<p>We'll be leaving in a day or so for our 3-week trek up North for college tours and inteviews. (12 tours, 6 interviews).</p>
<p>Snuck a peek in D's suitcase and almost fainted. Looks like she's going to the beach. </p>
<p>I'll let the wise parents here help mediate. What do you folks feel is the appropriate attire for a college interview? We will be participating in walking tours of each school prior to the inteview.</p>
<p>Casual skirt and flipflops are fine for interviews but the skirts should not be super-short or have a very high slit (I remember our school's female college counselor mentioning that to my daughter in the context of a conservatively cut J. Crew khaki skirt that actually did have a slit); cropped pants also fine--shorts are probably not. Also, I'd say no jeans for the interview. Khaki or equivalent pants should also be fine. Similarly, tops should not be cropped to reveal midriff, or cut so low in back that they look like bathing suits, but again, you are talking about a hgih school student so presentable is all you need--not formal. Personally I'd discourage this year's halter tops but I'd probablybe voted down on that. Flipflops are ubiquitous on campuses, so as long as they aren't ratty and your D can walk comfortably in them for the tours, I'd say it is okay to wear flips instead of closed shoes--Birkenstocks or other sandals would also be okay if that's more her style. </p>
<p>Interview attire isn't fancy--just neat and presentable--what you would wear to school if your school had a dress code (low-key business casual I guess). You want to be casual enough to be comfortable on a tour but presentable enough to carry off an interview. My D mostly wore khaki pants with striped short-sleeved polo shirts from J. Crew, or on very warm days a flowered no-slit skirt with a fitted white T-shirt--also J. Crew. Tan Mary Janes for footwear as I recall--but that was the year before flipflops took over the Northeast. She gives tours at her school now and of course wears flipflops to walk backward.</p>
<p>I would encourage her to dress maturely.</p>
<p>My DD got into everywhere she applied wearing long pants (jeans, different colored pants cut like jeans) and interesting T-shirts. (no nasty sayings, just patterns, designs, etc). We saw lots of dressed up people at some of the interviews (boys wearing ties, girls wearing pantyhose, dresses etc.) My DD wore what she felt comfortable in, and what she usually wears to school. Since you are presenting yourself in an interview, it's good to wear clothes that reflect who you are - (but niced up a little if you are usually a slobby dresser!)</p>
<p>Khaki skirt, not too short, and fitted shirts, not too tight or low cut. Flip-flops or sandals are fine. Black or khaki pants. I actually think blue jeans would be OK on a girl, but dressed up - maybe a short jacket or blazer, belt, nice top, not skin tight or low rider jeans.</p>
<p>It depends on the school, but in general I think it's wise to err on the side of dressing up. That doesn't mean you have to wear a tie/hose and heels. Even a kid who lives in a tube top and cutoffs can probably feel like herself and be comfortable in khakis, a nice top, and sandals. IMHO, ultra casual (tank tops, sneakers, short shorts) or revealing clothes run the risk of putting off an older or more conservative interviewer.</p>
<p>Bring a cute, lightweight jacket with, and insist that she wear it over her summer clothes when she goes for an interview. It will cover a lot of sins.</p>
<p>As an alumna interviewer, I'll weigh in.</p>
<p>The appropriate attire is clean, freshly ironed, and something which you could wear to church. That doesn't mean skirt/blouse/heels unless the student is comfortable in that. We know that we're interviewing kids, not 30-year-old college graduates. I do notice when students look nice for the interview, and, at least for me, that's all I really want to see - that the kid shows that this is important and knows that I'm spending my free time doing this. Slacks and a nice shirt are fine for boys or girls. One girl wore a cute jacket and slacks; another wore a skirt. The boys have tended to wear slacks and sweaters (winter interviews).</p>
<p>I wore a nice sundress (with capped sleeves rather than spaghetti straps) and strappy sandals to my Pomona interview several years back. It was great except that the admissions building was VERY air conditioned, so even though it was August and 90 degrees outside, I started to get VERY cold a few minutes into the interview. Between the cold and being a little nervous, I was actually shivering a bit. </p>
<p>So, the moral is, bring a sweater, even in August.</p>
<p>At least I learned my lesson on that one, because just a few months ago at a grad school interview, I had the opposite problem. It was winter, but the building was VERY well heated. Fortunately, I had dressed in layers, so before the interview started I took off my sweater.</p>
<p>i would definitely dress to impress, that's why you are going on the interview afterall. true, these kids are not adults...but they are one year shy of becoming adults. it's time to get accustomed to the real world and know when to dress down and when dress up. i am not saying wear a suit, that might be overboard, but flip flops sound a bit too relaxed. my philosophy is that it's always better to be a little bit overdressed than underdressed.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone. </p>
<p>Well, we've reached a compromise of sorts. D will bring a conservative outfit of my choosing (which will probably not come out of the suitcase), khaki capris and a few nice polos, and a bright yellow skirt with pink top...</p>
<p>I'm already weary and we haven't even hit the road yet.</p>
<p>Just have fun on your mother-daughter roadtrip,--rate hot-fudge sundaes at each school, find the alternative movie house, let her pick the music on the cd player (you might find stuff you like) and set the atmosphere for a supportive, loving, stress-reducing, and mutually respectful senior year!</p>
<p>I'd err on the conservative side as well, meaning keep it simple and covered up: No midriffs, decollatage, thighs, no text on T-shirts and avoid anything that clings, even if you're in great shape. I'd also go with sandals over flip flops, especially if you're a foot waggler. </p>
<p>If you take the tour prior to the interview, you might want to bring a change of top and shoes as it can get very hot climbing hills and stairs in the summer.</p>
<p>We were astonished by the lack of judgement used by interviewees. One girl we saw in an Ivy waiting room was wearing a skirt so short she could barely (pun) sit. Her interviewer must have gained great insight into her character. Another boy was wearing a T-shirt promoting Maryland that read "I've got crabs!" Distracting to say the least.</p>
<p>Do you think that attire should vary depending on the school you're interviewing at? I don't know if this has any basis, but someone told us that for the Ivy's, more formal attire is expected, eg. button down shirt and sport jacket for boys, pants suit or skirt for girls. Anyway, just to be safe, my son did dress up for his interview at Harvard. I'd be interested in what Northstarmom would say.</p>
<p>No flip flops- they are tacky and unless toe nails are perfect...a pair of simple flats are much better. </p>
<p>If the interviewee dresses like the interview was an interuption to something else, it will show.</p>
<p>I have told my Ds- no converse, no flip flops, no tank tops, no shirts with words, no bellies, no short skirts</p>
<p>Also, nice nails, simple jewelry
They can still show their style without looking too casual</p>
<p>The more I sat with D reviewing her clothing choices, the more I realized I was trying to "morph" her into a different person...which is really not a good start to the college search process. </p>
<p>We reached a healthy compromise and we are both comfortable and happy with her clothing choices...they speak to who SHE is...and she will still look like the interview matters to her.</p>
<p>These on-campus interviews are new to me. Older D had 2, I think and she dressed very casually ( it was during the northeast heat wave of 2001). For her alumni interviews she wore a business suit. To me that would look incongruous on a college visit.</p>
<p>And actually, D#2 will be bringing all her fun short skirts for the 1 week college program she'll be attending at the end of our tour.</p>
<p>When my D interviewed on campus, it was April, not summer. She w wore dress black pants and a nice sweater. It was still "her", but was the kind of outfit she would wear if the band director told the kids to dress nicely for a concert or if students were told to dress nicely for an Honor Society induction, for example. I think students of any age (even including much younger children) can dress nicely and appropriately for a particular occasion while still being themselves. Like some others, I am very surprised at some of the outfits worn by both boys and girls for occasions which call for nicer dress.</p>
<p>edit to my previous message: Tha advice I had gotten was for alumni interviews, not inteviews during a college visit.</p>
<p>What we need to emphasize is that you can still be you without looking like either a stepford wife or a hippee...</p>
<p>I think kids are so concerned about keeping their own identity that they lose sight of the bigger picture and what goals they are reaching for.</p>
<p>If you can't show your personality through your voice, and only your clothes, there is a problem. </p>
<p>We saw kids at an 8th grade graduation wearing jean shorts...what were their parents thinking "well, its his style"- it was disrespectful to the occassion...and it wasn't that the kid couldn't afford a pair of pants- his basketball jersery must have cost a fortune...</p>
<p>We have let our kids think that anything goes and that their feelings are more important than respecting the circumstances and the occassion. </p>
<p>Showing respect for the process and the events is important. And a person can still be an individual, not lose themselves, by dressing appropriately.</p>
<p>As I said, if your personality only shows through your attire, a person needs to think about that.</p>
<p>citygirlsmom reiterated the point I was trying to make very eloquently</p>