<p>@chuy: They’re not jean shorts. They’re poorly fitting khaki shorts, about a size too small, in bad lighting. At least his boxers aren’t showing over the waistline. ;)</p>
<p>I prepared for that situation by painting half a dozen bullet wounds on my chest. Can’t hate on a dead conscript!</p>
<p>I might’ve also said I was portraying a Yankee spy.</p>
<p>Sheesh! I hope the rest of this woman’s advice is better than her fashion advice. I found those outfits to be inappropriate for an interview and not particularly attractive. I won’t allow my D to go to an interview in jeans, but I wouldn’t allow her to go in those outfits, either. But since my D wouldn’t even consider buying those outfits, that won’t be a bridge I need to cross. My guess is that the admissions folks don’t make their decisions based on the applicant’s wardrobe, but a college interview still strikes me as an occasion when you’d dress in the teenage equivalent of business casual.</p>
<p>Silly! That’s the word that comes to mind.</p>
<p>Go to the interview naked and say, “I was born this way. If you don’t like me the way I am, then this isn’t the school for me.”</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>^ Heh… Reminds me of something off-topic (sorry in advance). Soon after mine was born, I took him to my college to meet some of my faculty (I’d been very noticeably pregnant on campus). One of the ladies at the desk joked, “I’m sorry, Miss, but we do require them to be out of diapers before we take them.” I shrugged, said, “You’re the boss,” then set him on her counter and began to remove his diaper. Needless to say, I didn’t get very far! :D</p>
<p>(Despite that early incident of classlessness, he had the good sense to wear properly fitting slacks – belted above the hips – and a polo shirt to his interview.)</p>
<p>Good one, geek_mom, that’s something my own mother would have done. Quick thinking on your part.</p>
<p>My son has worn khaki slacks, brown leather belt, loafers, and a plaid, long-sleeve shirt on each of his official campus visits so far. This is a small step above the way he normally dresses. I think it gives the impression of someone who is relaxed but not sloppy. (His mother or I irons these garments before he wears them, otherwise he would wear them as they came out of the dryer and look both relaxed and sloppy.)</p>
<p>I’ll be contrary here…I really didn’t mind the girl’s outfits. I thought they were cute for that age group and pretty in keeping with what the younger girls wear for upscaling their clothes a notch. I could never in a million years get my boys to wear that sweater the boy had on, however. They would have laughed me out of the state if I brought that home. For college interviews, mine dressed up by putting a collared polo on over their t-shirt and traded the flips/sneaks for Birkenstocks and Boat Shoes along with jeans or plain front khaki shorts (they don’t wear cargo shorts). I thought it was fine. They choose their own clothes. I imagine if they had an interview somewhere other than campus that required it, they would/could throw a sportcoat on. I doubt they would ever wear leather sole shoes or a tie to a college interview. I probably couldn’t get them to do that either. They clutch at their throats like they have a noose on when they have to wear a tie even when a tie is totally appropriate. I think if the boys are comfortable in a tie and leather soled shoes then they can certainly “go for it.” I do think it’s respectful…just wouldn’t happn in my household for a college interview. I did see one young man last fall dressed like that but he looked uncomfortable and I did feel alittle sorry for him.</p>
<p>Nothing is more pathetic, in a certain way, than some poor 17-year-old who looks 13, dressed in a suit that he doesn’t know how to wear.</p>
<p>^ Agree, with just one exception: Some poor 17-year-old who thinks he looks good with his pants belted under his butt cheeks is definitely more pathetic. :p</p>
<p>Makes me glad for high schools with dress codes that at least approach the level of a casual workplace, and occasionally call for a suit. Call me old-fashioned, and I don’t doubt I’m in the minority… but I still think it’s important for a guy to know how to tie a tie and button a jacket by the time he becomes a driving, voting adult.</p>
<p>@momofthreeboys: I disagree on the girls’ clothes. Yes, those outfits are in keeping with “what girls that age wear when they want to dress it up a notch.” No, imho they’re not appropriate for a business-type meeting or interview. Far too many young women equate business wear with evening wear, and “dressing up” with “sexing up.” There’s a difference! Women have it a little tougher than men in this area, I think, because the “uniform” is less well defined. But if a Hollywood pop tart would wear the look to an event, imho it doesn’t belong in an interview. YMMV!</p>
<p>Those kids looked ridiculous. What’s with the ruffles and short, short skirt. The boy looked pretentious - trying a little bit too hard.</p>
<p>My daughter dressed better than that, and we didn’t have to pay anyone to dress her. Most interviews don’t count anyway. I would rather spend money on SAT tutoring.</p>
<p>“Women have it a little tougher than men in this area, I think, because the “uniform” is less well defined.”</p>
<p>I agree with this. I think it’s very easy to say what not to wear - no cleavage, no super short skirts, no ruffles. But that still leaves an enormous amount of uncharted ground. For my interview next week (and it does matter as an interview), I don’t know what I’m going to wear. I’m thinking of going in a knee-length dress and simple cardigan - appropriate? I don’t know, but somehow, I don’t think it’s going to make or break me.</p>
<p>On another note, I know a lot of people who dress like the teenagers pictured, unfortunately. The consequence of my school’s dress code.</p>
<p>i hope it does not matter what one is wearing. have you ever talked with someone new and within a few moments you don’t know, or could care less, what they are wearing? in other words revealing one’s mind rather than one’s wardrobe will sustain an interview much longer. also, body language–looking someone in the eye, not slouching–is just as important. it reveals so much.</p>
<p>Revealing your mind to someone you don’t know well is gross.</p>
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<p>Well, yes. Why not make a good impression on everyone? When you get to interview out of college, you’ll learn quickly that you most certainly want to present yourself nicely to and impress the secretaries, receptionists, etc. with how you look and good manners just as much as you want to impress the big shots. </p>
<p>I’m old-fashioned this way. I understand that the coat and tie era is certainly out and I’m glad for that, and my office is a casual office where anything goes except for shorts, but for a scheduled interview, I don’t see what the big deal is with a young man wearing khakis and a buttondown shirt, and a young woman wearing nice pants or a casual skirt with a tank top or tee and a cardigan over it. It’s just as comfortable and it says that you cared and made the effort. </p>
<p>When my D looked at the mall (etc) for summer jobs, I suggested that she dress it up a bit even when she was just going in to get an application, turn in an application, or try to get an appointment with a store manager. She didn’t believe me, but she went along. Her clothing was commented on favorably by several people she interviewed with as being a step up from typical teen-wear, and I believe it helped her get her summer job in retail in this bad economy. I also had her write thank-you notes too and that appeared to stand out. It’s minimal effort, why not make it?</p>
<p>Part of growing up and gaining maturity is understanding that there is a time and a place for the sweatshirts and jeans, IMO.</p>
<p>How do women “have it harder”? It’s pretty common sense what is appropriate in a business casual type of setting.</p>
<p>Perhaps this is because I’ve never had to dress a boy for business casual, but I think of it as much easier for young men to dress formally. Slap a jacket and tie or a button-down and khakis onto the boy and he’s pretty much set, with some exceptions. But how do you define “business casual” for women? Are blazers necessary? Are cardigans? What if you wear a blazer, your dress is of appropriate length, and you aren’t showing too much cleavage, but your dress is frilly, loud, and infantile? Is that still appropriate? If no, how do you know when it’s too frilly, too loud, too infantile? </p>
<p>I ask these questions honestly; I don’t know the answers. Knowledge of what is business casual and what is not is not common sense, but it does come with maturity and experience, which with my age and circumstances I may lack.</p>
<p>I don’t remember my daughter being interviewed by a student, it was always with an alumni.</p>
<p>
“Common sense,” there’s the rub. It doesn’t play much of a role in women’s fashion. Men’s business wear is easy: A sports coat, slacks or khakis, and a tie – or a suit for more formal occasions – and in either case, don’t wear white socks with your dark leather lace-ups or loafers, unless you’re Fred Astaire.</p>
<p>Now, define the same business uniform for women. And then identify where to buy it.</p>
<p>You, Pizzagirl, probably can make some good suggestions pretty easily, but you’ll be naming stores like Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, maybe Talbots – stores that scream “stodgy old lady” to many teenaged girls. What they have as a role model for formal occasions is the Hollywood starlet, who’s often wearing something skin-tight and outrageous, with her shoulders (and usually most of her back) bared and her skirt slit up to there and her decolletage all the way down to there. In the meantime, her arm accessory is a guy who’s wearing… a tux and no white socks with his dark leather lace-ups.</p>
<p>If you don’t think girls are confused over this, take a close look at the next awards ceremony or other formal occasion at your kids’ high school. Compare the guys – usually a fairly homogeneous lot in their button-down shirts and pants and dress shoes. Then look at the variety of getups the girls are wearing.</p>
<p>I’ve found the same to be true, although not so extreme, in the workplace. The “rules” just aren’t as clear with women’s attire. Many women seem to equate “formal” with fashionable, expensive, designer, or evening wear.</p>
<p>Another illustration – Look at old news photos of our Presidents and First Ladies over the years. Look at what he’s wearing, then look at what she’s wearing. The men’s clothes haven’t changed all that much. The women’s clothes are a different story.</p>
<p>I’m not saying it’s more difficult for women to dress for business; I’m only saying the rules aren’t as clearly defined. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>@bouda: Good luck with your interview! Concerning your question, take a look at this; you might find some good ideas and useful information.
[Business</a> Casual Success Tips](<a href=“http://casualpower.com/business_casual_tips/]Business”>Business Casual Success Tips)
Her book, while written in kind of a goofy style, includes lots of examples and imho good advice for someone starting out in the business world.</p>