<p>I have an interview with a Cornell alum this Saturday and we are getting lunch at Panera Bread. Since I'm not applying for Hotel or Architecture it's not a required part of my admission but certainly won't hurt (unless I somehow bomb it and act like a total butthole, lol). I was just wondering since it's more casual and at Panera what I should wear? I have a nice sweater from Old Navy that I want to layer on top of a polo but I don't know what to wear on the bottom. I was contemplating either gray dress slacks or dark wash jeans. I think the slacks are too formal but the jeans are too casual. I could dress the gray slacks down though by switching out the sweater and wearing a white long sleeved cotton tee with a cute empire waste tank top on top with a few sequins (it's more like dressy casual).</p>
<p>For my second question, I want to ask the alum about Cornell to gain knowledge and show interest in the school, but I do not know what to ask as the alum only attended Cornell for her masters at age 38, so obviously she'll have had a very different experience than if she was there for 4 years as an undergrad. I can't really ask her about the dorms or food or activities. Of course I'll ask her what she enjoyed most and what stood out about Cornell and stuff, but I can't really think of any good questions that I could ask someone who attended at such a late age.</p>
<p>You’re way too uptight about this. The interviewer doesn’t care about your fashion sense. She wants to know who you are. Be yourself. Come prepared to tell her 3 or 4 things about your interests and “passions,” academic and otherwise, and find ways to work those into the conversation. Ask about academic programs in fields you might be interested in. Ask about life in Ithaca. Ask whether, if she had the chance to do it over again and had a choice between Cornell and where she actually did her undergrad, she’d have chosen Cornell—and if so why, and if not, why not? Make her sell the school, instead of feeling you need to sell yourself.</p>
<p>There are lots of interview threads on the Ivy boards since so many of them require interviews. MOST all will lean more toward dressing “upward” than downward. “Nice casual” is a good term, but more TOWARD the nice than the casual. I would not recommend jeans of any sort. I think the sweater and slacks is PERFECT. My D wore skirt, V-neck sweater, and flats to an interview for a comparable college. For ME…and I’m not your interviewer…I’d think a full on suit might be a bit over the top (unless you’re just that type, for example, my D is on speech team and is VERY comfortable in that type clothing), and jeans are a no-no because it’s an “interview”, not a bohemian rap session to show your art portfolio. The fact that it’s Panera should not matter. Many/most interviews these days are in coffee houses. Select your attire based on occasion, not destination. “Dress for success”. I think too many kids are TOO casual these days, and you’ll hopefully find most adults appreciate the modification of your behavior in deference to their status.</p>
<p>I am surprised with thousands of Cornell alums, they would ask someone like that to do interviews. Cornell’s interview is more informational, it doesn’t count that much. </p>
<p>What I generally tell people is not to draw too much attention to one’s clothing. For girls it means no low cut blouse, short skirt, low rise pants with short tops, or loud accessories. Leather shoes are better than sneakers. Most of the time I think jeans are too casual, but in this particular case, at a casual restaurant on a Sat, a pair of dark clean jeans would be ok. Don’t wear the cute top with sequins, that’s more for going out with friends. Go with the sweater.</p>
<p>Ask her about Ithaca - the outdoor, restaurants. Ask her if she TA while she was getting her master, what’s her impression of students there. Has she been back to Cornell? If so, has it changed? For the better? Cornell is a huge university. Ask her for some tips on how to navigate through the Big Red machine.</p>
<p>People often talk too much during an interview, don’t be afraid to let her talk, and no need to fill the silence. Good luck.</p>