Should I shave before my interview?

[cee]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

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[Boner]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

Well, the safest bet is always the clean shave. However, a nice beard does make some dudes look a little older and more mature. I've been debating the "to shave, or not to shave" question for a while. I think I'll be rockin' a well trimmed beard at all of my interviews. But it's always a good idea to bring the shaving kit either way.

 

[Depakote]

You either need fully grown facial hair (complete beard, mustache, etc) or nothing at all...

Looking shaggy is not going to win you any points. Better to come off youthfull than immature.

 

[cee]

You either need fully grown facial hair (complete beard, mustache, etc) or nothing at all...

Looking shaggy is not going to win you any points. Better to come off youthfull than immature.

well what about a shadow/stubble? i dont think you understand, when i'm clean, i look like i just started freshman year of high school

 

[whatdapho]

if you're anything like me, when I try to grow a "beard" it's not a beard. I've never really seen an asian with a full-grown beard. I think the best thing for any type of interview is to go clean shaven. come on, you're in a nice suit, shoes, fresh hair cut, and now you have to be clean shaven, that's the only way to go. yes maturity level will be measured by your appearance but don't forget they will measure your maturity through the answers that you will be giving in your interview.so CEE SHAVE IT!!good luck

 

[Depakote]

well what about a shadow/stubble? i dont think you understand, when i'm clean, i look like i just started freshman year of high school

do what you want, I think you'd look more immature walking in there with a few days stubble than with a babyface.

 

[MossPoh]

I don't knowwwwwwwwwww. I could see the adcoms talking to each other after your interview. "Well, he certaintly is a well qualified applicant that fits everything we need"
"Yes, I agree. Should we accept him?"
"Of course not..didn't you see that babyface? Throw his ass on the waitlist with all the other babyfaces."
"Hmmmmmm. Yea you're right. Only REAL men with facial hair can be doctors."

(mild sarcassm applied to entire theoretical conversation)

Ok...seriously just shave. Even if it makes you LOOK older, not shaving just gives the appearance that you were a little too lazy to take a few seconds for your appearance. There is not going to be a confusion on your age...it'll be on damn near every paper they have sitting in front of them probably. If you can and want to..grow the well trimmed beard/goatee whatever but only if it is thick enough to not look like the 6th grader mexican moustache thing.....oh and good luck on your interviews.

 

[LWestenhofer]

I totally agree. Babyfaced is better than the chance of looking unprofessional. Remember, some people gain acceptance at age 20- no one gains acceptance looking like a bum...

 

[cee]

I totally agree. Babyfaced is better than the chance of looking unprofessional. Remember, some people gain acceptance at age 20- no one gains acceptance looking like a bum...

guys, i dont think you understand what i mean when i say "shadow" it's totally "professional" looking kind of shadow (think matthew fox)

ok, so i'm not as attractive as fox, but you guys get the point. would this be all that bad?

 

[Boner]

guys, i dont think you understand what i mean when i say "shadow" it's totally "professional" looking kind of shadow (think matthew fox)

ok, so i'm not as attractive as fox, but you guys get the point. would this be all that bad?

I think the general consensus, as well as my personal opinion, is all or none. That is, you'd better have a pretty full and well trimmed facial hair configuration, or you'd better be clean shaven. Hobo chic is not a good look for a med school interview.

 

[Depakote]

guys, i dont think you understand what i mean when i say "shadow" it's totally "professional" looking kind of shadow (think matthew fox)

ok, so i'm not as attractive as fox, but you guys get the point. would this be all that bad?

we know exactly what you were talking about. still no.

You have to show respect for the people you're interviewing with. If I'm interviewing and some guy comes in looking like that, the first words out of his mouth better be an explaination about how the airlines lost his luggage and he couldn't find a razor. Otherwise, I will assume he doesn't respect the school enough to clean himself up enough to look presentable.

 

[DOctorJay]

no one will ever fault you for looking young with a clean shaven face. some people will have a huge bias against some stubble. the safe bet is to shave.

 

[HunterGatherer]

shaving is your best bet! 😀

 

[Kuba]

How could you say that?! Look at your beard, Hunter!

 

[rub1003]

dude, i think you should shave. looking like a 16 year old is no big deal. i do it all the time! and since i'm a girl, i can't grow a beard to show my true age. haha!

plus a clean shaven face looks way more professional.

 

[Kuba]

While we are on this subject, what about sideburns?

 

[Nickelpennykid]

This has left the realm of sanity. The only problem with sideburns would be if you only have one of them, or you are one of those strange kids that cuts them up above the line of the eyebrow.

 

[dr.z]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

I don't think it matters that you look like 16. I personally would shave...

 

[BCon902]

what about goatees?????????? Well kept of course

 

[Orthodoc40]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

You're going to look young to the adcoms anyway, because you ARE young! So don't worry about that. You say yourself that the beard looks a bit unprofessional, so stay away from it. Look like a young professional, rather than a (still young) non professional.

 

[Nickelpennykid]

Actual conversation...

Adcom member A: What about John Doe? In or out?
Adcom member B: Well he has a 30 MCAT and a 3.5 GPA. O yes, he also shadowed 754 hours after the second time he went on a mission trip to Chad to work with AIDS patients. This was after he found the time to climb Mt. Everest...twice.
Adcom member A: But did you see his well kept beard? Clearly he will kill someone if he is allowed to practice medicine. I vote to reject.
Adcom member B: You're right, clearly a liability.

This is almost as absurd as the allo thread about what color shirt is appropiate to wear on an interview. Please end the pre-interview madness!!!!!

 

[kaikai128]

I love all of this pre-interview madness. It makes me realize how completely sane I am. 🙂

To dude #1: Shave (I'll watch out for the pre-pubescent Asian-American guy at the NSU interviews 😉)

To dude #2: Sideburns are fine as long as they aren't ridiculous. http://people.ku.edu/~mreid/hogwild/images/sideburns.jpg (I'll watch out for you as well--don't forget to wear an equally fashionable outfit).

To everyone: Please relax your anal sphincters (http://www.continence-foundation.org.uk/images/symb.gif) ...life is much more enjoyable that way...and good luck with the interview season.

 

[hamiltong]

Well, I'm Korean and I shave. I get carded going to R-rated movies and I'm 22. I take my youth as a compliment. I'm thinking the 1950s clean-cut look is probably the best bet. Besides, polishing your shoes is probably more important.

 

[UCDavisdude]

nm

 

[EEL08]

nm

what?? 😕

 

[bluemonkey]

Shave for sure...I usually sport a pretty thick soul patch and sideburns. They came off before my interview. I also took out an earring in my left ear. You want to look as professional as possible. The hair will grow back...

 

[ellinopedo182]

well what about a shadow/stubble? i dont think you understand, when i'm clean, i look like i just started freshman year of high school

I know how you feel. I swear if i shave, i look like a 16 year old, if i do not shave, i look like i'm 25 (closer to my age of 24 lol). I always shave though because I don't want to give them a bad impression by being unshaved.

 

[Tachymeter]

guys, i dont think you understand what i mean when i say "shadow" it's totally "professional" looking kind of shadow (think matthew fox)

ok, so i'm not as attractive as fox, but you guys get the point. would this be all that bad?

I've never seen or heard of this person in my life. But he looks like a hobo in a suit.

 

[prionsRbad]

I think this guy interviewed almost 6 months ago! His beard has probably grown back by now!

 

[NickOICU812]

I've never seen or heard of this person in my life. But he looks like a hobo in a suit.

Hilarious.

Haven't you heard? The "bum in a suit" look is hot this year.

 

[Powdermonkey]

Hilarious.

Haven't you heard? The "bum in a suit" look is hot this year.

It got me into school.... 😉







Not really. I have a beard and have since around September of last year. Nice and thick. If it isnt fully grown or trimmed neatly, it needs to be shaved. IMHO.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I got a full bikini wax before each of my interviews, just to be on the safe side.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I got a full bikini wax before each of my interviews, just to be on the safe side.

 

[CDO2012]

Shave it.. they know you're not 16...

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

Another option to prove your of age is to walk in with a cig hanging out of your mouth and a "40" in one hand...

 

[nlax30]

I got a full bikini wax before each of my interviews, just to be on the safe side.

Nothing quite like the feeling of a freshly shaven.......errrr.....never mind

 

[prionsRbad]

Nothing quite like the feeling of a freshly chafed.......errrr.....never mind

I made a correction for you.

 

[nlax30]

I made a correction for you.

Haha..... it's all about the right tool for the job.....

*this is still on topic, right?* 😀

 

[korpifp2831]

Well, when I went to my interview at AZCOM I completely shaved my goatee and went with the babyface. At my interview at KCOM I kept my goatee and had it nicely trimmed. During my interview I felt way more comfortable at KCOM because that is how I have looked since I was in High School. At AZCOM I kept rubbing my face cause it felt wierd. However, I was accepted to both schools. SO . . . I'm not any help but I will say I felt alot more like myself at KCOM.

 

[justletmeinplz]

I think facial hair is fine if it's neatly trimmed. I was going to shave for my interview at Nova before I learned the dean has a handlebar mustache. After I found that out I felt much more comfortable with my decision. Now the outfit is a different story... not sure how adcom felt about my "It takes a lot of balls to golf like I do." t-shirt and flip flops.

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

ok, it sounds silly but listen to my rationale:

i am an asian-american that, when i shave, i look like i'm 16. however, i can grow a beard (although it looks a little unprofessional) and make myself look in my mid-20's (my age ). anyways, i was debating about the middle of the 2 and shaving but timing it so that i grow a bit of a shadow... what do you all think?

I don't think they would mind some facial hair as long as it's neat, but it's always good to be safe and just shave, no matter how you look. You definitely wouldn't want something as silly as some unkempt facial hair to be a factor in not accepting you to a med school.