<p>D certainly planned to wear nice shoes to her Yale interview, to complement her nice slacks and her nice sweater. She forgot to pack the shoes though, and had to wear her regular black sneakers. I told her I really doubted that the summary on her application would say that they would have accepted her but for her not wearing nicer shoes during her interview. Come to think of it, I did buy her a pin-striped suit for interviews, but she wears it at debates instead.</p>
<p>hmmm...my interview will be at a hotel lobby. is it important to know about how old your interviewer is? do you think for a girl(haha a very short one), is it ok if i wore a pair of high heel sandals? i don't have dressy shoes that are not sandals because i live in a tropical country and there's really no need. and should i bring a coat to the hotel because of the air conditioning? or should i just wear long sleeves?
and, does it really matter that much what i wear?</p>
<p>I don't know if what you wear REALLY has that much effect, as long as you're not sloppy or dirty, but it reminded me of an interview 30 years ago for one of 5 honor scholarships at my university. I walked into a waiting room full of prospective students and every girl but one had on a frilly Sunday-best dress. I wore navy pants and suit jacket with a white blouse- very masculine, and not too common at the time. One other girl had on pants. She and I were the only two girls to receive the scholarship. Maybe there's no correlation, but I think it's important to dress in what makes you feel confident and sharp.</p>
<p>I am an Ivy alumni inteviewer. Unless you decide to wear attire that clearly is unkempt (stinks, is filthy or looks like you went to bed in the clothes) or is vulgar or racist (such as wearing a "Big Johnson" T-shirt), your attire is not going to matter that much.</p>
<p>Unless you are a slob, sexist, racist, or are certifiably insane, it is fine to wear clothes that reflect your personality. Thus, if you are artsy, it would be fine to wear "artsy" attire. If you are in ROTC, it would be fine to wear your ROTC uniform. If you are in general a conservative person, it's fine to wear a coat and tie. </p>
<p>If you don't want your attire to make some statement about your personality, wearing khakis and a collared shirt would be appropriate for guys, a dress, or skirt/slacks and a blouse (please, no plunging necklines or otherwise sexy attire, which can embarass or distract the interviewer), and comfortable shoes that you can walk in without twisting your ankles or tripping. :)</p>
<p>Far more important than your attire is coming prepared to talk about yourself -- your interests, accomplishments and what you feel you have to offer the college (including why you selected it) and what you'd like to do there during your college years. Doing a good job with this section typically means that before the interview, you would have taken the time to thoroughly read the college's web site -- including getting info about ECs and about the academics. </p>
<p>I think that I reflect the views of many interviewers when I say that I don't have muchn patience with applicants who have applied to a college without having done basic research on the college. It is hard for me to believe that an applicant is truly thoughtful and intellectual if during the interview, they ask me things like, "Does the college have XX major?" "Is there are student newspaper?" "How big is the city that the college is in?" </p>
<p>While the college that I interview for doesn't consider perceived interest when it makes admissions decisions (Most accepted candidates accept admission), it does consider intellectual curiosity a major factor. Applicants who haven't done basic research about where they will spend 4 years of their lives don't seem to be intellectually curious enough to, IMO, be appropriate for a college that prides itself on being a very intellectual environment.</p>
<p>Wear the suit!</p>
<p>I'll be having an on-campus interview for USC's Marshall School of Business (undergrad.) Since it's a business program, should I dress a bit more pro?</p>
<p>Being overdressed can look silly and make you feel uncomfortable. Keep in mind that there are many businesses where people no longer necessarily wear suits. Khakis and a button-down shirt should be fine for a boy; add a navy-blue blazer and tie if you really feel a need for greater formality. A suit seems artificial to me. For girls a skirt (not a super-mini-skirt, however) or nice pants with a simple sweater would seem about right.</p>
<p>It all depends IMO. I always took the interview less-than-seriously, but that's just me. If you like wearing a suit, go for it. I'd prefer a navy blazer on khaki pants with a red or gold tie. I did some of my interviews in jeans and a t-shirt. Others in nicer clothes. </p>
<p>Try and look nice...that's about it. I wear button-down shirts most of the time anyway, so it's not a big deal. Your attitude will matter leaps and bounds more than your attire.</p>