Hi everybody,
During your interview, you will be judged on how you come across and what you say. Dressing less than other applicants is a risk I wouldn't recommend taking. You should ask yourself, do you REALLY WANT to go to vet school, or are you just kind of considering it? You are interviewing to become a DOCTOR, and professionalism counts.
I used to work in a corporate environment, and I can tell you that when it comes to the etiquette of professional attire, amateurs tend to make the same (obvious) mistakes, listed below.
WOMEN
-the most common mistake is not wearing a suit. Showing up to a professional interview in a nice sweater is NOT good enough.
-Another common mistake is wearing a tank top or lacy cami under your jacket instead of a blouse or nice dress shirt. Just because it has lace on the top or you look hot in it, doesn't mean its professional. If you can't remove your suit jacket and still look professional, then its not professional.
-Wearing pants that are too tight or a skirt that is too short.
-SHOWING CLEAVAGE. Dude, just don't go there.
MEN
-WEARING THE WRONG COLOR, part 1. Men have way stricter rules than women do. A "professional" interview is a step above your common job interview, so no tan, gray or green suits. Stick with solid black, charcoal, and navy.
-WEARING THE WRONG COLOR, part 2: Don't wear a bright colored shirt, and avoid wearing a bright/loud tie. Don't wear pink unless you're Donald Trump. A loud/bright/unusual tie takes away from your appearance and makes you look arrogant. Wear the loud ties AFTER you get in.
-WEARING THE WRONG SIZE. Guys almost always pick out a jacket that's too big. Do yourself a favor, and go to the Men's Warehouse or equivalent. Have someone ELSE (not your Mother!!!) measure you and get you fitted. A half inch makes a HUGE difference.
During the Davis interview orientation last year, they said at least 3 times to wear a suit. So unless your school states otherwise, I would go all out and wear a suit. I am very small and so I had a hard time finding a suit that fit me in the shoulders. The smallest sizes were still too big, and I hated the high waist style of all the pants. So I went to Banana Republic and paid $400 for a suit that fit. That was my choice though, most people will find something at Macy's without spending very much.
GUYS--seriously, dont let your mom or girlfriend pick out your suit. The expectations for men are way different than women. Do yourselves a favor and find a Men's Warehouse or equivalent and let your mom/girlfriend come with you for support. Men's Warehouse has lots of suits for under $200 and their sales associates are well trained.
GIRLS--Wear a suit and remember that there is a fine line between looking your best and looking totally hot. Look your best.
Hope this helps.
