have to ask or are concerned about it, then I would just wait until you get that first acceptance letter.

 

[aar239]

I don't think having a piercing should be a problem when applying as long as they are tastefull. I have 3 ear piercings in each ear and a nose stud..I never took them out for any of my interviews and it was never brought up in any of them. I have a couple of acceptances so far so it doesn't seem that it hurt me.

 

[Mistress S]

I have a nose ring which I removed for my interviews, and a tattoo which I was able to conceal with my clothing. I didn't think it would necessarily keep me from being accepted somewhere, but getting into med school was too important for me to take a chance on offending some ultra-conservative adcom member. I also removed it for secondary photos (which a lot of schools require). An ear piercing doesn't seem like it would matter--it's not like you're planning on getting a flesh tunnel in your ear--but if you want to err on the side of caution (probably a good idea) you may want to wait until interviews are over to get the piercing, or get it now so it will be healed and able to be removed by the time you get interviews (or, alternatively, wear your hair to conceal it if possible). I have had my nose ring since I was 14, so I will probably continue to wear it during school--it's kind of part of my face now 😛 --but I am thinking of replacing the ring with a smaller stud. Good luck!

 

[cammy1313]

I concur with those advising to postpone the piercing. Conservative is always best for interviews.

I've had a navel ring for a decade or so and have never had to remove with the exception of my hospital volunteering. There is certain machinery that would be disturbed by metals and things in the vicinity. Was rather shocked by this but I suppose removing the ring or myself from the room during such procedures is a small price to pay in the name of medicine.