Along with making sure you have the right wardrobe, you’ll also need to prove your physical and mental health before appearing on the show. Per the show’s official eligibility requirements, contestants who are selected to travel to Los Angeles “may be required to undergo physical and psychological examinations and testing (to be conducted in Los Angeles by qualified personnel selected by the Producer) and meet all physical and psychological requirements.”
As ABC News reported in 2010, the vetting process is rigorous and includes an STD screening and “an 800-question psyche evaluation.” According to Dr. Catherine Selden, who conducted evaluations on contestants, “We want to make sure that people are going to be OK with coping with the stress involved, and make sure that they are going to be offered the help that they need if it’s the case.”
Per the application requirements, all potential contestants must also be willing to submit to a background check, which could include, “a credit check, a military records check, a criminal arrest and/or conviction check, a civil litigation check, a family court litigation check, interviews with employers, neighbors, teachers, etc.” Jeez.
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