Body modifications in grad school?

[dherres]

So I had my eyebrow pierced several years ago but took it out due to my job. Last week, a friend convinced me that we should get pierced together as a goodbye "thing" since I'm moving 1000 miles away for school. I got my eyebrow repierced, thinking that it'd be ok as a grad student and no one in academia would really have a problem with it. Now I'm starting to reconsider, though, and getting a bit worried as to how it might be received by faculty, other students, etc. Does anyone have any experience or wisdom in this realm?

[plasticastle]

One of my undergrad professors has a nose ring. I suppose, though, it depends on the school.

[belowthree]

I wouldn't worry about it. Which school do you plan on attending?

[Minnesotan]

Take it off a couple of months before you hit the job market (so the hole heals up a bit). Otherwise, you're fine.

[aginath]

It depends entirely on the school and the field. I don't have any piercings, but I do have tattoos and intend to get more. Only two of my three are visible depending upon clothing choice, but I still typically cover them initially. Once the first impression is set, I will wear my normal choice of attire that reveals them. This worked for me during my Master's degree and more than 8 years on the job in state government.

[dherres]

It's the University of Connecticut, in psychology. When I visited in April, one guy I met had an abundance of tattoos on his arms which he made no attempt to conceal, at least...... My mother this afternoon made a fuss of it, which is part of what prompted this post, saying how I'm now a representative for the school, and they're trusting and expecting me to portray a certain image because it's a reflection of them as an institution, and I am now working as a professional in the field and it's not how the business world works, etc etc.

[Minnesotan]

My mother this afternoon made a fuss of it, which is part of what prompted this post, saying how I'm now a representative for the school, and they're trusting and expecting me to portray a certain image because it's a reflection of them as an institution, and I am now working as a professional in the field and it's not how the business world works, etc etc.

No wonder you chose psychology.

[Jude]

Yeah I was thinking that too: No wonder you chose psychology.

I'd like to say that people in my lab have facial piercings and questionable facial hair for academia, and no one really cares, so I doubt that it would really be a huge deal.

[dherres]

No wonder you chose psychology.

Yeah I was thinking that too: No wonder you chose psychology.

Ha! That's amusing; thanks for the laugh, guys! :wink:

Alright, I'm feeling better about this now, thanks everyone who responded.... silly parents and their inaccurate preconceived notions. :wink:

[Minnesotan]

This reminds me of my dad's reaction when I got my ears pierced (a couple of decades ago). Growing up on a farm and being open to change sometimes feel mutually exclusive. =)

If I ever told him that on principle I refuse to vote for Republicans or Democrats, I'm not sure we'd be on speaking terms.