<p>Hey CC, I have my first college interview tomorrow. My interviewer told me to dress casual. A few weeks earlier, the college itself mailed me the college tshirt. What would the interviewer think if I wore it to the interview? Would it be a plus, or would it be a suck-up move and impact his impression of me negatively?</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch.</p>
<p>It would strike me that you don’t fully understand the nuanced phrase “Dress casual”. That still means a step above a T Shirt. If male, wear a collared shirt (dress shirt, polo) and slacks or nice jeans. Please, no sneakers. Women have a broader choice. But still – no casual Jean and T Shirt.</p>
<p>Dressing nicer than casual won’t hurt your chances - dressing in jeans in a tshirt theoretically can. However, I just had an interview where it was stressed to dress comfortably, and from experience I know friends that have interned there, they dressed in jeans & tshirt and still got the job. </p>
<p>So… your mileage may vary! Good luck 
FWIW, a button up shirt and really nice jeans will work, so will other seemingly discrete clothing. It doesn’t have to be slacks & a buttoned longsleeve shirt or khakis and a polo. :)</p>
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<p>Not necessarily; it depends on the region and the individual person. Dressing a little nicer is a safer choice if you are not sure, however. (But make sure that the clothes fit.)</p>
<p>^True. A casual interview in Honolulu or Boca Raton would be different than Milwaukee or Shaker Heights. But I would still caution against any centering towards a T Shirt.</p>
<p>Casual attire for an interview in Boca Raton would definitely be slacks and a polo shirt, not a t-shirt! Not sure about Honolulu, lol.</p>
<p>I think it would be risky to wear the college tshirt to the interview. Obviously you want to attend the school. But wearing the shirt runs the risk of appearing presumptuous and/or sucking up.
All of my son’s interviews stated casual/comfortable dress. He wore jeans, sneakers, and a collared polo type shirt.</p>