Hi guys! So I have my Yale interview this upcoming Saturday, but I have no idea what to wear. I’ve been getting so many mixed signals, but all definitely point to the “no suit and tie” option. The interview email they sent me talked about how it will take place in a college’s office in one in one of their academic buildings, and they specifically said “We encourage all applicants whom we interview to dress for the interview in comfortable clothes (it’s NOT a job interview!),” which seems quite vague to me. I did plan on wearing like a Blue/Black flannel with khakis and brand new sneakers, or with a sweater over the flannel, but people told me to avoid the flannel option all together, saying it is too informal, while some say its fine. So I was wondering if any of you could clear this up for me? Thanks!
My recommendation: Business casual: http://www.businessinsider.com/what-business-casual-really-means-2014-8
^^ Also, do not wear a flannel shirt or sneakers. Wear a shirt with a collar and smart casual or dress shoes.
Since you are going to an office environment (albeit college rather than business) @gibby and @londondad are on point. If you are uncomfortable in a button down shirt or jacket/blazer, a smart sweater or collared shirt should be fine. I would avoid sneakers and jeans, but comfortable shoes and slacks/khakis should be fine. I am assuming you are male.
What did your interviewer suggest. Since I usually try to accommodate my students, I have interviewed them right after practices late in the evenings so sometimes they are still in their sports uniforms. I even interviewed one young lady in her Target uniform because the interview was during her break. For those who come from home or I do on the weekends, I tell them to dress casually since I usually meet in a Starbucks or Panera. It is just my preference, I want you to be comfortable. So much of the application process is stressful, I want the interview to be all about you. Again, my preference. I have literally told applicants to take off their suit jackets and ties (which they admitted their mom made them wear). I got a much better interview after that because the person then felt more comfortable. Remember, the point of the interview is to get a sense of the “real” person.
But, like some have said, if you get no feedback at all, pants and a collared shirt will probably be best. Be neat and be clean. But most of all, bring your smile and your personality!!
@Tperry1982 My interviewer suggested nothing. It seems my interview is coming from a group of Yale alumni who meet at one school to do their interviews in the school’s offices. I don’t even know who my interviewer will be. The only note I got was to “we encourage all applicants to dress in comfortable clothes; this is not a job interview!”
@Seirien - each Alumni Schools Committee (ASC) does it differently. That is obviously what works for them. I would wear comfortable clothes, obviously something that is appropriate for school. A shirt with a collar and a pair of slacks or khakis is always a good bet. But most important is to do your best to let the real you come out. Be as genuine as you can be. I know its easier said than done (even adults have problems with interviews), but try to have a good time with it. I wish you lots of luck.
I’d recommend you “dress for the interview in comfortable clothes” and keep in mind that “it’s NOT a job interview!”.
I’m not writing this to be a smart a$$ (although I am one by nature), but simply to highlight Yale’s excellent advice which should apply equally to most college interviews.
Applicants have a tendency to overrate the importance of interviews, to treat them as “make or break” affairs when they aren’t, and to over dress and over stress
If they say dress comfortably, follow their instruction.
Funny story, when DS was a senior at Princeton he was invited to a second round interview in the offices of a Wall Street firm. The invitation indicated “business casual” attire but he was surprised when he arrived and was surrounded by people in suits and ties.
But it turned out those were all a bunch of interviewees who had ignored the written instruction and instead “dressed to impress” and that most of the actual employees were dressed more like my son who, unlike most of the applicants, received a job offer.
Sometimes just following instructions gets you half way there.
^ @sherpa I agree with you that it makes sense to follow the instructions. Having said that, a nice collared dress shirt with khakis/dockers and clean smart casual shoes fits that comfortable description better than a flannel shirt, jeans and sneakers. My DD is going through this process now and she always wears a moderately casual dress to her interviews partly because that is what she wears to school most days.
My daughter wore the same dress to all of her interviews. It was the same one she wore to give her speech at the National Honor Society induction. She felt confident and grown up while wearing it and so she wanted to feel good about herself when she went to the interview so that is what she wore. Funny side note is that it wasn’t even hers- she borrowed it from her best friend. I think that if you dress in a way that makes you feel good about yourself that it will be a part of your personality that shines through how you look. Her Yale interview was more like a cattle call. One old guy who interviewed 7 applicants from her school all in the same day and one right after the other in the guidance office. The interview was the shortest of all the ones she did and he seemed the least impressed. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t as personal as most of the others. She still was accepted. Best of luck to you.
I think flannel, or a Henley, that kind of thing, are fine, honestly. I would say no jeans or sneakers, but even that is murky. They want you to be yourself. What do you wear to school?
Remember an interview is a chance for you to interview them too. Make sure the school is a fit for you, rather than focusing on whether you are a fit for the school. So as I said, and other said, just be yourself.
@Memmsmom - as an interviewer, I apologize about your daughter’s experience, even though she was accepted. I always have my interviews in a place that makes the applicant comfortable and purposely never have more than one in a day. To me, it would not be fair to the second or third applicant because by then I would be spent and less attentive. I believe I should give my all to each and every interview. But, to each his own. My Harvard interview back in the dark ages was very intimidating and I know I did not do my best at it. Guess that’s why I didn’t get in. :)) Best thing that ever happened to me though since my Yale experience was the best.
@Tperry1982 its all good. She was the only one that got in out of the group she was a part of. It must have been the dress that helped her stick out. LOL
I told my son to wear what he wore on a daily basis during his internship at an investment bank last summer: Dress slacks (black or dark blue, not khaki), button down dress shirt (white or blue) and black shoes. No tie or jacket. He was meeting a young interviewer (class of '13) at a Panera in Manhattan. He told me that he felt that he was overdressed for the interview. I pointed out that it’s better to be a little overdressed than a little underdressed. No interviewer is going to view negatively what he was wearing, while they might view an underdressed applicant negatively.
FWIW, I was Yale '83.
^ Great advice.
I don’t know. If I met a young man in a white dress shirt, black pants, and black shoes, I might wonder if he was an interviewee or a missionary.
In my opinion, business casual includes khaki pants, and a shirt with a collar. No sneakers, but something like Topsiders are fine.
As far as I now, my son has not appeared in the Book of Mormon! 
I agree with you that khaki pants certainly qualify as business casual, but to me they look more casual than black or dark blue pants. Topsiders could be fine as long as the color matches the pants. I certainly agree with no sneakers. A short-sleeved shirt with a collar could be fine during warmer months. However, that would look a little odd to me in January/February.
These are just my opinion with an attempt to slant a little less rather than more casual. If I were interviewing a prospect student, I wouldn’t ding them at all for dressing how you describe though a short-sleeved shirt would look a little too casual to me during coldish months.
FWIW: Some interviews are held at the Yale Club, which does have a dress code that defines business casual, which is probably appropriate for all interviews, although IMHO denim is too casual for an interview: http://www.yaleclubnyc.org/guests
Note the requirement to wear socks.
I agree 100%. My standard interview invite language says, “I am a pretty casual person and the interview is meant to be informal, so please don’t feel like you have to dress up or bring anything but yourself and any questions you might have. My goal is just to get to know you and to help you get to know Yale.” Most of my interviews were right after school, and the interviewees wore whatever they’d worn to school that day, usually jeans or a uniform. I have yet to feel the need to make mention of any aspect of an applicant’s personal appearance in an interview report.