Interview Attire

[Anonymous]

My daughter has her first in person interview scheduled for next week (the rest have been Zoom). Are nice jeans okay to wear? With a nice sweater and boots? I honestly don’t think she has any winter pants that aren’t leggings, sweatpants or jeans.

[Anonymous]

who is she interviewing with and what kind of an impression is she trying to make?

[Anonymous]

No I would not wear jeans

[Anonymous]

Jeans are fine IMO. I have done interviews and we usually meet somewhere like a library conference room or coffee shop. It would be weird to dress up in those settings. If the interview is at a downtown law firm, then perhaps dress up a bit.

[Anonymous]

Is this a college admissions interview? If so, I'd think jeans are fine.

[Anonymous]

Also basically the only guidance I’ve gotten as an interviewer from the college is to not judge or describe the student’s clothing. Princeton, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

I would tell her to go get some black pants ... it's probably not a big deal, but I wouldn't assume. Black pants and a decent sweater that she already owns.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help! Sorry I should have clarified - it’s a college interview and it’s at a coffee house in our town.

[Anonymous]

Last year, my son had a tour followed by an interview. He wore sneakers, khakis and a button down, and threw a hoodie on over top. After the tour finished, he dashed outside to the car to put on a jacket and tie and swap sneaks for dress shoes.

An admissions staffer who saw the before/after commented favorably on the effort he put into dressing up for the interview portion. Sometimes the nonverbal messages mean a lot.

He was admitted.

[Anonymous]

I interviewed for Yale for 20+ years. We are told not to judge clothing, and kids show up in everything from whatever they wore to school (ripped jeans, sweats, etc) to suits. Kids should absolutely not go shopping for an interview outfit. These are teenagers, and colleges know that not everyone can afford to or wants to buy something new.

Wear something clean without offensive messages on it (no political shirts/hats) or anything too revealing. She'll be find in leggings or jeans and a sweater or plain t-shirt.

[Anonymous]

Pro tip do not wear clothing from a different school than the one where you are interviewing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed for Yale for 20+ years. We are told not to judge clothing, and kids show up in everything from whatever they wore to school (ripped jeans, sweats, etc) to suits. Kids should absolutely not go shopping for an interview outfit. These are teenagers, and colleges know that not everyone can afford to or wants to buy something new.

Wear something clean without offensive messages on it (no political shirts/hats) or anything too revealing. She'll be find in leggings or jeans and a sweater or plain t-shirt.

Leggings to a college interview? No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed for Yale for 20+ years. We are told not to judge clothing, and kids show up in everything from whatever they wore to school (ripped jeans, sweats, etc) to suits. Kids should absolutely not go shopping for an interview outfit. These are teenagers, and colleges know that not everyone can afford to or wants to buy something new.

Wear something clean without offensive messages on it (no political shirts/hats) or anything too revealing. She'll be find in leggings or jeans and a sweater or plain t-shirt.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pro tip do not wear clothing from a different school than the one where you are interviewing.

Has this really happened to you? 🙈