Post-Interview Day Get Together Etique

[ShiningInShadows]

So I got the itinerary for my first/so-far-only interview day, and there is a get together afterwards at one of the professor's houses. What's the etique on bringing something for the host? I would typically bring a bottle of wine if not a pot-luck situation, but then again I don't want to come off as negative on the spectrum of brown-noser to alcoholic. Also, I'm very comfortable in suits but should I dress more casual for this? Any thoughts?

[ak48]

How many people are invited/expected to show up? I myself generally wouldn't bring anything to a recruitment weekend, but if you want to,  I think wine is a fine choice. They won't see you as an alcoholic.

[ion_exchanger]

One of my interview days ended at a faculty member's house for dinner. Since we had interviews the same day, we were already dressed up. The grad students that showed up dressed casually. The invite specifically said that dinner would be served, so there was no need for us to bring anything. Does it say what type of get together it is? If it says dinner or happy hour, then most likely there will already be food and alcohol provided. I have never heard of any of these interviews where there wasn't wine or beer.

[Dexterchi]

I brought two sets of clothes for my interview weekend and ended up using the more casual set, but it was nice to have the option. I've found that with different departments there is either a formal or a casual air about them. My professor dinner was super casual with current grads, faculty, and even their kids. There was tons of wine/beer and everyone was buzzying around that I can't imagine a time where I could have given the host a gift while not being on display. If you do want to thank the host, a note or email the next day would be perfect not only is it just between you and the host, but it keeps your name on their mind and leaves a good impression.   

 

This is based on my weekend, which had 14 people and it was with an anthropology department. Either way good luck I'm sure your qualifications with supersede a small faux-pas.  

Edited March 14, 2013 by Dexterchi

[Grev]

If you know who the hosting professor is, it should be fine to send them a quick email asking if it would be appropriate to bring a small host/ess gift.  If you're more comfortable bringing something than not, you could consider bringing something small that's local to where you're from.  Coffee or chocolates are good options, as are mugs/magnets or small novelties from your area.  I don't know what kind of travel you're looking at, but last time I flew with a bottle of wine it was a bit of a pain on the airplane.

[PsychGirl1]

Don't bring anything- judging from the interview where I did this (dinner at faculty member's house), it would be weird. Plus, depending on your host, sometimes you go there right from the interview day- and it would be hard to carry a bottle of wine with you all day :-D I think a nice thank you before you leave the house, possibly followed by a nice thank you email the next day, would be more than most applicants will do!

[ShiningInShadows]

Thank you all for the input. It's going to be 10 people interviewing for this program, so that plus however many grad students and professors arrive. They didn't give us any more info than when/where it is happening, which is why I'm so unsure of the etiquette is for this. I actually like the idea of bringing something local from where I'm from, however where I am currently doesn't represent where I'm "from" as I identify it, and about the only things local to where I am right now is maple syrup and cow manure. Fortunately I'll have a rental car and some time between the day at the school and the get together, so I'm thinking if I were to get something that didn't require refrigeration I could pick it up the night before when I arrive and just leave it on the back seat.

[ShiningInShadows]

A small update... I picked up a bottle of pinot noir before heading over to the social. It seemed to be extremely well received by the hosting professor and really broke the ice between us as we hadn't formally met yet.