@bajamm Good Luck to your daughter!!!
5 of the schools son applied to started sending interview invites according to SDN. I’m really starting to worry.
It is still July-- really early for II- the vast majority of invites will come in the next 3-5 months. No need to worry at this point in the process (although that is easier said than done).
we were talking about this at breakfast this morning… my daughter and her roommate both applied to 20 schools… my girl has 4 secondaries left to submit, her roomy a couple. Then the wait… seems it will be forever!
@moonpie - good for your D. My D submitted one out of 15 or so secondaries. Can’t get her going.
Son finally submitted all the secondaries. He’s complete at about 20 now. Now we wait. Our state schools will start sending invites in a few weeks. One of them gives decision on October 15. Now wait and pray.
Son is finishing up secondaries. Still waiting for his pre-med committee to submit the packet.
Son is still doing secondaries too…he comes home Wednesday for a visit for about a week. Time to ask alot of questions.
@Texspg…I am so glad to hear that other students are dragging their feet a bit with secondaries! My laid back Daughter moves at her own pace (making sure to fit in boat parites and dates this weekend but no secondaries that are piled up!) and it is stressing out her Type A mom who is really trying to stay completely out of the process but it is hard!
Is your D applying in Texas? (guessing my your name!) I could really use some interview attire help…as that is the one things I have been asked to help with (well, that and handing over a credit card for each app!) and I want to get it right!
@momworried–is your S going to retake the CASPer? MY daughter was one of the ones who had to wait over an hour to be able to start and it was very distracting and frustrating! She got an emaill that said everyone would be allowed to repeat it if they desire?
@katie93mom - yes, D is not in Texas college but is a Texas resident. There are 3 schools with no secondaries in Texas which are already calling people for interviews but her app cleared only 2 weeks ago and she chose to complete one secondary in 4 weeks. Many of the Texas schools seem to be issuing interviews in August. Sorry I can’t be much help with girls’ interview attire other than that they are expected to be dressed conservatively in medical school interviews.
Women’s interview attire–
there’s whole thread over on SDN. #-o
But basically a pants or skirt suit in conservative colors (black, grey, charcoal, brown, navy-- though last interview season there were some brighter colors–dark teal, red, cranberry. Think Hillary Clinton’s power suit.) or in a classic navy or charcoal pinstripe, nude stockings, plain black dress pumps (brown with a brown suit), flats are OK with pants. Blouses or shells under suit. Solid colors or small patterns for shells/blouses. Probably will need more than one blouse/shell because you don’t always have time to wash/dry clean blouse between trips.
And here’s trick to stretch the wearing time for suits between dry cleanings–dress shields. (Or alternatively— disposable pantyliners cut crosswise and worn inside the blouse since your D won’t be taking off her jacket during interviews.)
If the suit doesn’t fit quite right–get it altered to fit correctly. Bring the shoes you intend to wear with a pants suit with you so you can get the pants hemmed to the correct length. The store will usually offer free or low costs alterations with purchase.
Alternatively some women can get away with a solid dark color sheath dress and hip length, boxy black blazer. (Short or busty or less than slender women can’t, however. )
Conservative (no bling!) handbag or portfolio.
Try Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Macy’s/Dillard’s/Nordstrom’s, J Crew (might be too trendy).
Banana Republic gives a discount (or has in the past anyway) if you tell them it’s for your first job interview.
D1 put it this way: Dress like you’re interviewing for $250K/year job. Because you are.
My 6 ft tall D ordered a grey pant suit from the limited. It has not been delivered yet and she won’t be home until mid August to try it on. So, I hope it fits well enough to only need minor altering.
She is one that won’t wear heels, even short ones and even if she does decide to wear a dress.
One other place to look:
Second hand stores in upscale areas. You can sometimes get some really expensive, classically styled suits for very little and then have it altered for much less than the price of new suit.
Some suggestions about what to wear--
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-gottsman/job-interview-dress-tips_b_3569050.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-gottsman/job-interview-dress-tips_b_3569050.html</a>
<a href="http://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/">http://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/</a>@wayoutwest mom…my D (and now I after reading it the other night!) have collectively banned SDN as it is too high stress!
Traditional suits are proving to be very difficult for my Ds figure (you know it is bad when the tailor agrees)
I am also concerned about any Texas interviews as they seem to be earlier in the season (some are coming up in August/Sept ) and it is still 100 plus degrees here…not to mention I have never seen a woman (even those in legal, banking, or VP positons) wearing a dark suit here…I am wondering if we need to adjust for the East Coast interviews and the Texas interviews…
My D loves heels so no issue there (but I told her the blue nail polish had to go for interviews and she rolled her eyes)
We are going shopping again for a an outfit and appropriate tote (she loves her “book bag” which really the extra large LV never full) but I have always felt anything with a logo is not appropriate for an interview.
Now if she would just get those secondaries in!
Houston is just now hitting 100 and it will be there through all of August.
D2 interviewed in a seasonless wool suit with a sleeveless silk shell in 95 degree heat and 90%+ plus humidity more than once.
(Which is why I strongly recommend dress shields……)
Remember most of the interviews will take place INDOORS where there’s AC. Your D can carry her suit jacket until she reaches the front door of the school, then put it on before going inside and then check/touchup in a restroom mirror. Except for maybe the campus tour, interviewees aren’t going to be outside. Plus honestly most med schools/hospitals are a warren of tunnels so even on the tour, students may never go outside.
Many suits can be bought as separate pieces so your D can mix and match pieces to get the best fit. (But be careful! It’s almost impossible to match black or navy from different makers or different style lines.)
I think it’s waste of money to buy 2 suits/interview outfits–especially since students won’t wearing them much–if at all-- once med school starts unless they’re attending a professional conference. (And honestly, not many MS1-2s ever do that. By the time they’re MS3-4s and may actually start attending conferences, it’s time to buy a residency interview suit anyway.)
I would go with a navy or charcoal for all of them. I know it is hot in Texas, but I would err on the side of caution. I have never seen anyone on SDN say to make an exception for Texas or Florida.
We bought DS his suit last year. I am terrified it won’t fit. He needs to take it to a tailor ASAP.
I always thought it would be easier with boys, but their rules seem even more rigid than the women’s at least on SDN threads.
@katie93mom he was one of the lucky few who had no problems with CASPer. I bought him a prep course for $85 few days before. Even though prep test samples were very different he was well prepaired for the format and felt good after he took the CASPer. So it was $85 well spent. The reason I decided to shell even more money on this process is one of our state schools now have CASPer as a secondary option and the school is one of his top choices.
@WayOutWestMom any suggestions for men’s interview attire? Does it matter what the suit color is? Does it have to be black or can it just be any dark suit? I noticed you said for woman it has to fit well. I’m assuming same goes for men? I’m having a hard time finding him a suit that will fit well since he has big discrepancy between his shoulder and pants size.
Last cycle D bought a black skirt and blazer from H & M, and two short sleeved blouses, one red, one a black and white small pattern (interviews were in October in the South). She wore black pumps, and carried flats in her bag for walking. SDN does have some threads with excellent advice on interview wear. D also wouldn’t go on that site so I would glean useful information there to pass along to her. One thing she would not do is wear pantyhose. I suggested it, offered to go buy them, and she looked at me like I had 3 heads. She interviewed well, so maybe it was OK!
Would a A-line dress and jacket work for your D?
Something like this:
But not in pink. Or turquoise. Navy would work.
Sheath dress and jacket
Skirt suits don’t have to have a pencil skirt. An A-line skirt will also work fine.