Would you change your image just for med-school interviews?

[coralfangs]

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would ya?

 

[TheRealMD]

Are we talking looks or personality?

 

[Vvandenn]

Sure.

 

[coralfangs]

looks

 

[coralfangs]

now the question is
would you change back after you get your acceptance?

 

[trichomoniasis]

i voted "no" but my "image" is safe for all time zones to begin with.

 

[Law2Doc]

would ya?

People tend to show up clean cut and in suits for interviews. Except for the couple of Alex P. Keaton young republican types who wore a tie to everything in college everybody is changing their day to day look.

 

[whatintheworld?]

If you want in, you play by the rules (spoken and unspoken) to get in.

I certainly played up the parts that would look good for my application/interview, and left out/didn't mention/didn't emphasize some things about myself so that I would have a better shot at getting in. I never lied, but I used discretion where I thought it would be best. I never lied about anything, but I was not an open book with full disclosure either.

People do this in every part of life, though. You don't go to a job interview and talk about you weekend (or weekday) drinking habits-- you talk about things that make you look like a good, responsible employee. Same for med school applications.

 

[Flaxmoore]

Discretion is the key. When I did my interviews, I shaved off my beard and cleaned up, full suit and tie. However, the day before and the day after, I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

 

[ssquared]

I'd shave my head a la Britney Spears if it meant I could get into med school.

But since my "look" is pretty clean cut, I don't have any plans except to pull back my long hair into a bun or something.

 

[deuce924]

I agree with the previous posts that it is not as much of a change as a use of discretion. I am not going to change but at the same time I will trade in my t-shirt and sandals for a suit. But that is life, you have to dress and act for the occasion.

 

[lilnoelle]

I agree with the previous posts that it is not as much of a change as a use of discretion. I am not going to change but at the same time I will trade in my t-shirt and sandals for a suit. But that is life, you have to dress and act for the occasion.

A good example of the need to change instead of using discretion....
If an individual has an odd colored hair, it would probably be a good idea to dye it to a normal shade for interviews. Another example: a person with a nose ring/eye brow ring, etc would probably be wise to take it out for the interview.

 

[voirlesetoiles]

A good example of the need to change instead of using discretion....
If an individual has an odd colored hair, it would probably be a good idea to dye it to a normal shade for interviews. Another example: a person with a nose ring/eye brow ring, etc would probably be wise to take it out for the interview.

I got a nose ring freshman year and I took it out last year when I figured out I wanted to go med school. So... YES to the image change.

 

[profdogg]

now the question is
would you change back after you get your acceptance?

Yes and Yes.

Welcome back white-boy fro and 5 o' clock shadow!

 

[voirlesetoiles]

Yes and Yes.

Welcome back white-boy fro and 5 o' clock shadow!

And I will get my dream tattoo and repierce my nose the day before orientation... j/k.

 

[Fiddlergirl]

I'm not planning on mentioning Wicca, D&D or any of that fun stuff unless the interviewer specifically asks "So, do anything that might be considered Satanic in your spare time?"

 

[ssquared]

"So, do anything that might be considered Satanic in your spare time?"

Oh, but I thought that was a standard question, right after "Why do you want to be a doctor?"

 

[Fiddlergirl]

Sure, it's a standard question. Right before "Which organ will you donate to the Dean if we admit you?"

 

[utscdave]

The one thing that worries me is my height. I'm 5'4", which puts me below the national average, do you think this is a disadvantage or am I just being stupid? 😛

 

[notdeadyet]

The poll results are about as expected. Toss a suit at most women I know and they could walk into a med school interview with a scrunchie. Most guys need a shave, a haircut, spackle, and constant instructions not to slouch.

The irony is that most of the women I know will probaby take a lot longer to get ready, even though they'd've looked smashing after about 10 minutes.

 

[MassTransport]

The one thing that worries me is my height. I'm 5'4", which puts me below the national average, do you think this is a disadvantage or am I just being stupid? 😛

It's absolutely a disadvantage. If you're not attractive, don't even bother going.

 

[zeff]

Are you kidding? I would've changed anything, up to and including sexual orientation, to get into med school! 🙂 OK, maybe, not that, but you get the idea.

Seriously, 'staying true to yourself' and wearing that lip-ring to interview day is just not worth it

 

[lilnoelle]

Most likely any questionable issues with physical appearance (piercings, odd colored hair, tattoos) will not be acceptable during your third and fourth year of med school and also during residency. In other words, get used to the change.

There was a thread about this in the residency forums a while back. There were definitely a few individuals that managed to keep their look and have it not be a problem, but I think by far the majority opinion was stay on the safe side and be conservative with one's appearance.

 

[littlealex]

If your original image is weird and creepy, then hell yeah you should change. Personally I don't think I could change much in a short period of time, so no.

 

[utscdave]

It's absolutely a disadvantage. If you're not attractive, don't even bother going.

LOL

What do you think. Spike my hair, wear discrete platforms and sleep upside down with my legs hooked onto the ceiling?

That should at least give me another 3" which is national mean.

 

[SunshineNYC]

I think if you are applying to enter a profession, you should dress within the professional guidelines of that career. You might try to look up the hospitals where you'll be doing your clinical rotations and find their dress code. Many hospitals ban visible tattoos, piercings, certain other articles of clothing, so check those out first if you have any questions as to what is acceptable and what is not.

Even something as simple as having multiple ear piercings instead of the conservative one piercing, should be considered. I know a lot of old-timers that view that as unprofessional, however, when I went on my interview, I wore two earrings in my ear because each set had a special "lucky" superstitious value to me, so I felt that I wanted to wear them. Anyway, I guess my point is that if it is inherrent to your identity, or if you feel like conforming to the professional dress code would make you so uncomfortable as to take away from your interview, then don't. If I had not had the earrings, I wouldn't have felt as confident, so I think having them but shining in the interview was the way to go as opposed to not having them and being a little nervous or uneasy. (I am dramatizing the effect of the earrings just to make a point, because without them I'd do fine) Similarly, if you are more confident and more yourself with a beard, then keep it and you'll shine past the beard, but if you shave it and are then shy and self-conscious, then the interview will suffer for it.

I guess as a general rule, always look clean and confident, the way you'd want your patients to see you so that they'd trust you with their lives.

 

[MassTransport]

LOL

What do you think. Spike my hair, wear discrete platforms and sleep upside down with my legs hooked onto the ceiling?

That should at least give me another 3" which is national mean.

I'd go the direct route and get limb lengthening surgery. You are going to be a doctor, after all.

In all seriousness, though, I don't think height will have a factor in your admissions decision.

 

[maestro1625]

It's absolutely a disadvantage. If you're not attractive, don't even bother going.

there's a reason they don't do interviews over the phone.

 

[Bluesmurf314]

The one thing that worries me is my height. I'm 5'4", which puts me below the national average, do you think this is a disadvantage or am I just being stupid? 😛

Dr. Bailey seems to pull it off just fine. 😀

 

[munnabhai]

Sure, it's a standard question. Right before "Which organ will you donate to the Dean if we admit you?"

anything short of "heart" is indicative of a lack of devotion to medicine.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

Yes, if I looked like these guys:

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Dr. Bailey seems to pull it off just fine. 😀

Who the hell is that?

 

[TheRealMD]

Who the hell is that?

Don't worry, it's not that important.

 

[apnea]

Uhm, yeah. Right now, my hair is florescent pink and i have 3 facial piercings. That probably won't go over too well.

 

[armybound]

I mentioned this before, but yes, I have.

I interviewed at USUHS (military) and because military personnel are often expected to be clean-shaven, I lost the chin pubes. That's the only time I can remember losing the goatee in the last 5 years or so.

I might do it again for a new round of interviews.

 

[musiclink213]

Even something as simple as having multiple ear piercings instead of the conservative one piercing, should be considered. I know a lot of old-timers that view that as unprofessional, however, when I went on my interview, I wore two earrings in my ear because each set had a special "lucky" superstitious value to me, so I felt that I wanted to wear them. Anyway, I guess my point is that if it is inherrent to your identity, or if you feel like conforming to the professional dress code would make you so uncomfortable as to take away from your interview, then don't. If I had not had the earrings, I wouldn't have felt as confident, so I think having them but shining in the interview was the way to go as opposed to not having them and being a little nervous or uneasy. (I am dramatizing the effect of the earrings just to make a point, because without them I'd do fine) Similarly, if you are more confident and more yourself with a beard, then keep it and you'll shine past the beard, but if you shave it and are then shy and self-conscious, then the interview will suffer for it.

I don't think having 2 ear peircing is such a no no anymore. I'm assuming you mean 2 in the lobes, though. I also have 2 and it never even crossed my mind to take the second one out. I don't think people even notice that I have 2 holes. I wore diamond studs in the second hole, nad small earrings in the first hole. This is what I've been doing for years, and I nobody ever gives me a second look.

Now, if you had some super long dangly things from both holes, I would be a bit concerned, but studs and small earrings, I doubt people would even notice. Even my best friend who was with me when I got my second hole 10 years ago, she said to me recently "When did you get the second hole in your ear?" I guess she forgot she was with me, and it took her that long to see them again.

 

[etf]

hell, i'd change my gender if i thought it'd give me a leg-up in the admissions proceess...

 

[Decicco]

People tend to show up clean cut and in suits for interviews. Except for the couple of Alex P. Keaton young republican types who wore a tie to everything in college everybody is changing their day to day look.

I'm a "young republican type," but if the standard was to dress like I hippie for interviews, I would comply 😀

 

[kypdurron5]

I've thought about going with some stylish glasses this year despite my perfect vision >). I'm also considering hair gel; I absolutely HATE it and NEVER use it, but I've noticed that in every interview the other male candidates have all had traditionally gelled hair ::

 

[coralfangs]

Yes, if I looked like these guys:

sadly, my hair is like one of those jerks (ps: those are poser scene kids and I dislike them, you would find those jerks in most all-ages shows....)
but then... I'm in New York.......
though I am seriously considering cutting my hair short for the interviews....

 

[Mayday]

A good example of the need to change instead of using discretion....
If an individual has an odd colored hair, it would probably be a good idea to dye it to a normal shade for interviews. Another example: a person with a nose ring/eye brow ring, etc would probably be wise to take it out for the interview.

Yes, sadly, my blue hair is going to have to go for interviews 🙁

 

[artaxerxes]

hell yes....