<p>That’s my feeling, too, dolphin, but when I visited Bowdoin about a year ago with my son, there were lots of seniors there doing interviews, and I saw a handful of guys with blazers and ties. Didn’t see this at any other school we visited.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that it is the only option. I’m just stating that there is nothing wrong with being formal. You shouldn’t need a casual dress style to reflect a balanced personality (i.e. someone who isn’t all work and no play, as you put it). I would rather look to dressed up than too casual, especially if you don’t know who you are interviewing with. Then again, I can admit that my view of style and appearance is probably skewed because I come from the UK and people dress differently there and also because my college interview experiences were off campus with alumni who were professionals who I met with either during or after work.</p>
<p>When I interviewed at Bowdoin, I had my nice shirt, slacks, and ballet flats in the car. Then a member of the adcom I was talking with said that dress didn’t matter in the slightest, and that I should feel comfortable going in with what I was wearing. I was in a sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers. I asked him if he was entirely sure and he said he was, so that’s how I went in. My interviewer, however, a senior, was in nice clothing and I wondered how she viewed my dress. If I thought I was being irreverent, I’d have changed, but that admissions officer was really wonderful and I doubt anyone representing a college would tell you something that would jeopardize your chances of acceptance. So maybe there isn’t as much stigma surrounding interview attire as one might think, at least at Bowdoin.</p>
<p>Well, we’ll see shortly if my clothing did me in - I’ve applied ED. :p</p>
<p>Haha, I think a lot of people are way too concerned about interview attire. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that making a first impression isn’t important, but if you’ve been to enough of these schools, you figure out that the interview really doesn’t hold as much weight as you think. An interview is an opportunity to improve yourself in the eyes of admissions, but c’mon, I really doubt anyone has been denied solely because of what clothes they wore to their interview.</p>
<p>As long as nothing’s ripped and there’s nothing inappropriate, you’re good to go. These counselors are smart enough to understand 17 and 18 year old kids, how they dress, and that they are NORMAL! They are also smart enough not to judge someone on how they dress, and if they did so, the school would probably not be worth going to. I had an interview at Bowdoin recently and I had a senior interviewer. She was INCREDIBLY nice and laid back, and was furiously studying for a bio test with her friend in the waiting room before calling me in for my appointment. In short, don’t stress.</p>
<p>I agree with Maxie…I went to an interview in a blazer and the interviewer complimented me…at the same time I didn’t go in a white shirt and a black tie, I wore something with warmer colors and also a sweater vest to dress it down. then again, the preppier look isn’t for everyone so just wear something comfortable, but remember the interview is all they know of you and it’s similar to a job interview</p>
<p>I have my alumni interview next thursday and I’m a bit nervous. My interviewer graduated about 3 years ago. I think it should be okay, though, if it’s in the conversational style…do they question you about Bowdoin a great deal? As I haven’t visited, it’s hard for me to really get a good picture of the school. However, I have researched a lot, Bowdoin is one of my top choices. I’m loving the small school atmosphere.</p>
<p>yos: I had my interview Dec. 30th (Wed) and it was great. I honestly think the interviewers vary. I read on this board that some of their interviewers asked about Bowdoin, why they’re interested and etc. My interviewer asked me about my high school, the courses I’ve taken, my interests and etc. He barely asked me about Bowdoin – he was the one doing all the talking about Bowdoin. However, I did get stumped. He asked me what clubs would I be interested in joining and it took me a minute because I didn’t really research the clubs (but I told him the dance club which is honestly what I would like to do at Bowdoin). My interview was about 15-30 minutes; it wasn’t too long. Some advice I would offer is DO NOT be nervous. I was so nervous that I kept talking so fast (he kept asking me to repeat myself lol) and I forgot to tell him bye at the end (I said thank you like 3 times and then left, gosh I hope he doesn’t think I was rude; my nervous-ness got the best of me). So in all, just be confident and don’t worry. Do your research and be prepared to answer just about any question from ‘what’s your strengths and weaknesses?’ to ‘what is one specific thing you like about Bowdoin?’ – any question is fair game.</p>
<p>As far as location and attire, we conducted our interview in a coffee shop near his workplace and I came in a full blown suit (I like to me great first impressions). However, I didn’t get a 'wow you came in a suit…nice!" or “you didn’t have to come in a suit” (He didn’t make any comments on my attire at all). Whatever you feel comfortable in, and is appropriate for an interview – go for it. </p>
<p>Oh yeah my interviewer graduated 3 years ago too – he was class of 07’.</p>
<p>Good Luck!–you got this!</p>
<p>Thank you so much Beatfreaks! I feel way better now.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this with interest because I accompanied my S to visit the Bowdoin campus in August and he had an interview with a senior interviewer. We come from the San Francisco Bay Area where a nice polo shirt, khakis and leather shoes is considered pretty dressed up. When we walked into the Admissions office most of the kids were more formally dressed and so was the young man doing the interview. I’ve mentioned this to several friends because I was worried about it, they thought he’d be cut some slack because he’s a Californian. He had a fine interview so I’ll stop worrying.</p>
<p>I had my Bowdoin interview about two weeks ago. I wore jeans, a sweater, and a scarf. Honestly, what you wear isn’t nearly as important as what you say. My interviewer asked me some basic questions about my school, my activities, my classes, etc. It was pretty conversational and we spoke for an hour and a half. It sounds long, but I just had a lot of questions for her.</p>
<p>Did anyone else receive a “thank you for interviewing” letter from Bowdoin?</p>
<p>My S received a thank you letter from his interviewer and also was dressed casually (khakis and button down shirt) when he interviewed in August.</p>
<p>Mine was from the Assistant Dean of Admissions. I wasn’t sure if the letter was standard or unique.</p>
<p>DS recently had alumni interview at a coffee shop near DS’s school. Partly because they were meeting on a weekday and he knew alum was a businessman in his 40’s, DS wore a plain shirt and striped tie with khakis and topsiders, no jacket. This is the most dressed up (the addition of a tie) and traditionally attired he’s been for an interview. Interview went well and lasted an hour or so. Very conversational as they had some common interests.</p>
<p>S went to his interview at a local coffee shop in his regular clothes (which are nicer than sweats and torn t-shirt but not as nice as pressed pants, shirt and tie). His interviewer teaches inner city children and was out of school for all of three years. It was a very relaxed, conversational, meeting with unexpected but engaging questions by both parties. He came back thinking, ‘this is a cool guy who really made me feel at ease’ and crossed his fingers that his honesty did not kill his possibility of admission to Bowdoin. He’s now a junior at Bowdoin and is truly impressed with the range of students attending. Don’t stress to much about doing anything superficial and focus on being yourself – whatever that may be.</p>
<p>I agree, morandi, both for Bowdoin and anywhere. If, for example, your style is goth, you might as well let it be known. Showing up to interview in a button-down shirt and repp tie because that’s what you think the school’s interviewer wants to see isn’t a good idea, and if you can’t feel comfortable letting some of your personality be seen through your attire, maybe that school isn’t the right one. Clean is good, though, whether you’re goth or J. Crew!</p>
<p>Interview tomorrow…
Kinda nervous because it’s my first college interview ever.</p>