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Ask Angie et all Graduate school interview dress code for men

Joyce B

Veteran

Hi all, I am hoping you can help me out with this one. My son is applying for graduate school in Physics. Is the dress code more relaxed than for Med school or Law school? Or still go in a suit with white shirt and tie for the formal interview and separates for the dinners to meet the grad students?
What should he wear?
I hope you can help me out with this, I don't know much about that type of interview.
Thanks.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Joyce B

Diana

Veteran

Honestly? He would be fine in nice (dark wash, not ripped) jeans and a casual buttondown. If I had to guess, I'd say most of the interviewees will be wearing khakis + buttondown (for men). He could also go for some business casual-level slacks. I would NOT wear a jacket, and definitely not wear a suit or tie. That is utter and complete overkill and has the very real potential of sending the wrong message in an academic setting (corporate vs. academia). Also, I'd bet that 80% of his cohort do not own a suit at all.

(For comparison, I am applying for assistant professor positions this year (in biology) and even at that level, a suit is only optional for non-medical school positions.)

ETA: I am assuming this in the US/Canada. Some European programs might be a little more formal.

Joyce B

Veteran

Yes, Diana, this is US, basically East and West coasts and also in Canada.
So for the formal interview with the professors should he NOT wear a jacket? After what you said I am thinking of a business casual navy jacket, khaki colored business casual pants for the West coast, dark colored for the East coast and Canada, no tie and what color shirt? It feels disrespectul to me to not wear a jacket to the interview with the professors' committee, am I wrong?
I was hoping you would see my question, thanks for chiming in!

Greyscale

Veteran

I agree with Diana. I'm a molecular biologist and at our department's grad interviews, there are always a few guys in suits who look out of place, and a zillion guys in button-down shirts and khakis or nice jeans who look appropriately dressed.

Generally it is a touch more formal at East Coast schools than West Coast. I would probably avoid jeans at an East Coast school, but khakis would be entirely fine. Definitely no jacket needed.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks, Greyscale. So what do they wear over their shirts for the interview with the professors? It will be in the middle of the Winter so he will need to wear something over the shirt and I don't think keeping the Winter coat is an option. Do they wear a nice sweater over the shirt?
I can use all the advice I can get on this...

Diana

Veteran

I wouldn't worry about being disrespectful by not wearing a jacket. I'd guess that even the professors will not be wearing them. (Although you may get one or two eclectic bow-tie-and-tweed-jacket types, but they certainly don't expect anyone else to dress like them.)

Any color shirt. I'd probably avoid really loud patterns and things, but otherwise it doesn't matter. A nice sweater over it would be fine too. If he really wants to wear a jacket, I'd probably go for something like a tweed sportcoat over khakis, although as Greyscale mentioned, he may look out of place in the jacket.

ETA: shoes. Depends on the program/department, but at bigger places there will probably be a lot of schlepping around to see different professors/labs/buildings and possibly a campus tour or similar (so outdoors), not to mention going out for dinner later. So he should make sure he wears comfy and weather-appropriate shoes, although this is of course a much bigger issue for women.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would say a shirt, a nice sweater, khakis or dark wash denim or maybe dark cords, and a coat. With comfy and weather appropriate shoes, as Diana says.

Basically, just a small step up from whatever he probably wears as a student. A sweater in a flattering colour would be good.

A suit or even a sport jacket could make him stand out in a bad way, I think.

I am not a prof but have spent most of my life around universities and within them. Mind you, I am in the humanities/ social sciences, not the sciences.

unfrumped

Veteran

Poor guy, what kind of coat does he get to wear? Fleece sport jacket? Golf jacket? Does he need to buy the right non-blazer/tweed outerwear to send the right message? A sweater sounds great but how does he remove a pullover easily and replace? Sheesh--talk about reading a lot into the clothes! I guess a non-jacket jacket could be a good investment anyway, or perhaps he has the "right" one now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ugh. Definitely not a fleece or a golf jacket, UF.

A peacoat or similar for NE. Not sure what he might need in warmer climes. There, I guess he wouldn't need the sweater, either. Hmmm.

Diana

Veteran

Wool coat, but around here (Boston) you're sure to see at least one person in a North Face or similar jacket at a grad school interview if the weather is truly bad.

unfrumped

Veteran

I was kind of kidding, in the sense that there's a dress code for not being too formal or stylish but under that is probably a code for not being too nerdy, either. So carefully not caring! Not easy to be win-win, is it?

Joyce B

Veteran

Thank you very much, Diana. I am glad I asked as I had the wrong idea about what to wear. Also, many of the programs don't interview, they invite the applicants once they offer them a position so it is not like a Med school application for example.

avicennia

Veteran

To respond to unfrumped and the original question. It's not as contrived as "carefully not caring" but rather simply understanding the world you are about to enter. In universities only deans, provosts and presidents, and very high up administrators wear suits. An occasional prof will wear a suit, but it's usually something quirky like Cornel West's retro pinstripes. A grad student with a suit will look out of place, as if they were teleported from wall street. Diana's suggestions are spot on. As a prof, I'm guessing the student already knows what to wear. But,we moms do want our kids to put their best foot forward, so I appreciate Joyce's concern.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks, Suz and UF for your replies.
Yes, UF, sometimes it's harder to dress when the dress code is not a strict one. You don't want to overdo or underdo.
The dark colored cords are a great idea, Suz.
Things do seem more casual than I expected so I think I will stop worrying.
Plus when they get to the interview most of the time they already have an offer.
Thanks again for the input.

Meredith

Veteran

This advice sounds spot-on to me, so I think you are sorted! Good luck to your son! I do have a close friend who just defended her dissertation in physics and I know she'd be happy to help if you or your son have other questions about what to expect.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks, Avicennia, you got me exactly for what my concern is. And he seems to have a pretty good idea of what to wear, but I did not understand exactly how it worked and of course I worried.

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks, Meredith! I will keep your offer in mind and I will ask you if I start worrying about other things which I am sure I will...

avicennia

Veteran

Hi Joyce, I agree with you that if they are interviewing there is a good chance of an offer. When I bring in grad students and post-docs to interview, I'm already determined they have the skills for the job. I'm mainly looking to see if they will be a good personality fit for the lab culture. The best thing a student can do is be comfortable being themselves. Best wishes to your son.

avicennia

Veteran

You sound like a good mom, Joyce. Keep us posted!

Joyce B

Veteran

Thanks Avicennia!