Would it look bad to mention tattoos?

[Rside]

One of the big turning points in my life and which led me back to pursuing becoming a physician was that my tattoo artist was assaulted while I was getting a tattoo.

Would writing about this incident/talking about the fact I have tattoos negatively affect my application/potential interviews in the future?

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[hamstergang]

If you have to talk about this, why waste words saying who it was anyway? Just say you witnessed an assault (of someone you know, I'd you want).

 

[deleted1136042]

What is the correlation between assault and medicine?

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Would avoid

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Having tattoos is not disqualifying as long as they are professional. But I also don't get the link with the assault.

 

[SahilMehtaMD]

I do not quite see the connection between this incident and your desire to become a physician. Tattoos can be looked at unfavorably by some admissions committee members, while others might be neutral on the topic. This is highly dependent on the individuals reading your application. However, I think the most important thing to remember is that your personal statement should be centered around YOU and what you have done to demonstrate your passion for medicine.

 

[Goro]

I do not quite see the connection between this incident and your desire to become a physician. Tattoos can be looked at unfavorably by some admissions committee members, while others might be neutral on the topic. This is highly dependent on the individuals reading your application. However, I think the most important thing to remember is that your personal statement should be centered around YOU and what you have done to demonstrate your passion for medicine.

I agree.

 

[GoSpursGo]

It is hard to advise without knowing more... presumably there is a reason that this led to you wanting to enter medicine, though it isn't apparent to the rest of us.

However, could you (non-graphically) tell the same story about the assault without disclosing that it happened in a tattoo parlor?

 

[CyrilFiggis]

If you’re asking on SDN, it’s likely not a good topic. I like to think of what I call the 10-80-10 rule. 80% of essays are totally fine. 10% are excellent and add true value to your application. 10% are weird, odd, tonedeaf and harm the applicant. So don’t overthink it.

 

[Rside]

It is hard to advise without knowing more... presumably there is a reason that this led to you wanting to enter medicine, though it isn't apparent to the rest of us.

However, could you (non-graphically) tell the same story about the assault without disclosing that it happened in a tattoo parlor?

Yes, there is a reason and it has to do more with helping him get medical attention and witnessing his recovery process post surgery. This is not my main motivation for wanting to be a physician but more of the seed that got me back on the medical school track.

I’m sure I can tell the same story without it disclosing our location but I was just thinking about potential interviews. If I was asked what I was doing during the incident, would I just say I was hanging out with my friend? Maybe I’m overthinking it too much.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Yes, there is a reason and it has to do more with helping him get medical attention and witnessing his recovery process post surgery. This is not my main motivation for wanting to be a physician but more of the seed that got me back on the medical school track.

I’m sure I can tell the same story without it disclosing our location but I was just thinking about potential interviews. If I was asked what I was doing during the incident, would I just say I was hanging out with my friend? Maybe I’m overthinking it too much.

Why would someone ask you where it was?

You are overthinking it