<p>So if I have an interview with an alumnus from an elite college and we're meeting at Starbucks, then should I offer to pay for his/her drink?</p>
<p>I'm Asian, so I assume it would be polite. However, would it seem like I'm "sucking up"?</p>
<p>I think it's generally the interviewer who offers to pay for coffee.</p>
<p>What does being Asian have anything to do with it?</p>
<p>i have a similar interview... the interviewer said informal, but what kind of attire is appropriate for a guy?</p>
<p>Not trying to generalize or make racial slurs, but it is customary in my culture for a "guest" to offer to pay for a "host."</p>
<p>I'm in the mindset that I'm a "guest."</p>
<p>But back to my point... should I offer first?</p>
<p>its customary in the "asian" culture?</p>
<p>If he doesnt offer to buy you coffee then offer him, but don't act like its a race. Just slip it in towards the beginning of the conversation if he fails to. It's not like he's going to write "FAILED TO OFFER TO BUY ME COFFEE, EFFAY FOR HIM"</p>
<p>appropriate attire:</p>
<p>informal means informal, wear khakis and a button up shirt or the equivalent</p>
<p>Yeah, when I visited China, I always thought it was kind of funny when the adults argued about who was going to pay for dinner, etc.</p>
<p>Okay, I just interviewed a prospective student at a Starbuck's and here's what I did. I bought my own drink and offered to buy the student a drink. He declined to drink anything, which was fine. It would have also been fine if he had accepted or if he said "thank you for the offer, but I've got it," and then paid for his own drink. Or it would have been fine since he had gotten there a little early to have been waiting for me having already bought a drink.</p>
<p>You can offer to buy your interviewer's drink if you want, but it's not necessary and a little awkward since your interviewer obviously makes more money than you. But of course, we do this on a strictly volunteer basis, and having taken time out of our schedules to interview we would be less inclined to want to continue to do it if we have to pay for everyone's drink (which really adds up). </p>
<p>As to what is appropriate dress, for guys it's a pair of khakis and a polo shirt or button-down shirt.</p>
<p>Just relax and be yourself. Try to maintain eye contact and give more than really short answers so that your personality comes out. And have at least 2 or 3 good questions ready to ask about the school.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>lol the "argues to pay" thing is funny.</p>