<p>I have my first interviews coming up this week and next for neuroscience phd programs. How formal should I plan to dress? On the day when I'm meeting professors I was thinking of wearing a black skirt and a nice sweater with low heels. Then on the day when we are touring campus and labs I was thinking of wearing dark pants, a collared shirt and flat shoes (more casual). Does this sound appropriate?</p>
<p>Also, do I need to bring anything in particular? A notebook to jot notes and anything else like that?</p>
<p>Depends where you're meeting the professors. If it's in their offices adjacent to or in the lab, stick with the pants combo. They'll probably be in slacks and a wrinkly pullover. If you're meeting them at a formal get-together, like an open house, go with the skirt and blouse. In all honesty, you don't have to look your best for the interview or the tour, just relatively clean--it's not like neuroscientists will reject you for not looking gorgeous :)</p>
<p>It's not necessary to bring the notebook; they'd probably feel like /they/ were being interviewed if you came in with a big wire-bound thing and started scribbling. A few half-sheets of scrap paper in your purse should be enough for phone numbers or directions to buildings on campus. You should already know a lot about their research from their CV and papers, and I doubt any of them will give an impromptu lecture.</p>
<p>Should I carry a handout to talk about my research? Without visuals, it will be so hard to explain stuff. In how much detail should we talk about our work? I know that it will be best to play it by ear but the initial explanation I give should be how many minutes? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Good to know. I'll definitely chill out on the overly formal wear and skip the notebook. I just have no idea what to expect and my business oriented family is like "You need to look professional. Professional!!" haha I told them this is science, not Wall Street...</p>
<p>By the way, how many people are usually at these interviews? I know it varies by school...</p>
<p>I wore a skirt and sweater to all of my interviews -- it's all about what makes you feel the most comfortable and professional and able to talk about science. If you feel professional in a skirt, wear that. If you feel more professional in khakis, wear those. Just wear shoes comfortable enough to do a lot of walking (or else bring band-aids!).</p>
<p>Your research spiel should be about 10 minutes long, I suppose, although often the faculty member will ask an interesting question and you'll get into a discussion that lasts somewhat longer than that. I don't know that I'd recommend carrying a handout -- if you really need to draw something out, many professors have a whiteboard in their offices, but mostly they will be roughly familiar with what you're talking about, so no need for visuals.</p>
<p>Multiple people including my parents and my wife have been super skeptical of me when I tell them that I won't and shouldn't wear a suit to the interview weekends. How many job interviews for worthless lab jobs have I worn a suit to, but I don't have to wear it for the most important interview of this career stage. </p>
<p>I personally love the casualness of biomedical grad school interviews. It is also awesome to see the rank and file of medical school applicants parade by my office three times a week dressed in awkwardly fitting business suits and blinking in unison. I feel that the contrast between admissions is representative of the difference between medical and graduate school. I made the right choice for myself.</p>
<p>For the actual interviews with faculty members, I don't remember seeing anyone in jeans, you might want to at least put on a pair of khakis for that. Otherwise, jeans are fine for anything with just grad students, dinners (even with faculty), bars, etc.</p>
<p>a few people wore jeans, however that would make you stand out. Khakis or cords were definitely within the realm of what people wore, otherwise black pants or a skirt of some kind, along with a sweater or a polo or a button down. Jeans are more than fine for the weekend activities. There isn't often time to change between activities on the same day, so its good not to get too dressed up, or you could feel out of place later (plus in heels your feet would really hurt after being on your feet all day)</p>
<p>I have heard that as well. A student at UPenn-BGS told me that business casual is appropriate. He said some students wore suits and they were really out of place. Remember, would you want to tour a lab in a suit? Business casual (sweater, khakis, semi-nice black shoes - basically what a professor would wear) is most appropriate. Even for the dinners, business casual will be fine.</p>
<p>business casual is appropriate. Comfortable walking shoes a must. A spiral notebook is okay-I like interacting with students who pay attention. I tend to remember them when rotations begin. I worry about students with lose scrap paper for notes...What will their lab notebooks be like! </p>
<p>Be able to summarize your research in 5 minutes (hypothesis, significance and major result) and then be prepared to discuss it in depth upon inquiry with specific faculty.</p>
<p>No jeans. Unless you're incredibly brilliant-then it never matters-but who wants to guarantee that they are the most brilliant student seen by a grad program in the last 5 years!</p>
<p>I have some upcoming Neuroscience/BMS interview weekends. I was planning on wearing khakis/polos or sweaters for non-interview days and dress slacks/dress shirt (button down) with tie for the interview day. Sound about right? Is wearing a tie to my interviews normal or too much?</p>
<p>I wore precisely what you indicated at my interview weekend and felt very comfortable. About a third of the males and all of the females were dressed in business suits but the faculty were dressed very plainly (not dressy). The graduate students and administrative staff were dressed the way that most of us dress normally. I would have felt overdressed in a suit but a tie seemed appropriate.</p>