What To Wear To Kill Your Grad* School Interview

By Ellice Patterson

*This article might also be applicable for med school interviews but warning: I’ve never had those, so be advised.
 
It’s the moment you’ve been low key excited and high key stressed about: grad school interview. Interviews give you a chance to show the interviewer how grateful they’d be to have you in their program. You want to walk in with half the confidence of Kanye, which is more than enough for your interview. To begin the slaying that will be your interview, it starts with what you decide to wear to your interview.

This isn’t going to be one of those articles that says, “Match the paisley print dress with a neutral jacket to make it fun yet work place appropriate.” I just Googled paisley print and it reminds me of amoebas so…definitely not. Instead, I’m going to focus on clothing tips that you can mold to fit whatever your fashion style is and have the best interview ever. I got into grad school, so I’m certified to give you this advice.

1. Show your personality. Nothing is wrong with the blue button down and khaki pants if that’s your personality. If it’s not, that’s ok. I like to wear different color dresses and suits with colorful accents. I’m always a fan of minimal jewelry as accents, which can be great conversation starters and can help the interviewer know more of you than just grad school candidate interviewee number five of the day. There will always be the sea of blue button downs; drowning in it can always be a choice.
2. Be appropriate. I like to be wild with my fashion choices for work and interviews. When I say wild I mean a different kind of necklace to really set off my outfit. I don’t mean summer ’14 wild through Europe, if you know what I mean. Looking professional means that you take this interview and their program very seriously, which you very much want to get across to the interviewer. Don’t distract with wild potentially clashing prints or very low-cut tops and short pants/dresses. Keep it wild, in a workplace appropriate way and you’ll be fine.
3. Be CLEAN! Your mother and I cannot emphasize this enough. You could wear a suit fit for the next mogul, but if it has stains from the last business social, no one will care. Your interviewer will focus on the stains and not what you have to say. Get that outfit, cleaned/dry-cleaned, ironed, and ready to go. Your outfit doesn’t have to be the most stunning but if it’s very clean, you’re already many steps in the right direction.

I hope my fashion advice can set you off in the right direction to kill it in your interviews. When you all become famous doctors, scientists, etc. make sure to send me a shout out when accepting your prestigious awards.
 

About the Author
Ellice Patterson is a soon to be graduate of Wellesley College! As a biology major, her research endeavors have taken her across different biological disciplines and across the world. From sailing across the Atlantic studying primary production in relation to nutrient concentrations to trekking in the Costa Rican rainforests analyzing spider species composition, she has done it all. Outside of science she continues growing as a dancer and sells jewelry for Chloe+Isabel (www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/ellicepatterson). In general, she slays. All day.

---

---

Comments? Leave them below!