If you look on the UPenn website about interviewing, it says to dress as you would for a school picture. I had my UPenn interview yesterday, and I wore a sweater with twill pants and leather flats. I did not wear heels or a suit or a collared shirt. The interview is supposed to be informal! My interviewer (a man) was wearing a collared shirt with a 1/4 zip pullover. I think you’ll be fine.
If the jeans are dark (indigo or black) and flattering on you, you really don’t need to wear fancier pants, in my opinion - especially if you are meeting at a casual place like Starbucks.
Our S wore shorts, tshirt and hooded pullover sweatshirt for his interview for USoCal engineering when the engineering dean was in HI. That was his only interview. He was accepted and received generous merit aid. I had wanted him to wear dark khakis and polo shirt but he made his selection and was comfortable with it. The interview was at his HS in the counseling office and he went to classes before and after, so I guess it was OK. That was the only interview he attended and it was the school he matriculated at.
I am an alumni interviewer for Duke and I’ve been doing it for years. It is important to note that I’m in CA, b/c I think it does matter, as we are a lot less uptight about formalities than the Northeast and South (I can say that as a transplanted New Yorker who went to college in the South!). However, I would say jeans and a sweater are dressed up compared to what I’ve seen. It’s meant to be a casual conversation to learn more about who the candidate is beyond the stats, so I tell them upfront to dress casually, and most do, although typically they err to nice casual. Of course, that’s me, and it depends on your interviewer and what their acceptable norms are. Sweater or collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis is probably always OK for an alumni interview. For an actual admissions rep, I’d lose the jeans, but jacket or tie probably not required.
@Cameron121: “Sweater or collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis is probably always OK for an alumni interview.” I, too, have been a Duke undergraduate alumni interviewer for many years. I entirely agree with the foregoing advice. I also agree that question this is likely both largely interviewer and somewhat regionally dependent. Therefore, I would forego the jeans – even very nice and costly ones – to preclude the unlikely possibility of being perceived as too informal, therefore potentially disrespectful. No applicant will create an adverse impression by being slightly too formally attired, but the opposite isn’t true.
I do interviews for Yale. I interview at Starbucks, Panera and sometimes the library. I like to do interviews on Saturday mornings. I try not to do them after work because I feel the applicant will be fried after being in school all day and I am going to be tired and cranky after work and commuting. Since it is Saturday morning, I go for the casual look. But I specifically tell my applicants that as long as they are neat, they can wear jeans. Now I think I would frown on someone who came in a tattered tshirt and jeans, but jeans and a nice sweater, button down or polo shirt works for me. Of course, every interviewer is different. You may just want to ask up front when you are discussing the time and place for the interview.
Of course this is null and void if you have an old fogey interviewing at their Wall Street Law firm. A suit is probably best under those circumstances.
I can remember a time when my D was still in school and my evening schedule was tighter. I was having such a hard time connecting with my interviewee and reports were due. She was a cheerleader and it was basketball season. Between her ECs and my Ds, there was barely any time that we were both free.
By the time she got home from a game, changed into an “appropriate” outfit and got to the Starbucks, it was going to be very late. I told her to just come in her cheerleading uniform. Trust me, her mother came into Starbucks with her to verify that is what I told her. I could see that she definitely thought her daughter was telling her wrong. It all turned out fine. It did nothing to change what I ultimately wrote in her report.
Class of 1982 - definitely an old fogey.
At all three of my interviews, I’ve worn jeans and a simple t-shirt. The interviewers were all dressed in about the same attire.
Usually it’s a good idea to dress for an interview just slightly better than you would to go to work everyday. Presumably you’d wear khakis or other trousers with a button-up shirt or a sweater. For the interview, add a nice jacket. The kind of thing my dad always calls a “sport coat.” A lot of guys wear dressy sneakers to business casual offices, but I’m not sure I’d do that for an interview. Perhaps a nice leather oxford is the way to go.
Do you spend much time in Ohio?
My children wouldn’t wear those colors to school from about age 6 on no matter how pretty the dress or sweater or whatever. I, being from NYC, thought that was ridiculous but now that I have lived here for 20 years, I get it.
I would absolutely not wear those colors to a tOSU interview. Many interviewers would consider it provocative so why take the risk? It may be dumb but it’s the reality.
Accepted to University of Rochester ED. Wore khaki joggers, black doc martens combat boots, plaid button up and a v neck black sweater, heather gray beanie on top.