spew

Idk who the f*** would rather live in Dallas over NYC. Does that answer your question?

Why can't people just call and ask the programs themselves? What good is it getting guesses from us?

Interviews:

School #1 - Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #2 - No Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #3 - No Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #4 - Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #5 - No Thank You's sent - ?????

As you can see, profs don't care about Thank You letters.

Follow whatever dress code they tell you. My post was not directed towards the OP or anyone in particular - in fact, don't wear the suit because they told you it's business casual. But somewhere in the middle of this thread someone said:
and then everybody seemed to start to agree suits would be unnecessary. Who cares what's "prevalent." They said "Business dress" and we should be fortunate that they told us anything. Take their advice and move on.
Generally...

Business attire = suit and tie
Business casual attire = dress pants/khaki's and dress shirt or blouse and nice shoes with optional sweater/blazer/sportscoat (no tie necessary)

This stuff is all over the web. I'm not making any of it up.

I'm a guy but I may be able to offer some advice:



Very immature thinking here. Of course the faculty won't be dressed up in fancy suits but that's not the point at all. The point is that you need to show them that you want to impress them and that you cared enough to put on your best. Dressing down only shows the opposite - even if you didn't mean it at all. You can never be too overdressed for an interview. Everybody knows that when you walk in on the first day of the job you won't actually be dressed like that. Think it's trying too hard? Think again. There are hundreds of applicants who want to be in your spot. Show it.

I'm guessing you don't have a lot of experience with interviews. I always wear a suit and there are only 2 interviews (out of maybe 8) in my whole life that I've had where I didn't get the job. In fact on my tour/interview of my last research job, I casually met another supervisor in the hallway and she gave me a thumbs up and said "that's good interview attire."

My point: The appropriateness of formal business attire for an interview should not depend on what field you are in. If you are interviewing for a janitor position, I would still recommend a suit. It's just 100% tactful - It always has been and always will be! Now in the end, it probably doesn't matter: in no way is it a deal breaker. But for purposes of this discussion, to belittle a suit and say it's overkill is absolutely ridiculous.

1. You're an environmental/marine biologist.
2. You're a girl.

So your idea of "how appropriate is a suit" is probably really messed up, lol.



If you go to somewhere in the middle of this thread I clearly say you should just follow whatever instructions they say...

These are all top-tier schools and you will be able to find any academic job coming out of any of these schools. The only obvious difference is location, which might matter if you're looking for an industry job (eg. a boss at a company in LA may prefer to higher CalTech grads...). But here are the general differences in location, as I understand them:

CalTech - LA - California has a great track record for making millionaires and dreams come true. It's an opportunistic place, and Pasadena, CA is no different. It is one of the richest towns per square foot. How does a tiny town like that host the Rose Parade every year? $$$. But even though you'll probably find students with the best work-life balance here, CalTech is extremely competitive.

UChicago - Chicago - You'd think a school in the midwest would be very friendly, but UChicago is in a league of its own. Often labeled as an "honorary Ivy," UChicago is the most desired school in the mid-west. For that reason, it's very competitive and you won't see much collaboration. But Chicago is one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Yale - The northeast region of the U.S. has the highest density of intellectuals. For that reason, expect the most competitive environment and be prepared to fend for yourself. Collaboration is virtually inexistant. Many Ivy Leaguers describe an extremely unwelcoming, isolating, and socially exclusive community that is most common at Harvard and Yale.

The reason you got rejected is because you didn't send the thank you in time! Just imagine if you had!!

These are all top-tier schools and you will be able to find any academic job coming out of any of these schools. The only obvious difference is location, which might matter if you're looking for an industry job (eg. a boss at a company in LA may prefer to higher CalTech grads...). But here are the general differences in location, as I understand them:

CalTech - LA - California has a great track record for making millionaires and dreams come true. It's an opportunistic place, and Pasadena, CA is no different. It is one of the richest towns per square foot. How does a tiny town like that host the Rose Parade every year? $$$. But even though you'll probably find students with the best work-life balance here, CalTech is extremely competitive.

UChicago - Chicago - You'd think a school in the midwest would be very friendly, but UChicago is in a league of its own. Often labeled as an "honorary Ivy," UChicago is the most desired school in the mid-west. For that reason, it's very competitive and you won't see much collaboration. But Chicago is one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Yale - The northeast region of the U.S. has the highest density of intellectuals. For that reason, expect the most competitive environment and be prepared to fend for yourself. Collaboration is virtually inexistant. Many Ivy Leaguers describe an extremely unwelcoming, isolating, and socially exclusive community that is most common at Harvard and Yale.

Did you do anything differently at these interviews than the places you got accepted to?

I got acceptances from my first 2 places and post-interview rejections from my last 2 schools I visited. It sucks. I'm super angry and I'm trying to run my mind through why. Few possibilities; 1) I did not wear suits to these last 2 places. 2) They were both out-of-state schools and I talked a lot about "moving" or "having to move." 3) I talked a lot about my other schools/interviews with current students and 4) I asked a lot of "how does this place differ from other institutions?" so I might have come off as arrogant with the demeanor of what could your school offer me? Maybe these were all bad ideas.

So on my last interview, I tried doing everything opposite of my last 2 interviews: I stepped up my game again and tried to channel whatever magic I worked during the first 2 interviews. I packed the suit, kept my mouth shut about other schools/interviews, and acted like I HAD to be there. Crossing my fingers and I'll let you know how it turns out.

These are all top-tier schools and you will be able to find any academic job coming out of any of these schools. The only obvious difference is location, which might matter if you're looking for an industry job (eg. a boss at a company in LA may prefer to higher CalTech grads...). But here are the general differences in location, as I understand them:

CalTech - LA - California has a great track record for making millionaires and dreams come true. It's an opportunistic place, and Pasadena, CA is no different. It is one of the richest towns per square foot. How does a tiny town like that host the Rose Parade every year? $$$. But even though you'll probably find students with the best work-life balance here, CalTech is extremely competitive.

UChicago - Chicago - You'd think a school in the midwest would be very friendly, but UChicago is in a league of its own. Often labeled as an "honorary Ivy," UChicago is the most desired school in the mid-west. For that reason, it's very competitive and you won't see much collaboration. But Chicago is one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Yale - The northeast region of the U.S. has the highest density of intellectuals. For that reason, expect the most competitive environment and be prepared to fend for yourself. Collaboration is virtually inexistant. Many Ivy Leaguers describe an extremely unwelcoming, isolating, and socially exclusive community that is most common at Harvard and Yale.

Interviews:

School #1 - Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #2 - No Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #3 - No Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #4 - Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #5 - No Thank You's sent - ?????

As you can see, profs don't care about Thank You letters.

Interviews:

School #1 - Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #2 - No Thank You's sent - ACCEPTED
School #3 - No Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #4 - Thank You's sent - REJECTED
School #5 - No Thank You's sent - ?????

As you can see, profs don't care about Thank You letters.

Did you do anything differently at these interviews than the places you got accepted to?

I got acceptances from my first 2 places and post-interview rejections from my last 2 schools I visited. It sucks. I'm super angry and I'm trying to run my mind through why. Few possibilities; 1) I did not wear suits to these last 2 places. 2) They were both out-of-state schools and I talked a lot about "moving" or "having to move." 3) I talked a lot about my other schools/interviews with current students and 4) I asked a lot of "how does this place differ from other institutions?" so I might have come off as arrogant with the demeanor of what could your school offer me? Maybe these were all bad ideas.

So on my last interview, I tried doing everything opposite of my last 2 interviews: I stepped up my game again and tried to channel whatever magic I worked during the first 2 interviews. I packed the suit, kept my mouth shut about other schools/interviews, and acted like I HAD to be there. Crossing my fingers and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Did you do anything differently at these interviews than the places you got accepted to?

I got acceptances from my first 2 places and post-interview rejections from my last 2 schools I visited. It sucks. I'm super angry and I'm trying to run my mind through why. Few possibilities; 1) I did not wear suits to these last 2 places. 2) They were both out-of-state schools and I talked a lot about "moving" or "having to move." 3) I talked a lot about my other schools/interviews with current students and 4) I asked a lot of "how does this place differ from other institutions?" so I might have come off as arrogant with the demeanor of what could your school offer me? Maybe these were all bad ideas.

So on my last interview, I tried doing everything opposite of my last 2 interviews: I stepped up my game again and tried to channel whatever magic I worked during the first 2 interviews. I packed the suit, kept my mouth shut about other schools/interviews, and acted like I HAD to be there. Crossing my fingers and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Did you do anything differently at these interviews than the places you got accepted to?

I got acceptances from my first 2 places and post-interview rejections from my last 2 schools I visited. It sucks. I'm super angry and I'm trying to run my mind through why. Few possibilities; 1) I did not wear suits to these last 2 places. 2) They were both out-of-state schools and I talked a lot about "moving" or "having to move." 3) I talked a lot about my other schools/interviews with current students and 4) I asked a lot of "how does this place differ from other institutions?" so I might have come off as arrogant with the demeanor of what could your school offer me? Maybe these were all bad ideas.

So on my last interview, I tried doing everything opposite of my last 2 interviews: I stepped up my game again and tried to channel whatever magic I worked during the first 2 interviews. I packed the suit, kept my mouth shut about other schools/interviews, and acted like I HAD to be there. Crossing my fingers and I'll let you know how it turns out.

The reason you got rejected is because you didn't send the thank you in time! Just imagine if you had!!

The reason you got rejected is because you didn't send the thank you in time! Just imagine if you had!!

The reason you got rejected is because you didn't send the thank you in time! Just imagine if you had!!

Wow, spew's response is totally unnecessary. I too am 1. a marine biology student and 2. a girl, but how does that disqualify me from speaking about appropriate interview attire for my male colleagues? I'm sure it would be very easy for you to tell that a young woman was inappropriately dressed for a grad school interview if she was wearing, say, a cocktail dress? Or, at the other end of the spectrum, a t-shirt and jeans? Its just as easy for us "girls" to tell that a guy is over- or under-dressed for an occasion. As a previous poster mentioned, how you dress can reflect on your "fit" with the potential program, and if you are too dressy or too casual compared to what was suggested or how other members of your group are dressed, the faculty and staff may make some judgement based on that (fairly or not). I would worry much more about having that kind of condescension come through in an interview than how you are dressed.

1. You're an environmental/marine biologist.
2. You're a girl.

So your idea of "how appropriate is a suit" is probably really messed up, lol.



If you go to somewhere in the middle of this thread I clearly say you should just follow whatever instructions they say...

a

Nothing personal, but I couldn't NOT respond to the vehemence of this statement - bold and large font!

Speaking from over a decade of corporate, including senior managment:
You CAN be overdressed, particularly if you have been given specific indication that the expectation is "Business Casual". In this instance, a suit suggests that you actually DON'T care enough to pay attention to the guidance you've been given. And isn't that a big part of what being a grad student is all about?

What you are wearing does not ultimately determine whether or not you get the job/grad school offer, it is YOU that they want to understand. YOU need to feel comfortable enough to be YOURSELF and still "play the part" for what works in that particular environment.


If they have told you "Business Casual", DO NOT WEAR A SUIT.

1. You're an environmental/marine biologist.
2. You're a girl.

So your idea of "how appropriate is a suit" is probably really messed up, lol.



If you go to somewhere in the middle of this thread I clearly say you should just follow whatever instructions they say...

1. You're an environmental/marine biologist.
2. You're a girl.

So your idea of "how appropriate is a suit" is probably really messed up, lol.



If you go to somewhere in the middle of this thread I clearly say you should just follow whatever instructions they say...

1. You're an environmental/marine biologist.
2. You're a girl.

So your idea of "how appropriate is a suit" is probably really messed up, lol.



If you go to somewhere in the middle of this thread I clearly say you should just follow whatever instructions they say...