Saer

I'm a few weeks away from my first interview, and I have a few questions about appearance...

I am by no means a "punk", "emo", "alternative", or whatever you like to label those dark and disturbed individuals nowadays. I am a bubbly, bright person.

But I recently dyed my hair a deep red (the name was rich mahogany, lol) and I have a nose piercing. The hair is far from my natural color (blonde) and the nose piercing is a simple, classy aurora Borealis stud.

Do schools have dress codes that pertain to hair color and facial piercings? Specifically Choate, Exeter, and Andover.

Will I be looked down on/discriminated against because of my appearance?

Linda S

I would go to the school's web sites and find the dress code. Usually they are in the student/family handbooks. Some schools (I have no idea if those 3 are included in this) do have rules that pertain to hair color and piercings.

Saer

Thanks! I hope not- Andover and Choate seem relatively lax, as Andover had two girls with nose piercings in their viewbook. But who knows?

italianboarder

On my tour of Andover I saw three guys with wife beaters, lip piercings and dyed mohawks. They were students... It was a thursday... No classes though because of a holiday.

westcoast_

methinks it show diversity :P

ops

Appearance for the interview is important. I don't think it is considered discrimination or diversity. As for the Andover students, maybe a transformation after acceptance or Halloween but the Exeter students would probably like to think otherwise. Sorry, don't mean to rain on your parade, just my first impression.

Saer

I agree, ops. Appearance is amazingly important to admissions and to myself, and I do not want to look like a punk.
The piercing really is almost unnoticable, and the hair color will fade. But I just wanted to make sure no body would "count me out" of the runnign because of my appearance!
I plan on wearing very simple clothes, black dress pants and a nice, plain blue top.

ops

If you carry yourself in the manner in which you responded after my last somewhat sarcastic comment then you will do very well. They will by no means count you out . Good luck!

siliconvalleymom

I think your interviewers will care more about your enthusiasm and interest in their school than about your hair color.

italianboarder

I will tell you one thing. My interviewer from Andover said, "I can tell that you spent a while picking out your suit... The light blue strips and tie looks pretty solid. Why?"
I told him "being the most brilliant mind in history doesn't count for anything unless I can convey my knowledge to other people and present myself in a way that does my material justice. That is what Mock Trial taught me."

I mean, he was very impressed and told me that my answer was the best answer he has gotten in response to that question in all of his years of admission. I was really impressed that he stressed the value of knowing that substance and presentation is important and was happy to tell me that I had both.


I thought that was a big hook in my interview personally.

musicallylatin

^ I'm guessing a suit would be too over the top for a girl.

I own one for debate, and it might be weird, but I love wearing my suit.

italianboarder

The girls that I know told me they all wore business formal... I mean one girl said that she wore pink shoes with a black suit and all of the interviewers commented and that was a great way to "force" a question she had a great answer for.

She said something about they really symbolize her... I didn't really pay attention.

musicallylatin

Good. I'm glad I can wear it.

I'm really not sure why it matters, since like I've said on other threads, I'm doing, unfortunatly, most of mine on the phone.

Saer

Woo. I had no idea you were being sarcastic past the whole "raining on your parade" thing... Either I'm "doing well" or just painfully oblivious! haha.