<p>On the application, it said that admissions officers can see if they’ll recognize you, but that’s what THEY say. Why else do you think they’ll want you to send one?</p>
<p>Some say it's b/c of diversity, but what if for instance you indicated that you're Asian and that would be enough to know what ethnicity you are. They wont need a picture for it. And the ones who dont want to answer the race question of course would not put a picture of themselves.</p>
<p>Most people say because they would like to give a face to the application.</p>
<p>It kinda humanizes you too and doesn't make you seem like a bunch of numbers and stuff.</p>
<p>if you are asian, should you send one?</p>
<p>I highly doubt they'll reject or accept you because of your picture. I just used my senior year one. No big deal. I talked with my regional rep in person, so I figure there's a small, small chance that she might recognize me.</p>
<p>Can't you picture it, though? In 10 years or so, when acceptance rates have dropped to some abyssmally low number, your acceptance will hinge upon whether or not you are hot enough.</p>
<p>should you send one if they don't ask for one?</p>
<p>I think its for diversity. Someone might say they are "Mexican", yet they might only be a very small percentage, thus looking caucasian (I have a friend who is like this). I think Penn just doesn't want to be fooled by thinking they're diversifying when they're not. THey want to make their affirmative actions count haha.</p>
<p>so if you say you're a URM you should send a picture for verification?</p>
<p>& do you get the picture back?</p>
<p>Penn's application asks for a picture form all applicants. I would hate to think that it's for diversity because Penn should know that you can't judge someone's race/ethnicity by their appearance. I agree that it's probably to humanize the process. No, you don't get it back.</p>
<p>It's probably a little of both...it's naive to think they're not trying to weed out the "fake" minorities. I for example am from South Africa and thus African-American. I apply as White but if I tried saying I was African-American (implying I'm Black) they could tell from my picture that I wasn't.</p>
<p>i'm also south african american.</p>
<p>buya lekka</p>
<p>mut ni kak prat ni sienki!</p>
<p>hmm do they judge on looks at all? Is that why Penn have hotter ppl than anywhere else?</p>
<p>if it is optional should you send one, what if they don't ask for one?</p>
<p>Actually, ILovePoker, they can't tell from your picture that you're not african american. I come from a family of african americans with blonde hair, blue or green eyes, caucasian features and skin whiter than most Irish folks........and we have many friends who fit the same profile. I've had people drop their jaws when I tell them that I'm not white. I even had a person at the department of vital statistics refuse to give me a copy of my birth certificate because she thought I was stealing someone's identity since my BC says "negro" and she couldn't believe I was anything other than white. I have a great-uncle who recently died (my grandfather's brother) who lived most of his adult life "passing" for white in Florida. We all knew what he was doing. But, his white wife and kids had no idea that he had a black family and was a black man. He would come visit us in secret. About 10 years ago, before he died, he revealed his secret and brought his wife us to meet us. She was very nice about it. His kids, however, never accepted it and his daughter sent us an anonymous note upon his death (only after his funeral ahd already taken place)...never revealing her name or the details of where he is burried. Passing is more common than many realize.....especially among older people who would have suffered injustices by living life as black. My own father, who is darker than most of us (though not really dark at all) had to have my grandfather rent an apartment for him and my mom when they first married and wanted to live in Philadelphia's toney "Plaza" apartments in center city. They claimed to have no vacancies when my dad arrived to see the apartment....but the next day, when my white-looking grandfather arrived, they suddenly had an opening (gee, do you think people moved out overnight?). </p>
<p>Anyway, this is a long-winded way of saying that if Penn is using pictures to screen for race, they're the naive party here. I can fill my house today with people who look absolutely white and are absolutely black. </p>
<p>There's a very recent popular and controversial book written on the subject called "Our Kind of People", which discusses the history of the issue and how it has divided the race...with clubs exclusively for people who pass the "brown paper bag test" (you can't be darker than a brown paper bag to join). Well, actually, the book is about American's black upper class. But, for obvious reasons, many of the wealthy black americans can pass for white (which might have served to elevate them to the position of being wealthy because they were given more opportunities than darker blacks). The final chapter in the book is a "how to" on "passing". There are 17 "tips for passing"...and the first tip is to start when you're in college.</p>
<p>here's a non-PC idea... if what they really want to know is skin color, maybe they should ask for a paint chip.</p>
<p>lol that's awful.</p>
<p>i like to think it's because they can work with a face...it personalizes the process somehow. They'll know they're accepting/rejecting a PERSON, not a score.</p>
<p>the pictures do not mean anything, you guys all need to get lives</p>
<p>hey, don't need no hateration in THIS dancery.</p>
<p>jesus christ. i think i just used that expression in the year 2004. WOW. my brain's fired, i should do some government homework</p>
<p>pictures are just another thing they can laugh at when they read your application</p>
<p>hahahahahahahha.</p>
<p>"what? her middle name is...IDA? AHAHHAHA i knew she was funny-lookin but that's just hilarious!"</p>