you know, I was watching the Obama and Boehner speeches the other night and think I've come up with a reasonable rule of thumb regarding interview clothing. the rule of thumb is, if what you are wearing is similar to something you would see the president or other US political leader wear for official business, then you've chosen excellent interview attire.
note the examples below and the things they all have in common:
- dark suit
- white or blue plain shirt
- simple tie
These guidelines have been the basis of professional attire for generations. You are wise not to stray from them as you interview to enter the medical profession (& will most likely be interviewing with faculty who are still familiar with these guidelines). Also - avoid red (power) ties, bold pinstriped suits and contrast collars. All of these are intended to subtly reflect power/influence, which is inappropriate for you to project in this setting.
The way to individualize yourself from the oodles other other dark-suit-clad individuals is with the details. Make sure your suit fits you perfectly. Look at Obama's suits... they are plain (albeit very expensive) but they are [likely] custom-made for his body, not boxy like you would find off the rack. Get your suit tailored and you will look distinguished, even in a $200 find from Macy's.
Second, perfect your knot skills. All you need is a four-in-hand, but make sure it's got a good dimple to it (notice all of the tie knots in the examples are well-formed with excellent dimples). The tie knot is very noticeable, and paying enough attention to form it well will, IMHO, reflect positively on you.
examples: