Any advice on dressing as a male medical student?

[donaldtang]

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I'm a male medical student from an international school and will do away rotation in the northeast of USA (Boston or New York) in October this year. As far as I know, male students in the United States are required to wear dress shirt, tie, slacks and dress shoes in hospital and that's all I know. Since I have never been to USA before so I'm getting a bit nervous about dressing (I don't want to look strange or awkward). What are the "do's and don'ts" for a male student?
And there are numerous types of shirt, ties, slacks and shoes on sale, how do you select one? or in other words, what are your criteria?
More than happy to hear your suggestions!

 

[ZagDoc]

Can never go wrong with a white dress shirt, dark (grey or black) slacks, and a conservative tie.

 

[cpants]

Just wear standard slacks, dress shirt, and tie....whatever suits your style. I would avoid anything to flashy or crazy. Dressing conservatively is usually more appropriate. Don't forget that you'll need a short (waist-length) white coat. Standard med student uniform in the US.

 

[Aphasic]

Full-sleeved collared dress shirt + tie, tucked in. Slacks, dress shoes (no sneakers).

 

[illegallysmooth]

I work with a lot of medical students. Many look like this.
Replace this shirt with basically any solid color or striped shirt and it will be fine. Don't try to look funky or stylish (say no to striped shirts with green, purple and bright pink, k?). White always works. Pants could be grey.

 

[Superfrost]

Wear a short coat and don't talk about youself too much

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Honestly, virtually any shirt, a tie that matches, khakis or dark pants, black/brown belt and shoes. That's all, not complex.

 

[kdburton]

Just keep in mind that if you do any rotations in New Jersey the standard dress code for men looks something like this:

 

[MattD]

Just wear standard slacks, dress shirt, and tie....whatever suits your style. I would avoid anything to flashy or crazy. Dressing conservatively is usually more appropriate. Don't forget that you'll need a short (waist-length) white coat. Standard med student uniform in the US.

Ha, this is a good point. I frequently see international rotators in the hospital wearing full length coats. I've even seen one wearing a long coat with cloth knots!!!!!

I don't know that anyone would bust your chops about wearing a long coat, if that's what you wear at home and you didn't want to buy a short one, but U.S. students have to wear the short ones, they're annoying, and so if you're wearing a long one your fellow students might be a little annoyed. Or they may not care... who knows?

 

[kemper6036]

Ha, this is a good point. I frequently see international rotators in the hospital wearing full length coats. I've even seen one wearing a long coat with cloth knots!!!!!

are the cloth buttons faux pas also? i haven't heard any issues with them to the point of long vs short coat

 

[MattD]

are the cloth buttons faux pas also? i haven't heard any issues with them to the point of long vs short coat

Only if your institution takes heirarchy to the extreme. At my place studs wear short coats, residents wear 3/4 length/long coats with plastic buttons, and fellows/attendings wear the floordraggers with cloth knots for buttons.

 

[kemper6036]

Only if your institution takes heirarchy to the extreme. At my place studs wear short coats, residents wear 3/4 length/long coats with plastic buttons, and fellows/attendings wear the floordraggers with cloth knots for buttons.

you learn something new every day

 

[Aphasic]

Just keep in mind that if you do any rotations in New Jersey the standard dress code for men looks something like this:

*fist bump*

 

[45408]

If I were coming here for a month, I'd say to get black pants and dark gray pants. Couple it with a dark blue shirt, a white shirt, a gray shirt, and maybe another dark color. Get a tie that compliments each of those shirts, and you're good to go. And wear black leather shoes.

 

[DickyV]

I'm not sure where the OP is from, but a quick reminder that New York and Boston can get mighty cold in October. If you're coming up from the Caribbean, you may want to pack a few sweaters and get yourself a winter coat.

 

[Bojangles85]

Honestly, virtually any shirt, a tie that matches, khakis or dark pants, black/brown belt and shoes. That's all, not complex.

Black belt with black shoes OR Matching Brown belt and shoes.

I am a stickler for that stuff. That and short sleeves with a tie. (Almost) Nothing says "I'm unprofessional" more than those things.

 

[jonb12997]

everyone has hit it right on the head. go more conservative, especially in the bigger city medical centers. and yes, bojangles is right, black belt with black shoes OR brown belt with brown shoes...

 

[MossPoh]

Black belt with black shoes OR Matching Brown belt and shoes.

I am a stickler for that stuff. That and short sleeves with a tie. (Almost) Nothing says "I'm unprofessional" more than those things.

I don't think it says "unprofessional" as much as it says they are fashion incompetent.

 

[Bojangles85]

I don't think it says "unprofessional" as much as it says they are fashion incompetent.

Well, it is hard for me to take anyone serious if they do this. This SHOULD be something you learned in middle school, if not before. I could wear a tshirt untucked with cargo shorts and be the smarted doctor with the best bedside manners, but you won't think that by my appearance. Appearance goes a LONG ways

 

[Klemptor]

Black belt with black shoes OR Matching Brown belt and shoes.

I am a stickler for that stuff. That and short sleeves with a tie. (Almost) Nothing says "I'm unprofessional" more than those things.

Short sleeves with a tie always makes me think of Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

 

[kemper6036]

I don't think it says "unprofessional" as much as it says they are fashion incompetent.

another big no no is white socks with your dress pants. you might think this is obvious, but i'd beg to differ

 

[Flaxmoore]

Well, it is hard for me to take anyone serious if they do this. This SHOULD be something you learned in middle school, if not before. I could wear a tshirt untucked with cargo shorts and be the smarted doctor with the best bedside manners, but you won't think that by my appearance. Appearance goes a LONG ways

I challenge you to see that I'm even wearing a belt with my coat on.

 

[jonb12997]

Short sleeves with a tie always makes me think of Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

or dwight k schrute! 🙂

 

[Mattchiavelli]

Start out wearing a tie, but the rule I always go by is don't ever be more casual than your preceptor. Something interesting about where I'm doing my medicine sub internship is NONE of the attendings wear ties- they're vectors for disease. Also whatever you wear keep it clean and somewhat ironed- it doesn't matter if you're wearing a Prada suit if you have dried vomit down your leg it's going to look bad.

Also no one has said this yet but don't wear any cologne or use any strongly scented personal hygene products, in a small hot exam room it can really knock some people out and you want to be remembered for your skill and not your smell.

Don't sweat this too hard, I've seen a lot of successful physicians that can't look fashionable to save their lives (pleated pants... oy)