Test Day Photo

Question

So there's a topic that I'm very curious about that I hadn't heard about until after taking my GMAT. According to my score report, the school's that receive my scores will be able to see my test day photo. Well, my GMAT was a 710, but my picture was probably more like a 450 (subpar). I had taken a week off from work, and had a serious beard, bright colored shirt (lucky t-shirt), no smile, red eyes, need a haircut, etc... Pretty much just thought it was for the test center to confirm my identity. But it turns out that the school will probably use this photo to confirm my score also.

I can just imagine the adcoms now, looking through my profile, picture in hand, saying "so this guy looks good on paper, but... darn, he looks like a thug" haha... so needless to say, I do wish I had put on a better face. I want to make a recommendation to everyone taking the test, you may know all your grammar rules, timing strategies, and how to use a scratch pad.... BUT... shave, smile, wear a clip on tie for pete's sake. Don't forget the little known piece of information that should definitely get more play on this website. School's are very open in saying "they use all information available to them". I'd be very surprised if that picture doesn't make the rounds at the adcom tables.

I'm quite surprised this rule doesn't get more attention, it seems to be an extra piece of info that can say a lot about a person (right or wrong) without actually filling out anything on paper. It would be easy to say that this is used for "score confirmation" but it can be used for a lot more. What does everyone think? :?:

(PS debreif coming soon - 570-710)

(PS debreif coming soon - 570-710)

vixer · Answer

They also get a copy of your AWA essays. Few people seem to realize this...

ebonn101 · Answer

Waaaaaaay over thinking this whole thing. I guarantee there are a ton of people who've been accepted to top schools with awful pictures. Think about it. Virtually everyone who sits for the GMAT is stressed, tired, sleep deprived, and probably wearing sweats and a moo moo. Nobody is looking like Demi Moore on the red carpet at the Oscars.

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GMATLA · Answer

Ya, I absolutely agree... I'm just the type of person that would want every advantage I could get. If you knew this in advance wouldn't you want to atleast smile, shave, etc? I'm just surprised with how much I've read on forums and blogs that I never once read about this piece of information. I'm sure more people would be interested in knowing. It does make me happy to know that there are strong security measures for test takers.

bb · Answer

I believe the official language says "they can request a photo" so it may mean they are not actually seeing it for everyone. (though if i were an adcom member, that's what I would probably do, check out the pictures of unsuspecting applicants).

On a serious note - I can't imagine what the value is for schools to see the photo. Is that for cheating? So that a different person would not show up for the interview? I really think it is overdone on the GMAC's part. I agreed to take a test, not a photoshoot.

scorpionz · Answer

Wow, I totally did not know this fact!!
Thanks for sharing!

GMATLA · Answer

Here is the wording from my official score report (less than 2 weeks old). On the 3 page document, the 3rd page has "answers to frequently asked questions". Here's what it says about photos, and this is why I wrote the post:

How do I send my scores to schools?
Approximately 20 days after your test date, your Official Score Report,
including the digital photograph you provided at the test center and copies of
your essays, are made available to any graduate management program you
designated when you took the GMAT exam. Not all graduate management
programs elect to receive photographs and essays. Once scores are made
available, a school you designate can access your scores at any time. If you
have not yet designated schools to receive your scores, or if you want to
designate additional schools, visit www.mba.com or call GMAT Customer
Service. We will report results from all tests you took in the last five years.

Who has access to my scores?
Score reports, which include copies of essays and a digital photograph if a
designated graduate management program has elected to receive them, are
released only at your specific request--either when you take the test, or when
you request an Additional Score Report (ASR)--unless required by law, to
cooperate in judicial or governmental proceedings, as necessary to detect or
prevent unlawful activity, or as otherwise provided in the Privacy Policy on
www.mba.com/privacy and in the GMAT Information Bulletin.

So, after reading this, the way I feel is that a copy of my score, essays, and picture are sent to these schools in a package. I imagine my picture on the front of my application, with scores, essays, and everything else. Especially after interviews when it may be down to the last few applicants, I'm sure its nice to put a face to a name. It says some schools don't elect to receive photos and essays, but top schools probably elect to receive these. Why wouldn't they? This is something that I believe should receive more consideration from test takers. I spent hours practicing essays, 100s of hours practicing for the test, and could have spent 30 minutes shaving, getting a hair cut, and wearing something decent. I'm sure my picture was not out of the ordinary, but its something interesting to contemplate. Especially when it could be the face of the application. What do you guys think?

ukulelegal85 · Answer

i wonder if we can call GMAC and request to see our photo :b
i forget what my photo looked like, but i definitely didn't wear makeup that morning nor do I think I had a natural smile (how could i?? i was about to take my exam!!)

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I think you think too much.

bb · Answer

I may be on the side of GMATLA - I would most likely not shaved on the day of my GMAT (I dont remember if I did) but it is not like it is hard to shave in the morning or have your hair/make up look decent - it is just nobody is concerned with this and in the world where minute details matter - I would hate to be dinged for a photo I did not even know would be submitted (now, whether the photo actually impacts anything is a debatable point)

I will try to research with admissions consultants to see if they have any thoughts about this at all or if GMATLA and I are overthinking this

thugly921 · Answer

any adcom that would ding someone based on a photo would be an embarrassment...and breaking the law.

gty893 · Answer

I don't believe anybody would explicitly ding for a photo (well, I hope not)...but at the same time, they are only human - just viewing somebody's picture *could* have a subconscious effect on their decision making.

GMATLA · Answer

Yes, I agree. No adcom would look at a picture and ding, but it is conceivable that when they're down to the last few applicants that at a certain point a picture may sway someone one way or the other (even if unknowingly to them). If you're equal to someone else in all aspects but in your picture you look like a slob, you never know! Adcoms have to split hairs every year. Subconsiously, once you have a face to a name, it may be easier for you to deny one person over another. Just thought it was very interesting that I had never heard about it, because a picture is worth 1000 words.

Although it may play a very small role, or no role at all, I'm the kind of person that wants all my "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed. Think about an essay you wrote where you were missing a period or made a small spelling mistake that most people would never notice or care about. I'm sure if you had it over to do again you'd fix the error, but it most certainly won't keep you out of school. You could argue that it plays no role in your application. But spelling mistakes may make an adcom think your careless, and maybe rightly so... could looking bad in your picture say something like this? You never know. If I had it to do over again I'd atleast have wore a smile, but I won't loose sleep over it at night.

Have I potentially uncovered something that test takers should give atleast a minutes thought before test day? I say yes.

tfincham86 · Answer

I'm going to guess this is a non-issue.

GMAT scores (and therefore pictures) are good for 4 (or is it 5) years? You can change a lot in 4 years--hair, weight, style, etc. Not to mention what about those of us who took the GMAT more than once? What picture do they use? Your whole scoring history is on the report, so one could assume your whole 'picture' history was also on the report. Where does the adcom made the decision?

There is no way they could make a fair decision on whether the picture is 'usable' or which picture to use. I'm with cheetarah on this one--this is overthinking. If adcoms really cared they would ask for a picture as a mandatory (some schools have the option) piece of your application.

enkie · Answer

Hhahaha oh lord, I don't remember there being an option on whether to show photograph or not but I hope i had the good sense to say no.

rgupta83 · Answer

Where it could come into play is one of 2 ways

1. They are doing a internet search. They can validate the person is you by using the test day photo as a point of reference. This is mainly for social media, but any site with pictures would work
2. Schools like Columbia could use it as a way to ensure you are who you say you are, and that you took the GMAT yourself.

I do agree, I think this has 0 impact overall but those 2 ideas popped into my head so I thought I would share..

Test Day Photo

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