In this heat? I think neat shorts, a polo or button-down with sleeves rolled up, and topsiders or boat shoes are perfectly fine. College admissions officers know how teenagers dress, and I think looking neat and pulled together is the most important thing.
Jeez, I think my son went to a few interviews wearing a t-shirt he won at a state competition. In each case, it started the conversation.
Personally? I wouldn’t want to go to a school where it mattered. I think neat and clean (clothes and person) is much more important than long pants and tie. I think being on time and having some interesting things to say is more important than a Brooks Brothers shirt. I hope if I were the interviewer I’d care more about the person than the clothing.
Do I think there are some interviewers at some schools who care? Probably.
We went to one ‘chat’ (I wouldn’t call it an interview, but a short meeting with admissions/FA after a tour and then met with the coach, who, by the way, was wearing shorts and a polo). It was a billion degrees in SC, we were heading to a tournament, we’d just been trotted around the campus on a tour. We were NOT daisies, either in smell or presentation, when we sat down in the office. The admissions person was a girl of about 22 wearing a preppy little dress with a sweater and pearls. I could focus on nothing but her sweater. I couldn’t understand how she could even think of putting on a sweater. How could she not be sweating buckets of water wearing that sweater? Yes, we were inside and there was a hint of air conditioning, but it was a BILLION degrees. In South Carolina. In the summer. Needless to say, daughter didn’t even apply to this school. They probably would have made her buy a lot of sweater sets. And wear them.
Personally? I wouldn’t want to go to a school where it mattered. I think neat and clean (clothes and person) is much more important than long pants and tie. I think being on time and having some interesting things to say is more important than a Brooks Brothers shirt.
Do I think there are some interviewers at some schools who care? Probably. I do think if it is an audition or interview for a scholarship I’d suggest dressing at the higher end of casual, like a sundress for a girl and perhaps khakis for a guy, but even that’s not written in stone. If it is August? I’m going to go casual.
We went to one ‘chat’ (I wouldn’t call it an interview, but a short meeting with admissions/FA after a tour and then met with the coach, who, by the way, was wearing shorts and a polo). It was a billion degrees in SC, we were heading to a tournament, we’d just been trotted around the campus on a tour. We were NOT daisies, either in smell or presentation. The admissions person was a girl of about 22 wearing a preppy little dress with a sweater and pearls. I could focus on nothing but her sweater. I couldn’t understand how she could even think of putting on a sweater. How could she not be sweating drops of water wearing that sweater? Yes, we were inside and there was a hint of air conditioning, but it was a BILLION degrees. Needless to say, daughter didn’t even apply to this school. They probably would have made her buy a lot of sweater sets. And wear them.
My kid just blew a big chunk of her summer job paycheck on a couple of pairs of those Jack Rogers sandals. She seems to think that she can wear them to her upcoming college interviews. Me, I’m a bit more conservative and I think that regardless of how fancy ( or expensive) they are, they are still just upgraded flip flops and not appropriate interview footwear. Sigh. Any parents of girls able to weigh in on this one? ( I think she got tired of arguing with me, and finally emailed her school’s college counselor to ask her opinion. LOL)
@cameo43 – I would be completely fine with the Jack Rogers with a skirt or dress. My son will probably be the one touring around in khakis and a button down when he interviews after campus tours next week! Here’s hoping the heat breaks, as it is desperate here in the Northeast.
Now do I think Jack Rogers are worth the price they fetch? That’s another conversation…but if new and clean, yes, appropriate.
My Jacks have lasted for years. The cost per wear has to be lower on those shoes than on any others I own.
Thanks, @CT1417. I think it is supposed to be a bit cooler next week… 
"The admissions person was a girl of about 22 wearing a preppy little dress with a sweater and pearls. I could focus on nothing but her sweater. I couldn’t understand how she could even think of putting on a sweater. How could she not be sweating drops of water wearing that sweater? "
You were walking around in the heat. She may have been sitting at a desk in an air-conditioned office and might not have had any exposure to the heat beyond walking from a car to her office.
As for Jack Rogers - I think they count as dressy sandals – not appropriate for a business casual setting in an office, but appropriate for a college interview setting.
Agree, Jack Rogers or any women’s sandal short of a pair of free rubber flip flops is OK. @Mathyone, I saw one during a Colby Tour…hot, hot day and a poor kid in suit, tie, leather shoes. I distinctly remember it because the tour guide and #2 had on matching outfits…flat front khaki shorts, a green polo shirt, same Birkenstocks, same haircut and both had a braided leather cuff they looked like t"the Hardy Boys tour a campus".
Northeast? Definitely shorts with a polo. Much better than showing up to an interview with sweat streaming down his face.
At least around here, Jack Rogers are acceptable with everything from dressy shorts to cocktail dresses (outdoor weddings, parties, etc)…they are everywhere. They are my older D’s go to for church, etc. She stuck with pumps for job interviews for teaching, but has worn Jacks to teach.
Depends on the school and the intent of the interview. Two of the schools DD is looking at require interviews for their honors program but not for admission. Those schools DO expect you to dress a little better (especially since one is for an honors program through their College of Business Administration.) However, I can tell you when we visited Colorado College last year, I saw kids in sweats interviewing. Seems to me you’d want to put the best face forward in any situation, but times have changed…
The navajo Palm Beach Sandals are far superior to the Jack Rodgers. The footbed is more comfortable and the uppers are soft and more supple leather than the Jacks.
Shorts are fine for young men as long as they are not cargo or sport shorts and are an appropriate length.
Clothing is tricky, because it sends a message, and it can send a message by trying not to send a message.
For my D who has some interviews this year (and has several business professional outfits from competing in various things), my advice will be clean, pressed, fitting correctly, and reflective of who you are without being all shouty about it.
I don’t want her to be worried about a jacket making her itchy and uncomfortable while she’s talking. I can see her wearing one of her competition t-shirts and a pair of jeans as long as they’re in good shape. I can also see her wearing a black dress with doc martens if that’s what she’s feeling that day.
I think clothing should enhance who you are, not distract, outshine, or hide you. A dude in a suit says “my mom made me wear this and I’m desperate to get into your school” to me. Also, at the other end of the sartorial spectrum, an outrageous outfit may get the outfit remembered rather than the kid.
Or “my mom made me wear this and my mom is desperate for me to get into your school”.
Thanks for the Jack Rogers advice, everyone… my daughter will no doubt be delighted to hear that even other CC parents think my POV is outdated! LOL
Thanks so much for all the input. I think I’m just old and outdated as well. When I did college interviews (in the days of the dinosaur), I dressed business professional. But I really see very few kids dressing like this at college interviews (at the college). So I think nice looking shorts, a collared shirt, and nice slip on shoes will be the way to go for the six interviews he’s scheduled for this August. Good luck everyone!
Maybe it’s a SC thing, but I too wear Jacks with almost everything during the summer. The platinum wedges and platinum kitten heels work especially well with dresses and skirts.
I have to disagree with much of the advice here. I think the best choice of attire for an interview is business casual, which means (to me) a shirt with a collar and khaki pants. The shirt can have short sleeves, This is a neutral uniform that will not detract from the interview in 99% of situations.
It probably won’t matter, especially for a casual on-campus interview. But if there is any possibility that it might matter, why not go with the default?