<p>Are good looks a factor in admissions? I know that college applications often include a picture, and it is proven that good-looking people are often given advantages in life (for example: milder punishments by juries, jobs, etc). Perhaps admissions officers are not immune to this, and they subconciously favor better looking candidates.
Does anyone think that there is any plausibility to this thought?</p>
<p>Ever seen legally blonde?</p>
<p>edit: 200th post woot</p>
<p>well, she did get an "A" in the history of polkadots...</p>
<p>but seriously, do you think that a good looking applicant would beat out an average looking one with equal stats?</p>
<p>A better question is, would you want to go to a school that actively did this?</p>
<p>I know I wouldn't.</p>
<p>The only school I know that definitely focuses on looks is UPenn, which requires a photo. So I guess I technically should be applying to UPenn...lol.</p>
<p>Actually Diocletian, If a school does this, the student body is more likely to be better looking, so that has to be a plus in deciding which school to attend, but If it is on looks alone, then it is only a modeling school or something.</p>
<p>um... its not actually that hard to create yourself a picture that looks nice. Put on makeup, wear a suit, and take a standard Passport size picture. Should be good enough for anyone. If you do an interview, dressing up nicely should be enough.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Actually Diocletian, If a school does this, the student body is more likely to be better looking, so that has to be a plus in deciding which school to attend, but If it is on looks alone, then it is only a modeling school or something.
[/quote]
Well, duh! That's not the point, of course. If I wanted good-looking I'd go to the beach. I'm at college to get an education. What does that have to do with looks? And what does it say about a school's priorities if they admit students based on their perceived attractiveness?</p>
<p>Look at the "looks" of the Harvard student body. 'nuff said.</p>
<p>Well, in the real world looks do play a factor, so maybe that's the reasoning behind it?</p>
<p>No. That's not the reasoning behind it. </p>
<p>If anything, I would assume that the photos are merely for use in the student's folder, or for purposes pertinant to schools that have interview processes.</p>
<p>I guarentee you that no reputable school is going to make an admissions decision based on a photo.</p>
<p>Diocletian, send them a picture of your marble bust and I'm sure you'll get in.</p>
<p>I know they make people send in a photo but I've wondered if maybe it's just for identification? I mean, what if you make yourself look so good with all this makeup and hair and such that when you show up at your interview you look nothing like your picture.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm just jaded, you know, as I live at the beach.</p>
<p>Unfair world, isn't it?</p>
<p>I don't think that the admissions people would actually consciously consider looks as a factor, Like there's not a ratings spot for it next to academics and ECs! But people just like good looking people better, and as we all know, the admissions process can be super arbitrary. Because more qualified people apply to top schools than get in, I think that sometimes, the admissions officers simply accept who they like the best, or who they get the best feeling about, meaning that good looking people DO have the advantage.</p>
<p>hell yes! There is an anecdote in Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink" which talks about snap judgements. He's talking about the book with a group of Princeton students and suddenly a thought occurs to him. He looks around and says "You know, you are the best looking people I've ever seen. Do you think that played a role in admissions? To which everyone quickly replied, 'no, it was essays, EC's, etc but not that'"</p>
<p>i don't think its that ridiculous of a claim. If you make it to the final stage of the admissions process, and the adcoms are deciding whether or not to accept you, looks may play a role subconciously. Especially if you had an interview and sent a picture, and adcom maybe be more willing to 'campaign' for you if you are good looking.</p>
<p>I really just think that it's putting a face to a name because it makes a students academic record/application file seem much more personal if you can see that applicant smiling up at you. There's gorgeous people at schools who ask for a photo, and there's really ugly people at schools who ask for a photo... </p>
<p>I also heard someone say that sometimes it is useful in determining a student's ethnic/racial background if they choose not to answer it.</p>
<p>who wants a school full of ugly, smart kids when you can have a school full of good looking smart kids?</p>
<p>C'mon! Looks play a factor...they've gotta have somebody attractive for those brochures!</p>