To shave or not to shave

[OrphanageCaretaker]

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Can't believe I'm asking this, so blessed to even receive an interview to ask this. But the question remains, should I shave my beard for my interview? It's relatively neat, can be considered scruff and isn't too patchy. Should I bother getting a straight razor blade shave or just get a nice beard line up? Opinions? Pic added for evidence.

 

[spdental]

interesting bed sheet choice

 

[OrphanageCaretaker]

Lmaooo, hold on let me edit out everything else except me

 

[Noice]

"Given that facial hair growth begins at puberty and continues throughout adulthood, it is not surprising that beards augment perceptions of maturity and masculinity (Addison, 1989; Neave & Shields, 2008). However, associations between other personality traits and beards are highly polarized. On the one hand, bearded men are ascribed positive attributes such as self-confidence, courage, sincerity, generosity and industriousness (Kenny & Fletcher, 1973; Pellegrini, 1973; Hellström & Tekle, 1994). On the other hand, beards are judged as less socially appeasing and more aggressive (Addison, 1989; Muscarella & Cunningham, 1996; Neave & Shields, 2008)." (Dixson & Brooks, 2013)

It's an interesting question. I always shave for interviews. If you're more comfortable with the beard, it might be worth keeping it.

My biggest concern is that they'd think you didn't care/consider the interview important enough to shave. Keep in mind your interviewer is probably going to be an old white guy, and you two may have different opinions on what's professional. It's almost a guarantee that he wore a suit and shaved when he interviewed for dental school. At the end of the day, his views are the only views that matter. There's a 0% chance that he's going to disapprove of a clean shaven face, but there's a >0% chance he's going to disapprove of the beard.

I don't really see the advantage of not shaving. It would only make me more nervous (but it might be the opposite for you).

 

[longhorns21]

.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I didn't shave and it never made a difference. As long as it isn't out of control messy, I really don't think most interviewers care these days.

 

[shwayne]

Don't shave! I intend to keep the beard for all 10 of my interviews. If my interviewers feel like a beard is "unprofessional" and will be a detriment to my application then I'd rather not attend that school in the first place. Be yourself, don't stick to what society thinks you should do..

 

[oralcare123]

Society now thinks that beards are still trendy

 

[MLC45]

Since I’m a girl and for me I must NOT have facial hair, I decided to ask my husband. He said as long as it’s trimmed and neat he thinks it would be fine for an interview. And for the record he’s a “stuffy old white guy”. I agree keep the beard.

 

[deleted738762]

Hey looks good on you. However, I can't tell from the picture but don't be one of those guys where they trim the beard all the way to the jaw line because it looks ugly when some of the fat blobs out if you know what I mean. I think yours looks professional and would help you stand out. Some clean shaven men need a beard because without one they just look depressing imo lol.

 

[Stanelz]

I'd say shave, unless you have a 28AA like Feralis. Is your beard worth risking your acceptance? Theres no chance clean shaven will be taken negatively but even if theres a 1 in 100 chance a beard would be taken negatively I would shave. I actually asked the same question a little while ago and decided to shave.

 

[Anna.lario]

Most guys at my interviews didn’t shave,as long is it’s trimmed it’s good

 

[Michael_Scott]

well some people's religion/culture forbids them from shaving, so that would be very close-minded of adcom to deny them.

that point aside, this is a very minor "issue" unless you come in looking like a homeless gentleman.

So just keep it shaped up if you plan to keep it.

 

[allantois]

I’m pretty non-conformist and like to have a cool haircut, however this is neither the time nor the place for that.

 

[Life of Pablo]

I don’t think it will really matter, but if you’re worried, shave it. Beards do grow back

 

[free99]

If you’re intelligent, well spoken and mature, I’d think “that dude with the beard was a real class act.”

If you’re unengaging, inarticulate, or come across as shifty I’d think “I don’t know about that dude with the beard...”

Point being - the beard doesn’t matter, how you behave does. Good luck!

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

I've done both for interviews. Faculty reacts 0% differently to a clean shave vs an immaculate, spotless beard thus far. Sample size is 9 interviews.

Anecdotal, but at the end of the day, if you're appreciably more confident and outgoing with a beard, there is no way in the world that the above mentioned "1 in 100" stuffy faculty factor will outweigh that.

 

[knewstance]

Ive been to some interviews clean shaven and some with stubble. My skin is pretty sensitive to shave frequently, so I just kind of do whatever I felt like that day. I never felt out of place or anything either way.

A good portion of the dental students I saw and the faculty at several schools had unkept beards.

I think this isn't even a point worth worrying about. Do whatever you feel like that day.