Interviews - when to change out of the suit?

[NewYorker9]

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I want to preface this post by saying I am not trying to be critical of others, but determine proper interview etiquette (and potentially help future applicants).

At about half of my interviews (n=11) this past cycle, I saw fellow applicants change out of their suits immediately at the conclusion of the interview day. They would do this while still at the School of Medicine/Admissions Office and potentially in sight of the dean, director, and/or secretaries.

My question is whether or not this is appropriate? Am I overanalyzing this situation or could it be perceived negatively by admissions? What are some thoughts on this?

 

[Propylene]

I would generally wait until I was at the airport or back home, but at a couple of interviews the schools even had rooms for us to change out of our interview stuff. Just my opinion but I don't think it'd make too much of a difference either way.

 

[ace12345]

I want to preface this post by saying I am not trying to be critical of others, but determine proper interview etiquette (and potentially help future applicants).

At about half of my interviews (n=11) this past cycle, I saw fellow applicants change out of their suits immediately at the conclusion of the interview day. They would do this while still at the School of Medicine/Admissions Office and potentially in sight of the dean, director, and/or secretaries.

My question is whether or not this is appropriate? Am I overanalyzing this situation or could it be perceived negatively by admissions? What are some thoughts on this?

For any interview in virtually any sector, stay in the suit. It is absurd when thread come up here asking "Whether I should bring a suit," "Should I wear a suit," etc.

You will NEVER be criticized for wearing a suit all the way home on the plane. It does not, however, always go the other way around.

 

[Dingo Mango]

I wouldnt change into street clothes and then parade around the admissions office but I would certainly change in some bathroom in the building right before leaving if I'm going straight to airport.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

So I shouldn't have been shedding my suit as I walked down the hall and out the front door?

 

[annonymous819]

You will see a dozen kids changing in the parking lot at the end of the day. Suits are hot in the summer.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

I went to the airport in a suit and it started a conversation that ended with a first class upgrade.

 

[MusicJunkie]

I would wait until I'm at the airport or my hotel room to change out of my suit.

Personal preference, though.

 

[DAPI]

I went to the airport in a suit and it started a conversation that ended with a first class upgrade.

👍

Dressing nice at an airport and then on the plane is likely going to lead to classy people sitting next to you (if it's unassigned seating) because they are going to think you are classy too. They probably won't yak your ear off either, which is always a plus.

 

[Pacna]

What's wrong with wearing a suit? If your suit is that uncomfortable, you're doing something wrong.

 

[TheLastofUs]

Wear street clothes under the suit and just rip the suit off Superman style as you leave the interview 😀

 

[NewYorker9]

I always stayed in my suit (I'm lucky that it's been tailored well and is very comfortable) and thought it would be bad to take off the suit too soon. My hope when I started this thread was to help guide future applicants when they get invited to interview.

 

[Doctor Strange]

It was like 99 degrees the day of one of my interviews and I had to walk outside for ten minutes to one of my interviewers. Needless to say, I was a hot mess and would have loved to change out of my suit right then and there. I have an aversion to changing clothes in public places, though, so I just turned the AC up all the way back to the hotel and ripped it off there.

 

[BABSstudent]

I want to preface this post by saying I am not trying to be critical of others, but determine proper interview etiquette (and potentially help future applicants).

At about half of my interviews (n=11) this past cycle, I saw fellow applicants change out of their suits immediately at the conclusion of the interview day. They would do this while still at the School of Medicine/Admissions Office and potentially in sight of the dean, director, and/or secretaries.

My question is whether or not this is appropriate? Am I overanalyzing this situation or could it be perceived negatively by admissions? What are some thoughts on this?

Many airports have private bathrooms with places for you to hang stuff up. I changed in there a few times.

 

[yehhhboiii]

Saw a girl leaving at the end of their interview day. She had put on a hoodie with the name of a different medical school emblazoned on the front. Don't be that girl.

 

[Juan Solo]

I went to the airport in a suit and it started a conversation that ended with a first class upgrade.

That is awesome. I will keep this is mind the next time I am heading to the airport with a suit!

 

[Ellie Arroway]

That is awesome. I will keep this is mind the next time I am heading to the airport with a suit!

Last time I went through the airport in a suit I got to skip the creepy body scanner.

 

[Juan Solo]

Last time I went through the airport in a suit I got to skip the creepy body scanner.

I hate those things. I thought they are supposed to get ride of them this year?

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Saw a girl leaving at the end of their interview day. She had put on a hoodie with the name of a different medical school emblazoned on the front. Don't be that girl.

 

[Narmerguy]

I'd probably wait until I left the school. It kind of reminds me of wearing the suit..you don't want to be changing into your suit when you arrive either.

But I doubt it's a big deal and is probably a pretty forgivable crime even if someone caught sight and was aghast.

 

[mcloaf]

It depended on how much of a rush I was in and how tired I was. I changed in the admissions bathroom a few times. Nobody cared and I still got admitted.

If you're going to judge me because I don't want to wear a suit on my 10 hour journey home that cost me $600+ then screw you, I don't want to come to your medical school.

 

[survivordo]

I went to the airport in a suit and it started a conversation that ended with a first class upgrade.

You can never go wrong flying in a suit... hot chicks dig it... and they don't upgrade people to first class if they look like bums.

Survivor DO

 

[yehhhboiii]

I hate those things. I thought they are supposed to get ride of them this year?

you can opt out. tell them you'd rather have some sweaty fat guy touch you everywhere as opposed to having them ogle your body

 

[kami333]

You can never go wrong flying in a suit... hot chicks dig it... and they don't upgrade people to first class if they look like bums.

Survivor DO

You generally get upgraded based on frequent flier status or because you have a seat they want (ie family with small kids wants to sit together).

I've been upgraded many times looking like a bum, if shorts, hoodies and sandals count. Going through customs/immigration though, from my experience you have less questions if you look like a business traveller (nicely dressed but comfortable, 1 nice piece of luggage instead of multiple backpacks/duffels or boxes).

 

[Juan Solo]

you can opt out. tell them you'd rather have some sweaty fat guy touch you everywhere as opposed to having them ogle your body

Ahhh, I see. Well at least I will be wearing a suit next time

 

[eefen]

I usually just ripped it off while running out of the interview room.

 

[Juan Solo]

I usually just ripped it off while running out of the interview room.

me too... but not really.

 

[milski]

You generally get upgraded based on frequent flier status or because you have a seat they want (ie family with small kids wants to sit together).

I've been upgraded many times looking like a bum, if shorts, hoodies and sandals count. Going through customs/immigration though, from my experience you have less questions if you look like a business traveller (nicely dressed but comfortable, 1 nice piece of luggage instead of multiple backpacks/duffels or boxes).

That. Most of my upgrades would clear before I made it to the airport. And if it has come down to the battlefield, I mean the airport, your chances as a general member are close to zero and hardly depend on how you dress.

For customs - global entry FTW! Have not talked to a US customs official since 2009. And to keep things at least somewhat per-med related - knowing that I've passed that background check spares me the neuroticism about Certiphi (sp?).