Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Photo On Dental Application = Discrimination?
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Friday, 4/14/2006 10:29 AM MDT

SSA

I am currently applying to Dental School. Some schools ask for a photograph attached to the application; and on the application they ask for “Ethnic Identification” (with the option of saying “Do not wish to report”). I applied to dental school last year with above average credentials and I was not given an interview to the places I sent my picture and answered that Ethnicity question (I wear a Pagh and have a Dardi). This year I will not be sending my pictures to the schools and I will be answering “Do not wish to report” for the Ethnicity question.

Am I just being paranoid? Do you think that if I do not send a picture, it might hurt my chances of getting in because I risk coming across as elusive? Or Should I just be proud of who I am and send the picture anyway? Aren't these types of requests on an application illegal, or innately wrong? Do you normally answer the ethnicity question? I’m a bit confused… What would you guys do?

WJKK, WJKF :)

**********
reply
***********
Sat nam. Depends on the state/country you live in, whether or not it's legal. I do know that statistics are a big deal for institutions of higher learning and that they like to know the 'ethnic' breakdown of their applicants. The photo could be for a number of reasons, paranoid or not. The other side of this is that those who don't fill in the application and send photos are ignored. It might be more appropriate to CALL them and ask them why they ask these questions and for the photos. In an ideal world, you visit the school to see if it's a fit for YOU. Guru ang sang,
-DKK