<p>Hi--
I'm brand new to this site and am hopeful you can help.
We have a few college visits planned this summer. I realize there are better times to visit, but we got a late start to the process (my S in a senior). </p>
<p>We have some appointments set up for tours as well as some appointments to speak to faculty. What is appropriate for my son to wear?
Thanks!</p>
<p>You will get a variety of responses, but as long as he’s clean and nothing has any holes in it, he’ll be fine. He doesn’t want to look too different from the students who’ll be strolling around campus. (Really the same for you, and don’t forget the comfy shoes.)</p>
<p>I’d also add that one of my big learning experiences from college visits was that “interviews” aren’t really interviews at all. I think most adults hear that term and think about a job interview. College interviews are really information gathering sessions, often conducted by an undergraduate who works in the admissions office. They are more for you to learn about the school than for the school to learn about your son.</p>
<p>I agree with ingerp! My daughter wore her regular t shirt and jeans to her “interviews” and she was dressed just like the other kids there. And she was comfortable for the campus tour. I do think if you are having an interview for a scholarship or an alumni interview you may want to step up the wardrobe to business casual( nice pant/skirt, shirt).
There will be those who disagree with this, and I think it probably does depend somewhat on the school you are going to. My d is not interested in any top tier schools or schools with “preppy” atmospheres, so the vibe on campus is probably more casual. Since you will be visiting in the summer he might be very uncomfortable walking around in dress pants and dress shoes. You can always call and ask the schools what would be appropriate!</p>
<p>My son usually wore khaki pants and a polo shirt…that seemed to work on just about any campus that we went to.</p>
<p>My S will be wearing khaki shorts and a polo with sneakers for interviews. For tours and information sessions only he will wear his everday atire of sport shorts and a t-shirt. When we did tours last summer we found one can get very hot walking around campus so make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothes.</p>
<p>For an interview I’d probably wear a polo shirt with my khakis, but otherwise anything goes. Looking at least reasonably presentable though means that if any opportunities come up to make a good impression, you won’t worry about how you look. While interviews rarely make or break an application, they are not all just informational.</p>
<p>
Second this. Just did one with DS yesterday. He wore a polo with the inits of his HS embroidered on the front pocket. Turned out, the campus representative who spoke with us after the tour had attended THE rival HS to his in our city. Made for a laugh and good small talk. Jeans are ok, if it’s cooler, but please not the really baggy or ripped up ones. :(</p>
<p>For campus tours my boys wear t’shirts or golf shirts with cargo shorts or flat front shorts. I see lots of kids in sport shorts that look absolutely fine too. My kids wear them to sleep in and work out…that’s about it, so it’s a personal preference. </p>
<p>For ‘interviews’, or meetings with faculty/student representatives, as long as the hot weather holds I’d say khaki shorts with a golf shirt is fine. When it’s cooler my boys might opt for casual khaki pants, but that’s something they are comfortable in. Having said that, they wear converse sneakers as well. 
I think the polo with their school crest is a nice touch. I think I’d skip one from the school you are visiting. I would certainly avoid one from another school…yes, I have seen this.</p>
<p>S2 only has one interview this application cycle and the rep happens to be local. He will meet after work so he’ll be dressed more formally (Dress slacks, dress shirt, dress shoes…he’ll ditch the blazer and tie in the car. Most teens don’t dress like that and he doesn’t want to look like he’s trying too hard.).</p>
<p>The most important thing is for them to be ‘clean and tidy’ and comfortable.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your suggestions!</p>
<p>What about for girls? What do you think is appropriate for an interview?</p>
<p>How about for meetings with professors in her department of interest? How about for a meeting with a university president?</p>
<p>shawbridge-my d hates to dress up, so I just have her wear a nice pair of jeans and a modest shirt for the admissions “interview” or meeting with a prof (it is not like a job interview, they are very informal). Now if it is for a scholarship meeting with a committee or something like that I will have her wear a pair of business casual pants/skirt (not too short) and a nicer shirt with a pair of ballet flats. Nothing revealing.
but that’s just me. I know others think you should dress for the admissions interview. That is also fine, but in my opinion usually unnecessary and not worth the battle with my daughter! Lots of girls enjoy dressing up, so for them-go for it!! (as long as they don’t show too much skin, I think you are fine!)</p>
<p>Well, at almost 18, I do not presume that I can “make” my daughter wear anything.</p>
<p>However, when she does show up ready to get in the car with old jeans, a low cut shirt or sloppy t, I do suggest that she might want to think about it for a few minutes.</p>
<p>She does not like to dress up, but, at the same time, has recently been talking about changing the way she presents herself, in favor of looking more mature.</p>
<p>Also, hot weather makes jeans tough.</p>
<p>So for the most part, she has been wearing a dress or skirt (not fancy, presentable, such as a basic black skirt with top, or the kind of dress that has a t-shirt material top with a cotton bottom).</p>
<p>I personally feel this is more respectful, but I am kind of old, er, old-fashioned.</p>
<p>A few times, the basic tour has evolved into a one on one with admissions, partly because her background is unusual, and I have been glad that she made the effort. It increases her poise, or the appearance of poise, I would say.</p>
<p>I don’t dress up much myself, but if I have a meeting to go to, it makes me feel so much more on top of things to wear a skirt. These things are funny, but valid if your kid is a person who is affected by such things. I think that wearing nicer things actually increases my daughter’s shaky sense of purpose!</p>
<p>But this is not worth arguing over, honestly. My son wore t’s or short-sleeve shirts and khakis, but everyday khakis that were pretty worn. It was fine.</p>
<p>The most important advice is to be comfortable - these can be long days, and given the usual schedule, are either very hot or very cold. The key is to dress presentably. Jeans and a blouse are fine, but no bra straps and no ripped jeans. There are plenty of ways to look “nice” but still be casual. In our generation of women, skirts and dresses of almost any kind are usually very presentable, since up until recently skirts and dresses weren’t a big hit with us (maybe that’s just my region).</p>
<p>Comfortable walking shoes.</p>
<p>Comfortable shoes. A shirt that does not have the name of some other college on it or any slogan that is rude, obscene, or pro-drug or alcohol use. Any sort of pants that are not falling apart. Shorts or jeans are fine; that’s what the professors will be wearing, too.</p>
<p>applicanot, ShawD actually loves dressing up. She’s a TJMaxx fashionista. But, she’s 5’8", a dancer and yogi with abs of concrete, and extremely long legs relative to her torso so wearing her typical dress, she turns heads. I’m sure that’s fine for a college tour but likely not for her interview and especially not for meeting with the university President. I suggested she get something more demure but she thinks that what she wears is demure (I guess it’s all relative: compared to a tank top with straps showing, her dresses are demure).</p>
<p>1 vote for My2sunz - khaki pants and a polo shirt.</p>
<p>ShawD went to Target yesterday and bought a little black wrap dress that is longer than normal so it doesn’t look like her legs are seven feet long. It shows a little too much cleavage, but ShawWife says that with a camisole or pinning it higher, it can be appropriate. She looks fantastic in it, but if she can cover the cleavage, it would be appropriately demure for meeting a college president.</p>
<p>For interviews, get your daughter a simple, lightweight jacket that can go over anything. Cleavage, visible bra straps, halter tops, etc., are not apppropriate for an interview, but having a jacket to throw on makes a huge difference in appearance. It’s also handy when the airconditioning is too cold.</p>
<p>I bought my daughter a casual outfit that consists of a white dressy shirt -(not quite a blouse, not quite a t-shirt but somewhere inbetween) and a pair of cropped navy blue pants and dressier gladiator style sandals. She’s not a fashionista but likes to put together a nice outfit. She’ll wear to 2 shadow days as well as on campus tours this summer. Stylish, comfortable and shows that what she is doing (touring, meeting professionals and professors) is important to her. I don’t care how old she is getting - no way is she wearing jeans or t-shirts. Its disrespectful in my book. If she’s old enough to go to college, she’s old enough to dress appropriately.</p>