I have my first college interview coming up in a few days, and while I’ve practiced and practiced and prepared as much as possible, I now realize I have no idea what to wear.
My interview ( off-campus with an alum) will be at a local Peet’s Coffee near my home. From reading other forums, I hear that being slightly formal is expected (but not too over-the-top). But since my interview is at a coffee shop, is that still the case? I don’t care so much about fitting in the coffee shop, but more about dressing appropriately for the interview. Is it normal for people to be slightly overdressed given the location but right on par for the interview?
I think the usual dress code for interviews would apply (i.e. button-down shirt and slacks for guys, nice top/cardigan/blouse/sweater/dress and nice skirt/pants). For what it’s worth, I had all of my interviews in coffee shops, and I wore a sweater-dress and tights to all of them.
Please stop practicing. The interview will be a conversation not a hostile questioning.
The interviewer will not be judging you by your clothing unless you are dirty, your clothes smell and have holes, your dress is provocative...Follow OrchidBloom's suggestions.
No tie. Business casual is fine. Decent pants and a button up shirt - sweater or jacket if the weather calls for it. The young women can wear a skirt or pants and a nice not too revealing blouse. Cardigans or blazers are fine. Flats are fine. Just don’t look like you are headed for the gym or a hot date.
Are you a boy or a girl? I just had an interview for Georgetown last week at Starbucks and I wore a burgundy skirt, white button down, and a pair of lace-up heeled booties! Like you I was so nervous about what to wear, but no matter what website /article I found, I felt like it wasn’t specific enough. In the end the interviewer was so nice and laid-back, and I think I may have worried for nothing:) My interview was just a conversation and most of the “common interview questions” I found online never came up in our conversation! Just relax and be yourself!
Since my interview was at 11 on a Saturday morning at Starbucks (a.k.a. rush hour for coffee-lovers) I got there 30 minutes early so that I could find an empty table, clean it off, order a drink, and be comfortable by the time the interviewer showed up. One tip: coffee shops can be a little noisy so make sure you’re engaged with your interviewer and not looking around at all the interesting characters that Starbucks attracts:) I know I was so freaked out beforehand, so let me know if you have any questions at all!
My D also had an interview at a coffee shop. Business casual is a good description. She wore black jeans, black boots, and a nice top. For a guy I’d say khakis and a button down or polo shirt and topsiders or something like that. Basically neat and clean but nothing over-the-top.
For my last interview, I wore black jeans, ankle boots, a nice shirt, and a cardigan. Also, a dress with a cardigan and boots is nice. I think it’s nice to look nice but not too formal, especially in a coffee shop. (At my last interview at a local admissions session, one girl was wearing a full pantsuit. So you do you.)
Some Wharton alum expect that Wharton applicants wear a suit jacket. In my humble opinion, if you are cleanly dressed, you will leave a lasting impression. The applicants who dress up tend to be more confident and organized with their responses. I still remember the one applicant who went the extra step and wore a Penn scarf. That’s a new level of commitment though.