Should one mention tattoos on the application?

Question

Hi All,
My apologies in case there is already a thread on this, and if there is, please help me with the link, I will go through it.

While I understand that tattoos are not as taboo as they used to be some years back, I am still not sure if this is something that is acceptable to mention on the application, and if they are considered as negative in B-Schools. Though I have not come across any school websites / articles wherein a no-tattoo policy was mentioned, I still want to understand the potential implications of mentioning them in the essays. Though I don't have any face / neck tattoos, I do have one arm almost covered in ink.

In short, my two major concerns are:
1. Can mentioning my tattoos in essays hinder my MBA application? 
2. Can having tattoos hinder my admission in any way?

Note: I am aiming to join a top 20 MBA program next year, and in terms of hiding my tattoos during an interview, that is easily doable with full sleeves.

Admissionado · Answer

vatsagrawal :

1. Can mentioning my tattoos in essays hinder my MBA application?

A: No, but how would having tattoos in your essays be the right move? Is there some deeper story behind why you have such tattoos? Did you get them becuase of a personal moment? I think tattoos can be powerful or a non-factor (unlikely to be negative), depending on how you decide to mention them. I would need to see how they're mentioned. This is more of an 'art' than a 'science' case.

2. Can having tattoos hinder my admission in any way?

A: No, unless the tattoos are truly offensive in some very obvious way. I'm thinking something racist, misogynistic, anti-semitic, etc. My strong suspicion based on the nature of your posting is that that is not the case!

I wouldn't worry at all. You should be fine, but please reach back out with more specifics if you want additional clarity.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  vatsagrawal ,

We are in agreement with the post above.

Here are our responses to your questions:
1. We aren't sure why the tattoos should find a place in your essays unless they are part of a larger theme you are trying to create. Unless it is the latter, we do not think mentioning the same would add any value.

2. No; we do not think that the tattoos will have any impact on the chances of admission, not unless they portray a thought that could feel "incorrect" to some. If the thought behind it is neutral, we do not anticipate any issue whatsover.

All the best!

MBADecoder · Answer

Agree with the posters above. Just wondering what would the context for mentioning them on the essays- just to inform, in which case they have no value. Or does it help you spin a story that is relevant to MBA admissions?

Getting tattooed is a personal choice and so long as your employers are ok, it should be alright. I am assuming some industries that involve a lot of client interaction may have a problem if these are highly visible (face), but that doesn't seem to be the case with you.

vatsagrawal · Answer

Thanks a lot for your responses! While I have not yet started working on my essays, I primarily just wanted to get a sense of the potential negative impact possible and in case they can cause any blocker with admissions. 
So both my queries have been answered, appreciate it!

Should one mention tattoos on the application?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards