Interview Attire During Summer Months

<p>I guess I don't have a typical CC kid, but there is absolutely NO WAY I could get my S into seersucker...I struggle getting him into a shirt that has buttons!</p>

<p>How about khaki shorts, polo shirt, and nice/casual shoes?</p>

<p>Do admissions officers want and expect kids to come dressed in proper attire or do parents just want their kids to look somewhat professional during the interview? I've always thought that the interview was more of an informal conversation so wearing shorts and a t-shirt would be fine, plus it makes the conversation feel much less evaluative and allows interviewee to show his/her personality better. If I was an interviewer for a college, I'd want to see exactly who these kids are, and if every kid wore church clothes, I wouldn't be able to distinguish between them. So as long as it's not obscene, what's wrong with wearing what you normally wear to the interview?</p>

<p>I wore a cotton dress with leggings and wedges to my washu interview. i was comfortable and the iterview was mostly outside so i was glad i hadnt worn my suit. i will be attending washu next year : )</p>

<p>Actually, it works great if you just report that person (I already did and the mods will ban them from future posts).</p>

<p>Back to the question at hand. I think you should dress in a way that is appropriate to that particular school. I think you can never go wrong with a good pair of casual shoes (instead of tennis shoes or flip/flogs). For the guys, a polo type shirt with slacks is never out of place for someone in h.s. at a college interview. I would recommend long pants in general for any type of interview, but certainly a suit or shirt/tie is NOT required (again depending upon the particular school).</p>

<p>For guys, I'd say khakis or even light colored dress slacks for the pants. Also, if it's a polo nothing too tacky like those zigzaggy ones. And with the slacks a white dress shirt if it's not too hot. I would NEVER wear sandals- especially if I were a guy because their sandals are limited to flip-flops and those ugly wraparound kinds. </p>

<p>For girls, they make suits now that end slightly below the knees or with knee-length skirts and shorter jackets that end right at the shoulder. A simple tank top can be worn underneath with heels or flats. It sounds strange but I wore one for my job interview and got it if that means anything. They look very nice and are usually sold at macys. </p>

<p>Here's one with a skirt: BCX</a> Short-Sleeve Sateen Jacket & Pencil Skirt - Suits - Juniors - Macy's</p>

<p>And one with short trousers: Rampage</a> Alya Short-Sleeved Blazer & Cropped Pant - Suits - Juniors - Macy's</p>

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When D interviewed at Scripps they told her "wear jeans."

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<p>When this type of thread comes up, it usually gets decided that students can be a bit more casual with CA schools. "Be clean, neat, and non-offensive" still applies, but in my experience, overall standards are more relaxed. If flip-flops alone warranted negative judgment, no one would ever be admitted to the Claremont schools! And when summer rolls in, well...it's hot. Interviewers realize that. Be sensible, but don't force yourself (or your kid) to be uncomfortable. There's just no need.</p>

<p>i have been an alumni interviewer for 11 years and i can tell you that the most important thing is to look "neat." it could be khaki shorts and a polo in the summer months, but most importantly clean brushed hair and clothes that are not "rumpled" etc.. is what i notice.</p>

<p>No way would my son interview at a college that expected a suit for an interview! Winter OR summer.</p>

<p>I agree, looking neat and groomed is all that's required.</p>

<p>mommusic, My older son never interviewed in a suit either. He interviewed during the fall and winter months. He wore a button down shirt and if weather was chilly he put on a pull over sweater over the shirt. </p>

<p>We did see a couple of male students dressed in suits in some admission offices, and they seemed a bit over dressed to me. On the other hand, we saw one young man in gym shorts (the shiny poly type with stretch waste band), t shirt, flip flops, and heavy silver colored chain around his neck. I did not find that appropriate either, but that is my opinion.</p>

<p>I will try to get S to use unscented deodorant for a day instead of Axe.</p>

<p>"If I was an interviewer for a college, I'd want to see exactly who these kids are, and if every kid wore church clothes, I wouldn't be able to distinguish between them. So as long as it's not obscene, what's wrong with wearing what you normally wear to the interview?"</p>

<p>This may be an age thing, but as a middle-aged person, I would think that a student wearing shorts and a T-shirt to an interview was showing disrespect to me and to the school. If I take it seriously enough to spend time interviewing him, then he should take it seriously enough to dress appropriately. I think what you can glean from a thread like this is that different interviewers will react differently to clothing. I don't think anybody expects you to wear a suit, but at least some of them will expect a male to wear a shirt with a collar, long pants (not jeans), and shoes (not sandals), and a female to wear clothing of similar formality. So the smart move is to wear that. You may be slightly, unnecessarily overdressed for some interviewers, but you won't be underdressed for any.</p>

<p>catbird, I love the Axe comment! I remember driving my son and his three friends to their 8th grade grad dance. I swear they were all wearing a full can, each in his own scent! I drove the whole way with my head hanging out the car window.</p>

<p>"khakis with a polo with a collar and leather walking shoes"</p>

<p>Hell, I didn't even dress that nicely for my winter interview. Jeans, sneakers, and a polo.</p>

<p>Then again, I got rejected.</p>

<p>While not an interview, I spent a few days at the town near my university yesterday and today doing some sorority stuff. I had a lot of meetings with managers of various businesses.</p>

<p>I wore a madras skirt, a yellow polo, and nice flip flops and rocked it. I definitely echo the "as long as you don't look disheveled and messy you're fine" thoughts.</p>

<p>Agree with the above. I was thinking nice cotton skirt and polo for a girl with either nice flats/sandles....probably not flip flops if you're going to do the tour along with it but maybe its only my feet that get tired walking nonstop 2 hours in those..........</p>

<p>overdressing is a quick way to show that you are insecure. you can go into an interview with a tshirt and jeans and still impress the person interviewing. one of my friends brother went to a med school interview in such clothing but won over the interviewer with remarks and charm of an intellectual.</p>

<p>take a backpack with spare clothes or shoes if you are really worried about your outer appearance. perhaps change right before meeting from casual wear and change back into it later after the interview.</p>

<p>I don't think the colleges my son applied to were recruiting the best dressed crowd, they were looking for kids that could be successful at their school. Sure, well or overdressed can be a sign of respect, but also could show a lack of confidence as lethargytm said. You're not going to be admitted because of the clothes you wear. Interviewers at colleges see thousands of kids from all over the country who are there under all sorts of circumstances. My neighbor kid flew a red eye cross country for an 8am interview, a friend of my son's traveling in a crowded car (family trip) interviewed at four different schools in one day. I bet neither were on the best dressed list. I say whatever the kid is comfortable in, clean and neat, nothing that offends, and let the interview get on to who the kid is what the college can do for them.</p>

<p>i would say the best think would be to make yourself unique compared to the thousands of applicants. do something or even wear something that is unique that they will remember you.</p>

<p>i should add that do/wear something that isn't entirely offensive.</p>

<p>Interviews can be stressful enough without worrying about how to come off as "unique," but sometimes students do indeed have one item of clothing or piece of jewelry, accessory, etc. that is not only unusual but also has a story behind it that might be worth sharing in an interview. Once, for instance, when I was interviewing for Smith, I complimented a student on her necklace, and she explained that she had made it herself -- one of many she created with a friend as part of a fund-raiser for a classmate who had cancer. Another girl showed up in an embroidered blouse that she told me she'd received as a thank-you gift from a family to whom she'd taught English. </p>

<p>Granted, most kids don't march around sporting wearable art that will spawn sparkling exchanges in admission offices, but at least occasionally these added touches can be good ice-breakers and stress-busters.</p>