Dress code in Veterinary School?

[hygebeorht]

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Maybe it's because I'm a little older, but I have no problem with a dress code at a professional school (aside from being irritated that someone is telling me how to dress... of course that's probably because I've been in the military for so long). In my first two years of undergrad in CA, there were students that I felt embarrassed for due to their clothing choice for the day that consisted of 4-day old jeans, old rock band t-shirt, and flip-flops. If you want your classmates/professors to perceive (keyword) you as a young or old, immature, lazy individual by merely looking at your clothes, then I can only imagine the perception of a vet school student in sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Now I'm not unrealistic to realize there will be those days where you feel like death or pulled an all nighter, but as a general rule... You're paying a school a LOT of money to be a professional, a doctor, and presumably your dream... so act like you care and show a little class. 😎

FDM, I actually agree. Younger students don't like to be told that dressing nicely matters. It does, actually, matter. I'm also a bit older, but I don't look it, and I detest being taken for an undergraduate student, so I try to dress more professionally. It's a give and take between practicality and poise, especially when there's a foot of snow on the ground and I have to walk across campus several times.

I agree for different reasons than your last stated one. Yes, I am taking on monster debt for this opportunity, but I'm not dressing up for the benefit of the school. I'm doing it for myself. I dress for what I want, not where I am. And please, before you submit the goofy replies telling me that if that's the case then I should be in scrubs smeared with animal secretions, I'm not talking about playing dress-up. I'm talking about taking yourself seriously, because if you take yourself and your ambitions seriously, if you let it show in how you care for yourself and your appearance, then others will take you more seriously as well.

Dressing well communicates that you have your proverbial **** together. At the schools I've visited, the slobby students on the student panels seemed immature at first glance, and the ones who were neatly dressed spoke with more maturity and confidence. I do not think that was a coincidence.

Sorry, kids, but your dress does matter. Find the sweet spot between comfort and classiness and you'll be doing yourself a favor.

 

[hygebeorht]

I've only skimmed through this thread so someone may have mentioned what I am about to say. I attend Auburn and we have a dress code in place that was enacted by the students. At first I thought it was going to be a pain, but after about a month of dressing nice every day, you get used to it. Moreover, you learn to like it. Everyone looks great and it is an excellent representation of our college. We get a lot of compliments from visitors about how professional the students look. It makes you feel good.

It is in my opinion that undergrad was our chance to dress however we wanted. I feel like vet school is "big boy/girl" school and it is the time to act/dress like it.

And to the person above (Rainheart I think) that said they thought about cancelling their interview to Auburn because of the dress code. Give me a break. If you are going to cancel your chance at attending a great vet school with brand new facilities in the work, please, by all means, cancel your interview so someone that is willing to abide by a simple dress code can have your spot.

Also, you can dress however you please when you are out on your own, 4 years of dressing nice never hurt anyone. Right?

I like this. Dressing nicely just makes you feel good! If someone you wanted to impress walked through the classroom (forget logistics, just think about it) you don't want to feel embarrassed by the way you look. It's like if someone is about to drop by your house in five minutes...your first thoughts are usually OH CRAP! Dressing nicely is like keeping your house reasonably clean. You should keep your house clean enough to have someone by, but NOT because they are coming, but because YOU deserve to live in a clean house. Well, you deserve to look snappy, too.

I'm curious, just for the purposes of this discussion, what does the Auburn dress code require?

 

[equineconstant]

Same here. I'm another Catholic (high)school survivor. We had to kneel down every so often so the nuns could measure the distance from our skirt hems to the floor. Anything more than two inches and you were given detention.

However, I did find it amusing that the boys could not have hair past their collar, yet I could get away with having super short hair dyed bright red and tons of black eyeliner. Ok, Ok, the eyeliner got me in trouble sometimes. But they technically couldn't tell me to grow my hair back out or dye it my natural color, bwahaha.

One of the girls in my Catholic high school class had to dye her hair back to a natural color. It wasn't anything too crazy, either, just that dark red color a lot of people have. We also had name tags, and you could get a detention for forgetting them.

 

[cowgirla]

One of the girls in my Catholic high school class had to dye her hair back to a natural color. It wasn't anything too crazy, either, just that dark red color a lot of people have. We also had name tags, and you could get a detention for forgetting them.

We had blazers. With five nice, large pockets. And we weren't allowed to keep anything in them. Not even pens. But we weren't allowed to carry a backpack or large purse to class either. Logic????

 

[cowgirla]

I like this. Dressing nicely just makes you feel good!

Speak for yourself. I have no issues dressing up pretty in the teaching hospital. Doing things will keep my mind busy.
But I get bored enough sitting in class for a couple hours. If I'm in a skirt, I'll worry about crossing my legs and not pay attention. If I'm nice slacks, I'll stress about dropping a pen or high lighter and not pay attention. If I'm in slip on shoes, I'll worry about losing one and having it tumble down the auditorium and I won't pay attention. If my shoes are uncomfortable, I'll be thinking about that, and not paying attention. If my hair is done up all fancy I'll worry about it frizzing if I touch it, and not pay attention. If my make up is done all nice, I'll worry about resting my face on my hand, and not pay attention. Get the idea?? Jeans and t-shirts most days, and I'm slightly more likely to hear what the professor is saying. And if I want to be comfier every once in a while, nothing stopping me there either. I like being able to sprawl in my chair and find a comfy position after 3+ hours in that same chair.

 

[MaiT]

Same here. I'm another Catholic (high)school survivor. We had to kneel down every so often so the nuns could measure the distance from our skirt hems to the floor. Anything more than two inches and you were given detention.

However, I did find it amusing that the boys could not have hair past their collar, yet I could get away with having super short hair dyed bright red and tons of black eyeliner. Ok, Ok, the eyeliner got me in trouble sometimes. But they technically couldn't tell me to grow my hair back out or dye it my natural color, bwahaha.

We were NEVER allowed to wear make-up; until we were seniors, then we could wear a little blush and lipstick.

One of the girls in my Catholic high school class had to dye her hair back to a natural color. It wasn't anything too crazy, either, just that dark red color a lot of people have. We also had name tags, and you could get a detention for forgetting them.

I put highlights in my hair in eighth grade, so I entered high school with dyed hair. Our contract with the school said we weren't allowed to change our hair color, but I really wanted to go back to my natural color so I did it and they didn't say anything thankfully! It would have been stupid though if they yelled at me for changing fake hair...

YES!
And everything had to be tucked in just so, and couldn't be wrinkled, hair had to be neat and couldn't be wet, makeup had to be subtle if any, no pins/jewelry, couldn't even wear shorts under the stupid skirts.

I'm pretty sure I lived in sweatpants for an entire year after I graduated from high school. And my hair was bleached/streaked for a while and I got my ears pierced so I could wear big hoop earrings. And I burnt all my knee-socks.

And I got THREE tattoos!! 😀

 

[cocobean]

FDM, I actually agree. Younger students don't like to be told that dressing nicely matters. It does, actually, matter. I'm also a bit older, but I don't look it, and I detest being taken for an undergraduate student, so I try to dress more professionally. It's a give and take between practicality and poise, especially when there's a foot of snow on the ground and I have to walk across campus several times.

I agree for different reasons than your last stated one. Yes, I am taking on monster debt for this opportunity, but I'm not dressing up for the benefit of the school. I'm doing it for myself. I dress for what I want, not where I am. And please, before you submit the goofy replies telling me that if that's the case then I should be in scrubs smeared with animal secretions, I'm not talking about playing dress-up. I'm talking about taking yourself seriously, because if you take yourself and your ambitions seriously, if you let it show in how you care for yourself and your appearance, then others will take you more seriously as well.

Dressing well communicates that you have your proverbial **** together. At the schools I've visited, the slobby students on the student panels seemed immature at first glance, and the ones who were neatly dressed spoke with more maturity and confidence. I do not think that was a coincidence.

Sorry, kids, but your dress does matter. Find the sweet spot between comfort and classiness and you'll be doing yourself a favor.

I'm sorry but I disagree with this. I am an older student and I worked for many years in an industry where how you looked really mattered. I get the concept. For a student panel I would put myself together, when working in the hospital I would put myself together. I am not however, going to waste time putting myself together to go sit in a lecture hall for 8 hours. I wish I had the time, I like looking good, yeah it makes you feel good, but that really isn't my priority right now. I take myself and my ambitions seriously, but as a vet student, pre-clinics, I would rather get an extra hour of sleep or studying in than spend that hour picking up dry cleaning or doing my hair.

 

[Kpowell14]

I'm sorry but I disagree with this. I am an older student and I worked for many years in an industry where how you looked really mattered. I get the concept. For a student panel I would put myself together, when working in the hospital I would put myself together. I am not however, going to waste time putting myself together to go sit in a lecture hall for 8 hours. I wish I had the time, I like looking good, yeah it makes you feel good, but that really isn't my priority right now. I take myself and my ambitions seriously, but as a vet student, pre-clinics, I would rather get an extra hour of sleep or studying in than spend that hour picking up dry cleaning or doing my hair.

I totally agree. I also took this into consideration when applying to schools. Yes, it may be a stupid reason to some, but to me, being able to wear something comfortable like jeans and a hoodie was important. If we are expected to be in class for 8 hrs a day, Sitting in a lecture hall a Lot, I want to be able to focus on the lecture and not fidgeting around bc my dress or skirt or suit pants are bugging me. JMO.

 

[krist]

Separate buildings for us, but they still use that as a reason for us to consider dressing business casual... "If someone mistakenly brings their animal to the academic building and not the VMTH, you need to look presentable." I haven't ever come across someone mistakenly bringing their animal to our building...

Haha I agree...I am ok with Mizzou's dress code because I don't think anyone needs to be wearing pajama's to class (ever) or anything like that, but i don't see with what's wearing sandals in the summer, etc. There are definitely days I would like to wear my yoga pants to class instead of jeans but oh well, im just glad we can wear t-shirts and hoodies and such! Plus during first year you have anatomy practically every morning so I always come in scrubs anyway

 

[primatevetjess]

Sorry, but during second year when I had three exams every week and was sleeping an average of 3-4 hours every night, I loved that I could wear sweats and a hoodie to class. Other days, jeans and a t-shirt with a hoodie.

I'm also older. And to say that I don't take my ambitions seriously, that I don't have my **** together, and that I'm immature based solely on what I'm wearing is ridiculous.

 

[nyanko]

Sorry, but during second year when I had three exams every week and was sleeping an average of 3-4 hours every night, I loved that I could wear sweats and a hoodie to class. Other days, jeans and a t-shirt with a hoodie.

I'm also older. And to say that I don't take my ambitions seriously, that I don't have my **** together, and that I'm immature based solely on what I'm wearing is ridiculous.

Pretttty much.

And some of us don't actually "feel nicer" when we look like "professionals" or whatever. I'm really uncomfortable in most clothes that people consider to be professional (due to a lot of issues that I'm not going to discuss here) and I already know that 4th year in some rotations is going to be terrible for me because of that.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I'm talking about taking yourself seriously, because if you take yourself and your ambitions seriously, if you let it show in how you care for yourself and your appearance, then others will take you more seriously as well.

This must be where I'm going wrong with my life. Here I was trying to juggle school, grades, gaining clinical competency outside of school, and like 20+ hrs of research a week thinking that showed ambition. I didn't realize no one took me seriously because I showed up to lecture in jeans and a sweater, and sit in my apt in my PJ's. At 27 years of age, I should really have known better.

I guess that must be the difference between someone who is going to influence the future of vet med, and someone like me who's prob going to be expressing anal sacs for a living.

 

[nyanko]

One thing though, if they're going to have a dress code I'd rather they just explicitly tell me exactly what to wear. I am fashion-inept and the last thing that I need added to my daily stress level is having to go through a bunch of clothes and try to figure out what flatters this part or minimizes that part or avoids making me look stumpy or frumpy or whatever. I worked at a clinic where we had to wear khakis and a white polo all the time and though I hated that particular getup for working with animals all day, at least it took the BS out of having to figure out an outfit.

 

[Emiloo4]

One thing though, if they're going to have a dress code I'd rather they just explicitly tell me exactly what to wear. I am fashion-inept and the last thing that I need added to my daily stress level is having to go through a bunch of clothes and try to figure out what flatters this part or minimizes that part or avoids making me look stumpy or frumpy or whatever. I worked at a clinic where we had to wear khakis and a white polo all the time and though I hated that particular getup for working with animals all day, at least it took the BS out of having to figure out an outfit.

Definitely the worst part about it. I hate trying to figure out what to wear. Hence the reason I have moved back to tshirts and jeans (well that, and I'm not ambitious and don't want anyone to take me seriously) Thank goodness they aren't strict on it. Dressing up has actually made me want to skip class at times I can't find something to wear and I want to give up.

 

[DVMDream]

FDM, I actually agree. Younger students don't like to be told that dressing nicely matters. It does, actually, matter. I'm also a bit older, but I don't look it, and I detest being taken for an undergraduate student, so I try to dress more professionally. It's a give and take between practicality and poise, especially when there's a foot of snow on the ground and I have to walk across campus several times.

I agree for different reasons than your last stated one. Yes, I am taking on monster debt for this opportunity, but I'm not dressing up for the benefit of the school. I'm doing it for myself. I dress for what I want, not where I am. And please, before you submit the goofy replies telling me that if that's the case then I should be in scrubs smeared with animal secretions, I'm not talking about playing dress-up. I'm talking about taking yourself seriously, because if you take yourself and your ambitions seriously, if you let it show in how you care for yourself and your appearance, then others will take you more seriously as well.

Dressing well communicates that you have your proverbial **** together. At the schools I've visited, the slobby students on the student panels seemed immature at first glance, and the ones who were neatly dressed spoke with more maturity and confidence. I do not think that was a coincidence.

Sorry, kids, but your dress does matter. Find the sweet spot between comfort and classiness and you'll be doing yourself a favor.

We should all just down to you right now since you are the expert on dress and if someone has serious ambitions or not. Apparently my ambitions were not as serious as yours in getting to this goal because I dressed more comfortably and less professionally. Apparently working my ass off to get as much experience as I possibly could in the field for the past 12 years has no impact or reflection upon my ambitions; I should have just dressed nice and then BAM ambition galore. And the occasions that I showed up at work at the vet clinic on my day off in flip-flops, jeans and a t-shirt when an emergency came in but the rest of the office staff was too busy or not immediately available... I should have ran off to get more professionally dressed before I started setting IV catheters and helping out... that would have shown that I was really serious about saving that animal's life... screw my tech abilities those don't mean ****, I need to look good to show that I am serious and ambitious. Forget about communication skills and representing yourself in a professional manner in every other aspect, if you aren't looking good, no one will take you seriously (psst.... I got a job at a vet clinic when I was unexpectedly interviewed while just dropping off my resume... I was wearing jeans and a rather bright orange shirt, apparently the vet recognized something good in me).

And these student panels that you have seen where the students who are more "professionally dressed" than those in jeans and hoodies... did you actually get to know these students after the group wide discussion? I wonder how many of those in jeans and hoodies just got off a rotation at the hospital, or have had exams for the past 4 days and are just ready to get the hell home, or have been up since 3AM studying their asses off.... Personally, I would be one of those in jeans and hoodie tired as hell because I have not been sleeping well lately, but I still take this career seriously enough that I would sign up to go to one of these to answer prospective students' questions, so screw you for judging but at least these students are willing to take time out of their already busy schedules to be there to answer questions.... nothing says more serious or ambitious to me than someone willing to give up their time like that.

No, I do not want to sit through lectures in "professional dress or even business casual dress".... it is uncomfortable.... I get uncomfortable sitting for long periods of time in jeans and a hoodie and often find myself getting agitated if I can't get up once an hour or so just to walk around, it would be 100x worse in professional clothes. Just because I choose to wear jeans and a hoodie to lectures does not mean that I am any less ambitious than someone who dresses professionally. I think that I have well proven my ambition and commitment to this profession through my action over the last 12 years. If I am going to something that requires me to dress professionally or in which I think professional dress will be appropriate, then I will dress accordingly but I am not going to make myself uncomfortable for 12 hours/day just for lectures... it is not conducive to my learning and would make me care less about the lecture because I would just be antsy as hell to get home and change.

 

[Lissarae06]

I find it interesting that the main people saying everyone should dress like a professional for lecture are people that haven't been through vet school.

I'm so glad we don't have a dress code for lecture. I don't ever wear sweats or anything but sitting in class for that long in dress pants or skirt/dress whatever would be so uncomfortable. And it gets cold in our building so that would make it even worse.

 

[PetPony]

Just wanna say that I didn't mean that you need to dress up all the time. I wouldn't. Haha I was just referring to the statement where that person said she doesn't have anything professional to wear and would turn down an interview, and meant that you should have a few outfits for the occasions where they're needed. Not always. I'd hate that too.

 

[BlackDog17]

Why does everything on SDN have to turn into an argument about who's opinions are better? 🙄

ShibaMom was asking which schools have dress codes and what advice you would give incoming students who need to dress professionally. She was not asking about how your clothing reflects your ambition, how jeans make you lazy, or how your clothing choices make you a better vet student. As has already been proven on another thread which shall remain unnamed, you are not going to change anyone's habits by arguing over them on an internet forum. So let's all just calm the heck down, shall we?

If you want to dress professionally, then do it. If you don't and your school doesn't have a dress code, then rock on with that hoodie and jeans. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up over what other people wear.

Come on guys, don't make me get out the Butthurt Report Form again . . .

 

[BuggerDoodle]

Dressing professional really isn't all that bad and it doesn't detract from paying attention in class (and yes, I am in vet school and am in the middle of 2nd year). As long as you know what you are comfortable in, you can survive having to dress a little nicer. Personally, I am usually in slacks or khakis and a nice top or sweater. My pants are not any less comfortable than jeans so I'm not any more/less comfortable than I would be if I didn't dress up. I also am not a heels type of person and would break my ankle if I had to wear them daily so I wear flats everyday. I have never been distracted from class by the clothes that I wear despite having to dress professional for class everyday. Even though we have a dress code, there is still a lot of room for individual choices in regards to the clothes you wear. Maybe I'm biased since I'm at a school with a dress code but really, I promise that it isn't that bad and you shouldn't eliminate a school from consideration just because you can't wear jeans.

 

[primatevetjess]

Why does everything on SDN have to turn into an argument about who's opinions are better? 🙄

ShibaMom was asking which schools have dress codes and what advice you would give incoming students who need to dress professionally. She was not asking about how your clothing reflects your ambition, how jeans make you lazy, or how your clothing choices make you a better vet student. As has already been proven on another thread which shall remain unnamed, you are not going to change anyone's habits by arguing over them on an internet forum. So let's all just calm the heck down, shall we?

If you want to dress professionally, then do it. If you don't and your school doesn't have a dress code, then rock on with that hoodie and jeans. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up over what other people wear.

I don't care what other people wear. You wanna dress professionally, you go right ahead. You don't see me getting worked up over that. The only reason I even posted in the thread is because someone *did* do all those things you said the OP didn't do. If someone says I'm not ambitious, don't take myself seriously and am immature all because I decide to wear jeans to sit in lecture for 8 hours, I'm going to call them out on how stupid that is.

 

[Lissarae06]

I don't care what other people wear. You wanna dress professionally, you go right ahead. You don't see me getting worked up over that. The only reason I even posted in the thread is because someone *did* do all those things you said the OP didn't do. If someone says I'm not ambitious, don't take myself seriously and am immature all because I decide to wear jeans to sit in lecture for 8 hours, I'm going to call them out on how stupid that is.

👍

 

[ShibaMom]

Why does everything on SDN have to turn into an argument about who's opinions are better? 🙄

ShibaMom was asking which schools have dress codes and what advice you would give incoming students who need to dress professionally. She was not asking about how your clothing reflects your ambition, how jeans make you lazy, or how your clothing choices make you a better vet student. As has already been proven on another thread which shall remain unnamed, you are not going to change anyone's habits by arguing over them on an internet forum. So let's all just calm the heck down, shall we?

If you want to dress professionally, then do it. If you don't and your school doesn't have a dress code, then rock on with that hoodie and jeans. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up over what other people wear.

Come on guys, don't make me get out the Butthurt Report Form again . . .

This ^^^

What I am curious about is:

1) What do you typically wear for lecture, special speaker day, wet/dry lab, clinicals, etc.

2) Does your institution of higher learning have a stated or implied dress code.

3) What uni do you attend.

4) What advice would you give individuals who have tattoos, different hairstyles or color, and piercings.

Everyone has opinions, but I'm not particularly worried about those. I have a specific opinion on how professional students should dress but I don't find it necessary to share it. It would, however, be useful for incoming students and I to get a sense of what to expect our first year.

And finally, thank you to everyone who has shared such helpful information.

 

[orca2011]

Why does everything on SDN have to turn into an argument about who's opinions are better? 🙄

ShibaMom was asking which schools have dress codes and what advice you would give incoming students who need to dress professionally. She was not asking about how your clothing reflects your ambition, how jeans make you lazy, or how your clothing choices make you a better vet student. As has already been proven on another thread which shall remain unnamed, you are not going to change anyone's habits by arguing over them on an internet forum. So let's all just calm the heck down, shall we?

If you want to dress professionally, then do it. If you don't and your school doesn't have a dress code, then rock on with that hoodie and jeans. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up over what other people wear.

Come on guys, don't make me get out the Butthurt Report Form again . . .

I agree that we seem to be having more arguments/discussions, which is fine by the most part. The issue is when people make all these statmente that generalize and can be taken as an insult or slight. Im pretty easy going person and don't get worked up too easily, but even I was a bit annoyed how saying if you dont dress business casually to class it comes off as not being ambitious. I do think how you dress matters in certain situations and agree that the students on the student panels should have dressed more appropriately (ours do, but they also have a small role in admissions) but I think doing it to sit in class is more trouble than its worth especially with all the gross labs we have the first two years. I personally wouldn't be comfortable. Im barely comfortable in jeans.

 

[LetItSnow]

I guess that must be the difference between someone who is going to influence the future of vet med, and someone like me who's prob going to be expressing anal sacs for a living.

... as a VCA associate. You forgot that part.

But what do I know? I don't take myself seriously because I wear jeans and a sweatshirt to school most days.

 

[Escalla]

Posted by accident. Sorry! Carry on...🙂

 

[primatevetjess]

1) What do you typically wear for lecture, special speaker day, wet/dry lab, clinicals, etc.

2) Does your institution of higher learning have a stated or implied dress code.

3) What uni do you attend.

4) What advice would you give individuals who have tattoos, different hairstyles or color, and piercings.

1) Lecture: jeans and a tank top if it's warm, add a hoodie if it's cold.
Speakers: see above
Dry labs: see above
Wet labs: scrubs
Clinics: depending on the rotation, either professional or scrubs

2) Only for clinics, but not even a little for the first three years. I totally get dressing professionally for clinics and think its a good idea, but for class I don't think it's necessary and am glad I didn't have to.

3) UC Davis

4) I don't really have any specific advice. I have multiple tattoos visible if I'm wearing anything other than long sleeves. They're usually covered on clinics because we have to wear a white coat over our professional clothes, but if I'm in scrubs or not wearing my coat, they're visible on clinics. And I haven't had any trouble at all.

 

[Minnerbelle]

... as a VCA associate. You forgot that part.

I would be droooling to work for a VCA out of school. I dunno about y'all's parts of the country, but it's almost impossible to get a VCA associate job straight out where I'm from. The VCA internship/residency recruiter said he's only seen 1 person ever get hired as a new grad.

haha... it's becoming pretty clear how unambitious I am, and that my schooling is crap. I won't even make it to VCA associate.

But what do I know? I don't take myself seriously because I wear jeans and a sweatshirt to school most days.

 

[primatevetjess]

Also I know you aren't interested in opinions, but you're never going to stop people from sharing them anyway 😉

 

[Lissarae06]

What I am curious about is:

1) What do you typically wear for lecture, special speaker day, wet/dry lab, clinicals, etc.

2) Does your institution of higher learning have a stated or implied dress code.

3) What uni do you attend.

4) What advice would you give individuals who have tattoos, different hairstyles or color, and piercings.

1. Jeans and a t-shirt before I got pregnant. My t-shirts don't really fit anymore so I wear maternity tops. For wet labs- scrubs, dry labs- what I wore to lecture. Clinics depends on the rotation. For FA, equine, and radiology it's khakis and a school polo. For small animal, it's dress slacks and a blouse/sweater depending on the weather with a white coat. If I am going to observe a sx, scrubs.

2. No dress code for when you aren't on clinics

3. Oklahoma State

4. Here, they really don't care about hairstyle or piercings when you are in class. They prefer more conservative stuff on clinics.

 

[dyachei]

... as a VCA associate. You forgot that part.

But what do I know? I don't take myself seriously because I wear jeans and a sweatshirt to school most days.

pssst. I'm already a veterinarian and I wear t-shirt and jeans on my days off. But my associate wears gym shorts and t-shirts on his days off (when he comes to meetings). I try not to take myself too seriously though. If you can't have fun with what you do, what's the point?

 

[LetItSnow]

pssst. I'm already a veterinarian and I wear t-shirt and jeans on my days off. But my associate wears gym shorts and t-shirts on his days off (when he comes to meetings). I try not to take myself too seriously though. If you can't have fun with what you do, what's the point?

Quit taking me so seriously, Dyachei. If I don't take myself seriously you shouldn't either. 😉

 

[twelvetigers]

1. Jeans and a t-shirt before I got pregnant. My t-shirts don't really fit anymore so I wear maternity tops. For wet labs- scrubs, dry labs- what I wore to lecture. Clinics depends on the rotation. For FA, equine, and radiology it's khakis and a school polo. For small animal, it's dress slacks and a blouse/sweater depending on the weather with a white coat. If I am going to observe a sx, scrubs.

2. No dress code for when you aren't on clinics

3. Oklahoma State

4. Here, they really don't care about hairstyle or piercings when you are in class. They prefer more conservative stuff on clinics.

Yeah. They don't seem to have problems with odd hair color outside of clinics, and they don't care about piercings - even in clinics. I'm sure there's a line to cross, but that's true for anything.

 

[BlackDog17]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

 

[Lissarae06]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

Here, we just wear whatever scrubs we want. You have to provide them yourself but there isn't a certain pattern or color that is required.

 

[dyachei]

Here, we just wear whatever scrubs we want. You have to provide them yourself but there isn't a certain pattern or color that is required.

AT UTK we were allowed to wear whatever color we wanted. We could not wear patterned scrubs though. Not sure if that has changed since I graduated

 

[Museum Nerd]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

Probably school speficic....we can only wear one color 🙁

 

[Coquette22]

1) Lecture - Whatever we want. To my knowledge, there's no dress code, though I'm sure someone would say something if there were certain anatomic regions hanging out or horrendously offensive sayings on your t-shirt or something.
Special speaker - See above
Wet labs - Depends, we're usually in either coveralls or lab coats and close toed shoes, sometimes rubber boots. Some require scrubs.
Dry labs - Same as wet labs, though usually no rubber boots, and it's more likely to be just lab coats and closed toe shoes.

2) If there's a dress code, it's never been explicitly stated and I've never heard of anyone violating it, barring safety considerations for labs. There is a dress code for clinical rotations, though I don't know the ins-and-outs of it. I'm told no jeans though.

3) Atlantic Vet College

4) We have some people with funky hair or piercings. I don't think it's ever been a problem, expect for removing facial piercings for safety/hygiene reasons.

 

[Coquette22]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

We have to buy our own, though we are given a scrub top with AVC (Year) embroidered on it. Officially, we're supposed to be in ciel blue. Most of us are in some variable shade of blue. A few people have other colours or patterns, I don't know if it's ever been a problem. I think the only time it might be a problem would be in clinics, because "blue=student" here, so it's a nice way to demarcate who's who.

 

[orca2011]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

We can pretty much wear whatever color, but I haven't really seen students wearing any with fun patterns. Just solid colors. We also buy our own, but do have sales for ones that say "Penn Vet" on them. I know when I interviewed at Illinois, they said they had certain colors for where in the hospital you were working. Can't remember if they were provided or if you bought them.

 

[LetItSnow]

For times when you're required to wear scrubs, do schools generally provide them or have specific ones that you're required to purchase? Or do students just wear whatever color/style they happen to have?

Apparently we're not supposed to wear maroon scrubs in the small animal hospital. Maroon is required for students in large animal / equine (they use color to distinguish roles). So by not allowing maroon in small animal, it automatically lowers fomite issues between the hospitals.

That said, I don't think anyone would really call you on it.

And no, our hospital doesn't provide scrubs to students (just staff). We're expected to wear slacks/white coat in services with significant client contact and where it makes sense (like ophtho, oncology, etc). We wear scrubs where that makes sense (surgery, er, icu, tx, etc.).

In general, we appear to follow a "common sense" approach. 😛

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Younger students don't like to be told that dressing nicely matters. It does, actually, matter. I'm also a bit older, but I don't look it, and I detest being taken for an undergraduate student, so I try to dress more professionally.

Sorry, kids, but your dress does matter. Find the sweet spot between comfort and classiness and you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Alright, let me just say that I really hate this term. Especially when it is used by older/non-trads in a condescending way. One of my resident-mates refers semi-snobbily to the students as "the kids" and I always correct her; even when they are younger than we are.

It's very easy for those of us who are older (I'm not the oldest here, but I'm older than many) to unconsciously (or even consciously) look down on the younger students. But we can't do that. I don't refer to the students I teach as "kids", even though the vast majority are younger than me. In a few years I may be working with them. Maybe it's part of my personality, and why I love to teach, but I really hate it when people look at younger folk dismissively, especially when it is due to changes in culture (clothes, hair, music, etc).

They are not "kids". They are future colleagues. Treat people younger than you with just as much respect as you expect to be treated with by them.

And I don't know what is so detestable about being an undergrad. They are younger and early in their education, that's all.

 

[CanHardlyWait]

When I went to VMRCVM there was no dress code besides a warning against things that show too much cleavage, etc. Dunno if it is still the same. I see many of the students here at A&M dressing more professionally, but that's likely because of the requirement.
.

There is a dress code. We were told the change to an enforced code was student led a couple years ago. It allows causal clothes like jeans, flip flops and hoodies. We can't wear leggings as pants (thank god!), yoga pants, sweat pants, spaghetti strap tanks, anything too low cut or that shows a bra strap, no exposed midriffs. Frankly I think mostly these are common sense modesty as a professional rules, and what is appropriate to wear outside of your house or the gym rules. However I am old (comparatively to my classmates) and thus have an old fashioned desire to want to appear professional and appropriate in front of my colleges and instructors.

 

[hygebeorht]

Why does everything on SDN have to turn into an argument about who's opinions are better? 🙄

ShibaMom was asking which schools have dress codes and what advice you would give incoming students who need to dress professionally. She was not asking about how your clothing reflects your ambition, how jeans make you lazy, or how your clothing choices make you a better vet student. As has already been proven on another thread which shall remain unnamed, you are not going to change anyone's habits by arguing over them on an internet forum. So let's all just calm the heck down, shall we?

If you want to dress professionally, then do it. If you don't and your school doesn't have a dress code, then rock on with that hoodie and jeans. I really don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up over what other people wear.

Come on guys, don't make me get out the Butthurt Report Form again . . .

Thanks for that! 🙂 I wasn't trying to start a big mess, but I feel like people are being very touchy. I should put more smilies in my posts or something because my intended tone is being totally misread. 🙂

I knew I was going to get some blowback for supporting an unpopular opinion, but dang y'all. Aren't we on a thread about dress? Which is superficial? I was only suggesting that neater dress projects professionalism. Does it matter more than ability? Obviously not. I was just lending support to some valid suggestions that were being rapidly shut down by others. 🙂

Dress is superficial. My suggestions are only suggestions. I'm not saying people don't take themselves seriously if they dress sloppily for comfort during lectures. I'm saying that neat dress gives the APPEARANCE of having one's **** together, which can be useful. Obviously being nicely dressed is not always an indication that a person is on top of it, but it can give that impression. 🙂

And you're right, I'm not in vet school yet. But some of the current students have mentioned that they do have peers who show up looking neatly dressed, so obviously it's not an impossibility. Who knows, maybe I'll get there and just fall apart and live in sweatpants for four years. But I hope not, because personally being well-dressed is important to my sense of purpose and happiness. It's not important to everyone, so if you're feeling mad about my suggestions, just take my advice from the interview attire thread and wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy. I don't really care what you wear, I was just making a suggestion because it works well for most of the people I know.

So please, vet students who are too busy to dress nicely but not too busy to write a manifesto on this forum about not dressing nicely - simmer down! I don't care what you wear, and I'm sure whatever you have going on works for you. I applaud your hard work and your ability to handle all the things that come your way and demand your time and effort. 🙂

So now for the OP's questions:

The students at CSU wear pretty much what graduate students wear. Nice jeans, khakis, nice shirts, sweaters, whatever. There is some variability, some are more sloppy and some are more snappy, but that's what you see on the day-to-day. In the hospital they wear blue jackets, not sure if they have to buy specific scrubs. And plenty are super-tatted, super-gauged-out, and have super weird hair colors. CSU likes to have a varied student population and it's quite embraced. 🙂

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Thanks for that! 🙂 I wasn't trying to start a big mess, but I feel like people are being very touchy. I should put more smilies in my posts or something because my intended tone is being totally misread. 🙂

I thought so. It is difficult sometimes to tell the tone of someone's post. The whole "kids" thing is just a pet peeve with me.

 

[hygebeorht]

Alright, let me just say that I really hate this term. Especially when it is used by older/non-trads in a condescending way. One of my resident-mates refers semi-snobbily to the students as "the kids" and I always correct her; even when they are younger than we are.

It's very easy for those of us who are older (I'm not the oldest here, but I'm older than many) to unconsciously (or even consciously) look down on the younger students. But we can't do that. I don't refer to the students I teach as "kids", even though the vast majority are younger than me. In a few years I may be working with them. Maybe it's part of my personality, and why I love to teach, but I really hate it when people look at younger folk dismissively, especially when it is due to changes in culture (clothes, hair, music, etc).

They are not "kids". They are future colleagues. Treat people younger than you with just as much respect as you expect to be treated with by them.

And I don't know what is so detestable about being an undergrad. They are younger and early in their education, that's all.

Nothing wrong with being an undergrad - I was one too - but I'm not anymore, haven't been for almost a decade, and I'm a little tired of being taken for one. Anyone who gets taken for an age they are not can relate, I'm sure. My friend is a middle-school teacher and constantly is taken for a student by visitors to the school. She was getting kiddie menus into her mid-20s. Just because she is tired of being taken for a 12-year-old doesn't mean she hates kids.

And I am sorry if you were offended by my friendly use of the word "kids." I call everyone "kids," including my friends and people older than me. Among my friends we use it as a term of endearment like "so kids where are we going tonight?" or "how are you doing, kiddo?" I was trying to lighten the tone of my post, but that was misread. Obviously friendly use of the word "kids" isn't the norm in every part of the country. I didn't realize there was a hair-trigger for it in some people.

Dang, tone is hard to do sometimes.

 

[hygebeorht]

I have major issues with textures of clothes (can't wear a sweater or jeans and socks are a major issue as well) and am very happy that I can wear my sandals, athletic pants, and a t-shirt to school each day.

http://www.softsurroundings.com/

May be a good source for soft-textured clothing for when you need to dress it up more. Many people have texture issues, and a few companies cater to them!

(sorry for multiple posts, but I just remembered seeing a catalog for this place a few years ago)

EDIT: I guess this is less useful if you're a fella.

 

[Jamr0ckin]

1) I usually wear jeans and either a school themed t-shirt or a "nice" top or sweater. I occasionally wear dress pants, and rarely a skirt (especially now that its cold). For anatomy lab, I wear scrubs or coveralls. I don't wear scrubs to class, but some people do. Many of my classmates are always dressed up, but more than half are khakis/jeans wearers. If we want to go watch a surgery through the viewing windows in the small animal area, we are required to wear business dress. And khakis and a polo for the large animal hospital.

2) We are encouraged to dress business casual, as we often have guest speakers and are located close to the teaching hospital. The separate clinical services have their own dresscode.

3) UTK

4) I have tattoos on my feet and ankles. Originally, I wore dress socks all the time with my slacks, but now I don't. I've seen upper classmen with wild hair, visible tats, and even saw a clinician with a see through white top and a black bra on... So I decided my veterinary symbol tattoo was more than appropriate. 🙂

My opinion is wear what makes you comfortable. I do, however, judge the people who clothes at are more suited for a nightclub than a classroom... That much leg and that much cleavage just isn't necessary. I personally wouldn't wear sweats or scrubs to class, but it's ok if you do. Also... I hate yoga pants unless a skirt is worn over them. Most people don't want to see every millimeter of your butt move when you walk, keep those for your yoga class, please!

 

[bunnity]

Respectfully, because I think you make your point well, I find this to be a poor argument.

Dressing like a professional is appropriate when you're acting in a professional capacity ... which I absolutely am not doing when I'm sitting in a lecture hall.

I mean, if you're going to make the argument that you're learning to be a doctor and therefore you should dress like one even when you aren't actually one or even performing the tasks of one ........ well heck, why does it only apply to sitting in school? Shouldn't you dress that way at home, then? I mean, you want to be "professional," right? No sitting around in your jammies!

It's just silly. I'll dress in a way I feel is appropriately professional when I am performing the duties of a doctor. When I'm sitting on my ass getting lectured at I'm going to dress to maximize my comfort so I can focus on the lecture.

There are some exceptions that make sense to me. Our dental school requires students to wear neat (as in tidy and clean, not 'cool') scrubs every day. But they're in a fairly public building with a lot of client traffic where students are highly visible. Over here in vet school, our classrooms are separate from the hospital (though the buildings are connected) and most students aren't over in the hospital in full public view every day. I think you have to moderate your policies based on considerations like that.

Vet school life is hard enough. No need to put onerous, pointless restrictions on students.

Right with you. For clinical stuff I wear whatever I'm supposed to (scrubs for surgery, nice clothes for SA hospital), but when I'm sitting in class for 10 hours straight you bet I'll wear whatever gets me through the day (and second year, I usually had my coat and hat too on since it was so damn cold in that room). My taste in clothing (or lack thereof, as some might think) has NOTHING to do with how seriously I take learning to be a doctor.

 

[rugbychick16]

"I take it that pajamas, yoga pants and four day-old jeans are frowned upon"


Actually, you can wear all of those at K-state during your classroom years and no one will really care. Dress code not enforced.

Bought lots of khakis and dress clothes for clinical year. Now, as a large/mixed animal vet who wears jeans and a scrub top to work everyday, they sit in my closet taking up space.

 

[nyanko]

So please, vet students who are too busy to dress nicely but not too busy to write a manifesto on this forum about not dressing nicely - simmer down! I don't care what you wear, and I'm sure whatever you have going on works for you. I applaud your hard work and your ability to handle all the things that come your way and demand your time and effort. 🙂

you're the worst kind of insufferable.

cheers. 🙂