What are you guys wearing to pre-interview dinners? Ive seen people applying for other specialties in suits, people in polos and jeans, and people in business casual (tie, shirt, khakis).

I know it might vary highly depending on program, Im thinking I might go with business casual, but what would you guys recommend?

Definately go with business casual. Although at many programs, this is a casual dinner with residents, jeans is too casual. You still want to be professional.

Best of luck on your interviews!:)

I echo business casual, but guys can leave the tie at home! :)

I always wore either a button down shirt or sweater with non-faded denim.

Most of the other applicants were wearing business casual (shirt without tie, slacks). I would say a suit is too formal.

I always wore either a button down shirt or sweater with non-faded denim.

Most of the other applicants were wearing business casual (shirt without tie, slacks). I would say a suit is too formal.


I second this.... today I wore slacks and a nice buttoned up shirt. I think its a little akward if someone wears a full suit (too formal!) but I saw some people wearing the full suit + tie, then again its still early in the interview season! I didn't see anyone with jeans on, I wouldn't recommend it

Business casual is appropriate. For most programs-- guys don't wear a tie to the dinner but avoid jeans. Women can get by with a greater varity of clothing options, but again avoid jeans. At Univ of Kansas we go to a nice restaurant, the type of place you'd go to for a nice date but not a suit and tie required affair. This is true of most of the programs I interviewed at a couple years ago.

I wore jeans to most of the dinners I went to. I just left my belt buckle at home.

Crap does that me I have to return my interview sweats?

The first interview dinner I went to I ended up being way under dressed. I had been told by the residency secretary that the dinner would be very casual and that it would just be the interns and residents. However, when I arrived (wearing a longsleeve button up levi's type shirt and brown khaki's) there was the program director and all the other staff physicians. Everyone else was wearing business casual and I was definitely too casual. SO, moral of the story, I now go to these wearing business casual. I would highly recommend the same.

Show lots of cleavage!

so what do you do if the invitation letter says casual (jeans)... I feel like that is specific enough that I might go ahead and wear my "dressy" jeans.

But I'm sure someone here will tell me not to...

I'm wearing jeans, cotton dress shirt (tucked in like a "big boy"), sport jacket, dress-casual shoes

I think people have a much more laid back dressing style on the West Coast. Jeans and casual tees abounded at the pre-dinner get togethers I went to last week...but at the Wash U get together, some people were wearing sport coats, dresses, suit jackets with slacks, etc. Both were get-togethers at pubs/bars...