What to wear on a campus tour?

Newark Wilder · 10-24-2009, 10:11 AM

So I'm visiting Vanderbilt on Monday for a campus tour/information session, and I'm not sure what to wear. Their site says not to advertise another university (duh) and not to dress 'too casually'...but that's kind of relative, is it not? Would a nice top, nice jeans, and flats be considered 'too casual'? I'd appreciate some advice!

bluejay · 10-24-2009, 01:53 PM

I have never heard of a school telling or suggesting what potential students should wear on a tour. They might possibly suggest appropriate footwear to handle lots of walking, hills, steps, etc. I actually find it a bit pretentious that this was put in writing.

OldbatesieDoc · 10-24-2009, 03:18 PM

Are you kidding? I'd wear a DUKE sweatshirt, chew gum, and drop little papers or peanut shells all around...Not really, but also have NEVER heard of such a thing.

kwu · 10-24-2009, 03:35 PM

What kind of a school tells its visitors how to dress and conduct themselves?

waitingforcal · 10-24-2009, 05:50 PM

Wow that's so weird. Never heard of that, maybe you're looking at the interview section of their website rather than the campus tour section?

In any case, I'd wear your cutest (and cleanest!) pair of flats, dark jeans, and a nice blouse that could be considered "dressy" but doesn't look too out of place in a casual setting you know? Also, wear your hair in a way that, if it were windy, wouldn't be in your face or too difficult to fix up once you go back inside.

Layer for the cold if necessary (check the weather!) but avoid wearing oversized ANYTHING (sweatshirt, jeans, etc). You want to look well put together. On the other end of the spectrum, don't wear anything too revealing or tight. Not only would you be uncomfortable, colleges don't want to accept ANYONE who would represent their school in a negative way.

With all that said, be yourself, make the tour guides and the speaker remember you (positively!), and have fun.

i love being a girl. =]

worried_mom · 10-24-2009, 06:12 PM

It's not quite as "weird" as it sounds. The VU website simply has a section called "Visiting Tips" that is intended to help the student get the most out of a campus visit. It includes very general advice like "Visit when classes are in session;" "Plan to arrive at the Admissions Office early enough to park, check in, and get to the program on time," etc.

The exact quote regarding dress is:

Quote:

Dress comfortably for a long walking tour, but dress appropriately (e.g., don’t wear clothing that advertises another university, and don’t dress too casually).

mom2collegekids · 10-24-2009, 06:40 PM

Vandy is politely telling its visitors how to be comfortable (walking tour & weather concerns, but also reminding how to be a good guest (don't wear clothes advertising another university).

Guests should show some class when visiting another's university (or home).

kwu · 10-24-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Guests should show some class when visiting another's university (or home).

Cute. And, your opinion on students enrolled at a university who choose to wear the paraphernalia of other institutions? Do they lack class as well?

I'm pretty sure if I told a number of my friends that they "lacked class," I'd be branded an elitist fool.

PEQXC2012 · 10-24-2009, 10:47 PM

Two years ago when I visited UNC with my sister, we just got back from an NC State pep rally and therefore were wearing all NC State gear, we got some looks.

mom2collegekids · 10-24-2009, 11:55 PM

My Quote:
"Vandy is politely telling its visitors how to be comfortable (walking tour & weather concerns, but also reminding how to be a good guest (don't wear clothes advertising another university). Guests should show some class when visiting another's university (or home). "

>>>> Cute. And, your opinion on students enrolled at a university who choose to wear the paraphernalia of other institutions? Do they lack class as well?

I'm pretty sure if I told a number of my friends that they "lacked class," I'd be branded an elitist fool.
<<<<<<<<<

If your friends' response to being asked to behave in a respectful manner when visiting a college or someone's home is: "you're an elitist fool," then I suspect they'll come up with all kinds of silly responses to excuse boorish behavior, and that doesn't make them right.

And, yes, I think those attending a certain school are behaving in a rather rude way if they wear another college's logo'd wear on campus. I'm sure that USC students wouldn't appreciate a fellow student wearing UCLA stuff on their campus, or vice versa.

karabee · 10-25-2009, 12:22 AM

Honestly, I just think it's a respect thing. When you're visiting a college, they put their best foot forward and so should you. Wearing your pj's or other school's paraphenilia makes them feel like all of the hard work they put into making the presentation and tours went to naught, like you're not truly appreciating what they've done for you.

And (as a current Vandy student) I can say that while you will see people dressed more than casually around campus from time to time, most students will be more dressed up on average than students at other campuses. I'm not saying that they want you to conform, but it is prevalent.

LasMa · 10-25-2009, 03:40 AM

Sounds to me like their point is precisely that they DO want you to conform. I see no other reason for them to put this in writing. What prospective student in their right mind would show up in pj's?

mom2collegekids · 10-25-2009, 10:22 AM

Well, I've been on Vandy's tours twice, and I've seen some rude kids whose obvious 1st choice school is an ivy, and they've shown up wearing Harvard or Yale sweatshirts. I don't know if their statement is to Vandy that, "you're my safety" or if their statement is to their parents that, "this is what you get for dragging me to Vandy, Duke, and Emory when I'm only will considering Ivies.".

In any case, it's rude. It makes everyone uncomfortable.

BTW...kudos to Vandy for presenting itself so well and providing hospitable tours.

Pizzagirl · 10-25-2009, 10:28 AM

I agree it would be rather dumb to show up on one campus as a prospective student wearing gear from another college, but in general, taking prospective students out of the equation, I don't see what's "rude" about students wearing college gear from one college on another campus.

My kids have amassed quite a collection of t-shirts from colleges that their friends or cousins have gone to, or that we've picked up from visiting various places. When they select their own colleges, they shouldn't ever wear that stuff? Heaven forbid D wears a t-shirt from her twin brother's college? That seems ridiculous. What, being on one college means that you have to act as though it's sacred ground and no other college exists?

Pizzagirl · 10-25-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

And, yes, I think those attending a certain school are behaving in a rather rude way if they wear another college's logo'd wear on campus. I'm sure that USC students wouldn't appreciate a fellow student wearing UCLA stuff on their campus, or vice versa.

Then they need to put their silly little USC/UCLA feud into the context of real life.

I definitely wore Penn gear when I was at Northwestern; Penn was a school I had a lot of heart for and still do. I even had a Penn sticker on my car. My best friend went to William & Mary and I know I wore W&M gear. What's the big deal?