That doesn't make it right to criticize other applicants that are probably very well qualified (or they wouldn't be there). This may come off as sexist but maybe this is something women like to do and I'm reading too much into it. Nevermind...
There are whole books and classes that delinate "proper" interview/job etitquete (including attire). I really don't think the actual talking about this topic is particularly a "women" thing....Yes, women are carrying the conversation on and have the questions, because the men already have the answers= wear a suit, possibly nice pants and sweater. That's the end of the men's story. If you wear those things, you know you'll look professional and really don't have any risk of appear under- or over- dressed (or too sexy, too frumpy, too much make-up, etc.).
Aside from the standard difficulties a women my face with picking an "outfit" for a given professional occasion, a veterinary interview offers unique problems/questions because it is a more "down to earth" "hands on," "deep in the poopy" sort of profession. One wants to appear serious and dedicated, whilst still projecting their personality and "state of mind"/work ethic that would encompass a good veterinarian.
It's harder than you think. I really think finding the right clothing choice is really a "know it when you see it" matter.....and certainly you know when you don't see it. A good outfit goes unoticed...a bad one screams.
My comments probably do seem superficial. Maybe they are. I'm just saying what I noticed and what I felt. I didn't interview the folks. I do know that some people really are clueless on what is or is not suitable (like I said apparently a lot of people are at least a little unsure or their wouldn't be whole classes/books/committees aimed at teaching people these things). If you looked like a prom queen but interviewed great...not really a problem (and if I was the interviewer, I'd just assume they'd gotten bad advice somewhere). However, if you looked like a prom queen and interviewed like one....well then you certainly didn't help your cause.
Most schools have some kind of unit on professionalism and/or how to dress for clinics or in practice etc. They wouldn't do this is they didn't "care" and/or if everyone out there already knew what was appropriate.
I don't think we know or may ever know (unless we wind up on the other side of the table some years from now), how appearance correlates to interviewing capacity. Maybe it doesn't at all. We're here to talk and people can evaluate opinions based on their own. That's what a forum is.
