<p>my son will have three interviews with regional admission offices that are travelling to our state. What should he wear? only one school (St. Andrew's, DE) has a formal dress code -- the other schools all have a casual dress code.</p>
<p>He owns two nice suits (one is dark charcoal gray and one is a gray pinstripe), he has a blue button down shirt, several ties to choose from and a pair of olive green pants. All items are very nice -- the suits were originally $500 (amazing what can be found at the thrift store). </p>
<p>What we don't have are shoes and the suits might need to be altered a little -- he has grown quite a bit lately.</p>
<p>So -- what is the general recommendation for what to wear? He would love to wear clothes that "express his personality" but I am not sure that is the route to go.</p>
<p>There have been many threads on this try searching it.</p>
<p>But anyways I just went with a coat and tie. You really can't go wrong. The worst thing you want is to be underdressed. This will make you feel very awkward.</p>
<p>As Hockeykid says, there have been a number of recent threads on appropriate interview attire.</p>
<p>Some people (like Burb Parent) advocate for jacket and tie, all the time. My feeling is that you should wear clothes that comply with dress code at least, jacket and tie at the most. Wearing a suit will probably feel too overdressed for any kid (even at school that require "formal" dress like St. Andrew's), and really isn't necessary. </p>
<p>I will also tell you that the elder Smile Pup wore a jacket and tie to his interview at one school and an interviewer (a parent) actually asked him why he was so dressed up. Then the Pup had to explain himself and felt awkward about THAT. So it is possible to be too dressed up as well. If your son has a strong wish to express his individuality in his attire, frankly I think he should because schools that are going to be offended by that form of self-expression are probably not the place for such a one as your boy.</p>
<p>I do think a suit would be too much at any school. Blazer and khakis at the most. If the school doesn't have a dress code, nice cords or khakis with polo, sweater is great.</p>
<p>One option -- which I admit is probably a pain -- is to call the admission offices and ask the person who answers the phone what s/he recommends. If you do that, please share your findings here. (Of course, if you tell us "torn jeans and t-shirts with sexually explicit graphics...to demonstrate non-conformist thinking," we're going to suspect that you're trying to give Junior a slight edge....)</p>
<p>My school does not have a uniform or very strict dress code but we never look down on a student for wearing a blazer and tie to an admissions interview. The admissions office wouldn't have trouble with the suit either but it may give the student tour guide (who gets to write an evaluation, too) the impression that the applicant might be a bit stiff for our campus.</p>
<p>I saw that you guys mention dress code. How can I find information about dress code of the school? Do they require us to dress according to the dress code during interview?</p>
<p>For boys, sportscoat, shirt, and khakis.... tie isn't necessary, in my opinion (unless applying to Exeter or Deerfield, etc..where ties are a given)... no sneakers. Kids at Andover can wear sweats (students can.. not applicants), but absolutely not at Exeter (to class). Check out the dress code of the school, as everyone has said.</p>
<p>I think a suit is too much.. but, admissions may just feel like they're just very eager (in an endearing sort of way).</p>
<p>Every school but a couple that we are applying to has a formal dress code. We were planning on having S wear his suit - it doesn't honestly look a whole lot different that pants and a blazer, expect that they match. But now I'm starting to worry. However, the only blazer he has other than the suit is his school one with his school patch on it and I'm SURE he does not want to wear that.</p>
<p>well, you could buy a new blazer with the expectation that he'll need it next year anyway at BS but with the way boys grow at this age, it more than likely won't fit him next September. </p>
<p>I think a suit would be fine. Better overdressed than underdressed they always say. Besides, if the difference between wearing a suit/tie vs. jacket/khakis/tie made such a difference that it effected his being accepted or not, would you really want your son going to that school anyway??</p>
<p>It's true that Andover students can (and applicants can't--or shouldn't) but they normally don't. I wouldn't actually consider a tie overdoing it at all, because a very substantial number of boys here wear ties to class, just because they want to and it's the atmosphere or a tradition for their cluster.</p>
<p>Thanks Creative. And you are right, if he doens't get accepted because he is a little "overdressed" than we don't want him there anyway!<br>
And yes...if we buy a new blazer now that fits nicely, I'm SURE he'll be out of it by next fall. His current school blazer is from last year, but we bought it big planning to get 2 years out of it and not really minding if the first year it was too big.</p>
<p>I have a tour, not interview, at Andover in July. What should I wear to that? I was thinking a light pink Ralph Lauren polo, khakis, a brown belt, and navy or black flats. Right choice? Or should I wear a skirt?</p>
<p>Absolutely a sportcoat, tie, and khakis. Even to those schools without a formal dress code. A suit is not necessary. In my opinion First impressions are vital. I would say invest in a sportcoat, it doesn’t have to be from Brooks Brothers. Check out Lands End.</p>