<p>I'm going to be attending a 3 day long event and I'm not sure how to dress. I only really own two types of clothes: casual (t-shirts and polo and cargo pants) and two suits that I find uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. What I guess I'm asking is whether or not a short-sleeved polo with long cargo pants is good enough?</p>
<p>I attended an open house yesterday. I wore slacks, dress shirt and was by far the most dressed. Everyone else just wore jeans and a polo shirt or t shirt. No one brought anything either.</p>
<p>I’d still wear some comfortable slacks, pair of oxfords, and a patterned button-up (no tie or jacket). After having to dress up in a suit for work for the last 3 years, not wearing a tie makes all the difference in comfort levels.</p>
<p>Yeah of course. It is always safer to be over dressed.</p>
<p>Except for upper administration (deans, provosts, etc.) and perhaps business school professors, most academics hate to dress up and don’t. Business casual is the safest bet – khakis, nice shirt, shoes (no sneakers.) Look to your own professors for guidance. </p>
<p>Since it is an open house and not an pre-admittance interview – that is, you’ve already been accepted – it’s no big deal if you miss the mark. Right now, you just want to be comfortable enough to gather the information you need.</p>
<p>Ouro-
Invest into some quality footwear, dress shoes and hiking/driving shoe for casual
Agree with Momwaiting-no sneakers
Buy flat front khaki pants, good belt and fitted long sleeved shirts that you fold up the cuff if want
IMHO</p>
<p>Where do you suggest is a good place to get shoes? I wear a size 13 wide so it’s kinda hard to shop for. At the moment I own exactly one pair of shoes, and it’s a sneaker.</p>
<p>I bought some shoes at Nordstorm Rack and they were pretty good value, but sometime their prices are a rip off.</p>
<p>Ouro- take a look online at
Zappos
DSW
get an idea of what you like- they have 13 wide men</p>
<p>Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. I’d probably suggest against shorts during times when you’ll be meeting with faculty for chats specifically about research or the program, but yea, it really doesn’t matter. </p>
<p>No one cares what you wear (and if they do, they’ll be in the minority). I wore jeans (on one interview, shorts), sandals/boat shoes, shirt (sometimes non-collar shortsleeve, sometimes non-collar longsleeve, sometimes just a hoodie over t-shirt) on my interviews and it was never a problem. I felt very comfortable and that’s invaluable when you’re gonna be chatting with a ton of people you don’t know. To each their own.</p>
<p>This is for Bio PhD programs, and YMMV with other programs, but I’d imagine other academically-based (as opposed to pre-professional) programs to be similar.</p>
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<p>I was applying for a Ph.D. housed in business schools, so that’s why I may have a different approach than some! And I’m also used to having to dress up for work, so albeit not as comfortable as sweats and flip-flops, I don’t mind the dressy business-casual attire as much as I used to.</p>