My S20 is going to visit and have an interview. This is a far reach school for him and he knows that, but just really wants to see it anyway. He says it might inspire him to work hard so he can go there for grad school. So he’s pretty relaxed about the whole thing. How dressed up do guys get for interviews on campus? Are khakis and a polo shirt OK or does he have to wear a shirt and blazer? Is it more formal than we may be used to up here in the Northeast? The farther he gets from shorts and T shirt the less like himself he will feel.
We’ll look at Elon too while we are in the area!
Khakis and a polo are fine. You will see others in blazer and tie. As long as S is neat and looks sharp he’ll be fine.
I would go with khakis and a button-down. Blazer and tie is overkill unless that is what he’d be most comfortable in (sounds like he’s not). The South does tend to be a little more traditional than the Northeast.
Thanks! Do you think it’s OK to do the tour in shorts/t-shirt and then change right before the interview? Or will everyone on the tour be dressed up? I am imagining the heat in NC in August!
^ That’s exactly what we did. Tour in shorts and changed in the car. It was a really hot day in July. Ideal if there is time for lunch in between. Cool down, get comfortable, etc.
Thanks @rickle1
As I’ve written on a previous post, S20 just cannot get this school out of his head. On paper (internet) it seems to have every possible thing he could want in a college. DH and I joke that he has a snowball’s chance in hell there, but he wants to go get melted on a tour anyway. I kind of hope he hates it in person (but doubt that will happen)!
@TimeFlies2 Don’t thinking hating it is likely. Probably will get more hooked as they do a nice job with presenting the school. FYI - they are very holistic so you never know. It’s nice they are test optional if that’s a sore spot. Definitely put a premium on writing and thinking, Don’t know your stats but their application is unique. Lots of opportunity for your son to show who he is beyond grades.
More importantly than just getting in, have him evaluate what type of student he is. The work load is serious and a lot of straight A HS kids end up with lots of Bs (and are happy to get them compared to the alternative. Not a pressure cooker like other challenging schools (I think it’s pretty collaborative) but a lot of smart, successful kids doing really cool things. (read one of S’s friend’s blogs today on analyzing the “home field effect” that Colorado players have in baseball due to playing 81 games in thinner air. Pretty startling figures and really well done - kid’s trying to break in to sports analytics and is just doing these projects and marketing himself. That’s a Wake Forest kid.)