<p>A couple questions about interviews (with Harvey Mudd, McKenna, and Pomona, to be specific):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Would a suit be too formal? In fact, is it possible to be too formal?</p></li>
<li><p>Should I present a copy of my resume for each interview? Is there anything else I should bring to my interview?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m actually really used to wearing a suit and tie. I just worry that I may appear like I’m trying to overshadow the interviewer or something. Would ditching the suit jacket help, in your opinion?</p>
<p>Yes, ditch the jacket! Business casual for guys is generally shirt + pants + tie + nice shoes.</p>
<p>S interviewed at Pomona and we visited Mudd. A suit and tie would definitely be overdressed. Khakis and a nice button down is generally as formal as it gets. You’ll see plenty wearing polo shirts too. Remember you’re probably going to be taking a tour of the campus too, and possibly eating in the dining hall (I think they gave us coupons for that). You want to be dressed in a way that lets you talk to students as peers if you are sitting with anyone in the dining hall or want to approach someone to ask questions.</p>
<p>I thought you were talking about off-campus interviews. If it’s on campus, generally admissions offices tell you to dress comfortably and nicely. M’s Mom’s suggestion might be best.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Yuechen, how would your advice differ (if at all) for off-campus interviews?</p>
<p>For off-campus, it’s always safe to wear what I described: shirt + tie + pants + nice shoes. For on-campus, that may be a little much, depending on how much walking you’re supposed to be doing (tours, etc). Shirt + pants might suffice.</p>
<p>I interview for an HYPMS, and of the 7 guys I’ve interviewed (all off campus) to date, not one showed up in a suit - although one had a tie as part of his school uniform (and he made a point of telling me that he was coming directly from school). I certainly wouldn’t have held a suit against someone - but I would have wondered where they were getting their sartorial advice from. I think there may have been a few in jeans and sneakers, but frankly, I wasn’t really paying attention because they looked like a typical high school student, which is what I was expecting to see.</p>