Interviews / Recruitment days - Dress code

[Chrischigta]

I know that this topic has most probably been discussed several times on this forum, but I still want to adress it: What to wear during recruitment days?

 

In my daily routine, I am prefering casual clothes; Jeans, T-Shirts, Sweaters. I like to go shopping in Skateshops etc... So I'm paying attention to "my style" but it's just really causal^^

 

As for official events, I really like to dress up and wear a suit. So originally I planned on wearing one (without tie) for the interviews with faculty members as well. I think a suit looks awesome, it boosts my confidence and I feel comfortable in it. It also shows respect and that I am taking the opportunity that I get absolutely serious. It's just professional.

 

Then, I started doing some research on this online and I found, that most people give the advice not to wear a suit for these occasions and now I am a little bit confused.

What were your experiences on recruitment days? Did people wear suits for the interviews themselves? I was taught, that you can never overdressed for an interview. My supervisor during a summer project in Singapore also once complained about applicants for post-doc position coming not properly dressed up. But everyone seems to be like "I would never wear a suit for grad school interviews" and it just surprises me so much.

 

Also, what about the other events during the weekend? I obviously did not plan to wear a suit for a tour around campus or for a get-together and the dinner with other applicants and current graduate students. But is it ok to wear a jeans and a bottom-up shirt with some nice shoes for these occasions? Or is a jeans an absolute no-go throughout the whole weekend? Or rephrased: How big is the difference between the interviews themselves and the other events with regard to the dress code?

 

I now I am probably paying to much attention to this topic, but I think that the right or wrong choice of clothes can have a strong influence on how comfortable one feels during these important days

Edited January 17, 2015 by Chrischigta

[Vene]

Go ahead and wear the suit, there are always a few people who have one and shouldn't cause any issues. Technically, it certainly is more than is required or expected, but as long as you don't feel uncomfortable you'll be fine. Also, forgoing the tie really does make it less formal.

For the after-interview events you should still try to dress nicely, but for those a suit very much is overkill. I think for those jeans and a button up shirt can be fine. Naturally, wear the best pair of jeans you own.

[spaceimmunology]

For most of the east coast schools you're applying to, there will always be a few people for other parts of the country that think the northeast is so much more formal that a suit is necessary. A suit will not be out of place at places like Penn or Cornell (didn't interview at the others on your list), but a nice pair of pants and a dress shirt will be fine as well. For other events, except for formal dinners with faculty, you'll be better of in a pair of dark jeans and a collared shirt.

[rising_star]

You know what? I say screw convention for a second and go with what makes you feel most confident. Why? You'll do best if your clothes are not making you feel uncomfortable or out of place. So, go with what you feel comfortable in, which for you is the suit. I personally would never wear jeans on any sort of interview weekend. Maybe you could do khakis or slacks?

[peachypie]

Wear the suit!  I wore a suit for mine (I'm a woman). I wore reasonable heels, I treated it like a job interview.  I neve felt out of place.  When I wanted to be a bit more casual during the day (lunch with students etc) I would take my coat off and just wear the blouse with pants and heels.  I loved it and I wore it to all my interviews and thought nothing of it.  It is totally ok and there will be others dressed like that as well. 

 

For non-interview days I would wear a nice pair of pants (not jeans or khakis but a cotton or blend) and a sweater or blouse (sometimes an oxford under a sweater)...more business casual if you will.  If it was a social gathering and/or just a grad student thing I would wear jeans and a nice sweater with boots. 

 

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable and screw the people who say don't wear a suit, most of them have no idea what they are talking about.  Even if you are interviewing for a job and the president of the united states is wearing a sweatsuit does that mean you should wear a sweat suit to the interview?  No...you wear the clothes that you want a job for and you always dress up (thats my opinion).  Grad school is a relaxed world when you are a student but it doesn't mean being a slob is to be expected.

 

As a matter of fact I can tell you in my program the faculty are fairly casual in everyday wear (as most programs are) but when they were trying to woo some faculty to come, they all got dressed up and a lot more suits were being worn.  Just saying...

[Appsitude]

You see people wearing suits all the time. It typically isn't a big deal. I wore jeans + button down or slacks + button down for all my interviews and things turned out okay. Do what makes you comfortable like rising_star said!

 

Either way, you'll probably be more overdressed than the faculty interviewing you. Our program director who interviewed me last year was in ripped jeans, a t shirt, and flip flops

[Shamrock_Frog]

The school I am interviewing at next week actually asked for business attire for interviews.