What do I wear to an interview?

[Medikit]

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I have a blazer with different colored pants, I was going to wear that. Should I consider buying a suit? I'd really rather not.

 

[An Yong]

buy a suit.

 

[VPDcurt]

yeah you have to buy a suit. otherwise you are going to look like a middle-schooler going to sunday school.

 

[Medikit]

Suits cost money 🙁

 

[An Yong]

Suits cost money 🙁

Yes they do, but I'd rather have no money and an acceptance letter in my hand than $500 and a pile of rejections

 

[gobblety_gook]

Yes they do, but I'd rather have no money and an acceptance letter in my hand than $500 and a pile of rejections

A nice suit shouldn't run you $500...I'm sure you can find one ~$200.

 

[Dr Turninkoff]

i was in a similar situation and this is what i did. i had a microfiber oscar de la renta sportcoat, no suit. i took the sportcoat in, got it retailored for about 35.00 at men's wearhouse (sides taken in for a more clean cut, sleeves lengthened bc my arms grew) the coat is black, which is hard to match, but i managed to find some pants at dilliards for like 35.00 that matched perfectly. got those tailored for 8.00. i now have a "suit" and no, you can't tell that the coat and pants are different, and several pairs of pants to make appx. 3 interview quality outifts. it's all in how you do it. you can make a blazer work. just make sure that everything else is superb. the absolutely best places to buy oxford (long-sleeve buttonup) shirts and ties are ross and tj max. i got a kenneth cole tie for 11.99 and a blue nautica oxford for 19.99. you just gotta be smart and make sure everything fits. having a suit that fits crappy isn't as good as having a blazer or sportcoat and some other stuff that fits and matches perfectly.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Time to bump that interview attire thread.

 

[VPDcurt]

Best place to buy button-down shirts = Brooks Brothers. All custom fit. Only con is that they'll set you back about $70-100 a piece. You really can't beat a good shirt though in my opinion.

 

[yancantcook]

how many suits does a guy need during interviews?

is one nice suit enough??

or do i need multiple sets?

 

[derf]

dude, if you got an interview, buy a freaking suit! make it worthwhile. 🙂

 

[Rugger81]

Medikit, go to some place like Men's Wearhouse. They do a really great job fitting you, have a lot to choose from, and you can get a really nice suit for $200 or less (usually $150-$175). dont listen to people who say not to go there because "everyone goes there". you dont need a designer suit, and you dont need to be "super original". just get something normal and comfortable and to hell with anyone who tells you otherwise.

 

[Dr Turninkoff]

Best place to buy button-down shirts = Brooks Brothers. All custom fit. Only con is that they'll set you back about $70-100 a piece. You really can't beat a good shirt though in my opinion.

you can't tell if a shirt is custom fitted if you're wearing a jacket. just have to make sure you get your neck and sleeve size right.

 

[YzIa]

you can't tell if a shirt is custom fitted if you're wearing a jacket. just have to make sure you get your neck and sleeve size right.

true, but i have to agree with the previous post about brooks brothers, great shirts and ties. hard to beat anywhere, just too damn expensive!

 

[Shaz]

buy a suit.

Yes.

 

[bigbassinbob]

Buy a suit. There was one guy I saw at Carolina last year who didn't wear a suit - only khakis and a blazer - and he looked very out of place. I got mine for 150 at Men's Wearhouse.

 

[the other Dr.]

A suit is a must. I see med school interviewees walking around every day at UCSD, and they ALWAYS have suits. Anyone not wearing a suit looks like they're interviewing for grad school.

Men's Wearhouse or the like is really your best bet if you want to get it over with quick and cheap, but a little hunting around can get you something pretty slick from Nordstrom if you're lucky. I shelled out for a suit a couple years ago and I am glad to have it for interviews, weddings, funerals, cocktail parties, etc. It's not just an investment for interviews, and at some point you will need it during school anyway.

 

[Medikit]

I'm buying a suit, you guys suck though. 😡


Thanks 🙂

 

[Pinkertinkle]

You best look like this, notice the quarter inch his cuffs show.

 

[Kazema]

A nice suit is a great investment. You'll use it for more than just your interviews.

I'm sure that eventually you'll be glad you bought one. Absolutely make sure you get it fitted, it's not too expensive at the places people have already mentioned.

 

[Medikit]

A nice suit is a great investment. You'll use it for more than just your interviews.

Dude you know I'm a nerd, you know I will not

 

[VPDcurt]

true, but i have to agree with the previous post about brooks brothers, great shirts and ties. hard to beat anywhere, just too damn expensive!

I forgot about the Brooks Brothers ties! they really are amazing. i think they are over $50 a piece - but now other stores like J Crew, Gap, and Banana Republic are basically trying to copy the Brooks Brothers ties so those might be some cheaper alternatives.

 

[Kazema]

Dude you know I'm a nerd, you know I will not

You can wear it at home in front of your computer and pretend you're working then. And when people come in your room to ask you something turn around and throw stuff at them while screaming, "Can't you see I'm working?!?!?!"

 

[Medikit]

You can wear it at home in front of your computer and pretend you're working then. And when people come in your room to ask you something turn around and throw stuff at them while screaming, "Can't you see I'm working?!?!?!"

I'm sold

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Best place to buy button-down shirts = Brooks Brothers. All custom fit. Only con is that they'll set you back about $70-100 a piece. You really can't beat a good shirt though in my opinion.

So even if I'm a 14 inch neck, i can find smth to fit me at Brook's Brothers?

 

[VPDcurt]

So even if I'm a 14 inch neck, i can find smth to fit me at Brook's Brothers?

I would assume so, yes. I've always had trouble fitting into shirts. I work out a lot - my neck is a 16.5 but any shirt I buy with that size neck looks stupid because it is so big in the body. They had something called an "athletic slim fit" and, after taking measurements/making adjustments, it fits me perfectly.

The employees there are usually great - they want all of their customers to be happy and look good in their clothing. They will spend time with you until they find something that works.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I would assume so, yes. I've always had trouble fitting into shirts. I work out a lot - my neck is a 16.5 but any shirt I buy with that size neck looks stupid because it is so big in the body. They had something called an "athletic slim fit" and, after taking measurements/making adjustments, it fits me perfectly.

The employees there are usually great - they want all of their customers to be happy and look good in their clothing. They will spend time with you until they find something that works.

Sweet, thanks.
Im going to go downtown and check out that brook's brothers.

 

[Fermata]

Clothes(preferably).

 

[Medikit]

Clothes(preferably).

How about a nice pantsuit

 

[Long Dong]

Hunter green suits are always cool.

 

[Utopify]

Also, it's my personal opinion to go with an american style rather than italian style or double breasted style. The latter's lapel's point upward, the american style point outward or down and look cleaner and less goddy.

What would be funny....

If you're complaining about buying a suit...bleh...what size are you? We could just sell it back and forth and call it the "SDNIS" er.... SDN Interview Suit.

On another note, I'd guess that the majority of posters on this board are applicants. I am post bacc, have two years to go just to apply, so I have awhile.

You gotta post a picture all dolled up when you get done...he he he.

-utopify

 

[Albert Einstein]

.

 

[deuist]

Suits cost money 🙁

So do applications to medical school. Now go to JC Pennys, Mens Wearhouse, etc... or even Goodwill and buy a suit. Also, you can use the suit later in life.

 

[deuist]

How about a nice pantsuit

As a rule, women should NEVER wear pantsuits. I know that the skirts are paternalistic and are painful to wear in cold weather, but by in large, doctors and admissions committees are pretty conservative. Stick with the skirts that come to the knee or lower.

 

[juniper456]

the skirt thing is so outdated. it is perfectly acceptable for women to wear a nice pantsuit. i did and 70%-ish of the women i interviewed with did.

 

[dnelsen]

Just bought my suit last night at Marshall Fields. I was going to go the Men's Warehouse route but the suits looked kind of cheap. Plus I'm doing early decision so I'm saving all sorts of money on applications, plane tickets, etc.

I got a Kenneth Cole charcoal grey three button suit (I wanted conservative but with a little more style).

It was on sale for $100 off.

 

[Fermata]

I got a Kenneth Cole charcoal grey three button suit (I wanted conservative but with a little more style).

It was on sale for $100 off.

Did you get it tailored?

 

[dnelsen]

Did you get it tailored?

Yes, they have a tailor there. They will cuff the pants to the right length, they had to take in the jacket a little, and they also had to move a couple of the front buttons to get the jacket to lay right.

 

[Fermata]

Yes, they have a tailor there. They will cuff the pants to the right length, they had to take in the jacket a little, and they also had to move a couple of the front buttons to get the jacket to lay right.

Shibby.

 

[runner1979]

Sweet, thanks.
Im going to go downtown and check out that brook's brothers.

Just watch out on Brooks Brothers shirts--most are tailored for, um, thicker torso'd individuals. I am pretty thin and swim in their shirts. Their suits, on the otherhand, are incredible and I swear by them.

Are you guys wearing wingtips?

 

[VPDcurt]

Are you guys wearing wingtips?

No Way!!! I've never been a fan of wingtips. Just my personal preference though.

 

[dnelsen]

Are you guys wearing wingtips?

Yeah, I don't like wingtips either. I'm wearing the style with the single line across the toe (I know there is a name but I can't remember).

 

[Krazed_Medic]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=134837

I bumped up the above thread, it has some good information. There are others as well. Good luck.

 

[Jeff3614]

It amazes me how many people ask this question, but apparently many people really don't know. Maybe it just seems obvious to me, but why would anyone wear anything but a suit? If you have enough money to apply to medical school you have enough money to buy a cheap suit, which is just as good as an expensive one for interviews.

-Jeff-

 

[Long Dong]

As a rule, women should NEVER wear pantsuits. I know that the skirts are paternalistic and are painful to wear in cold weather, but by in large, doctors and admissions committees are pretty conservative. Stick with the skirts that come to the knee or lower.

I personnally like the ones about the knee. 😀

 

[aparecida]

If you really can't afford a new suit:

Keep an eye out at thrift shops and consignment shops (find a Goodwill or a Salvation Army that has a good stock -- some of these suck, but others are great) and check them regularly for a suit that looks nice (single breasted, gray, charcoal, pinstripe, or navy for guys; black for women) and is made of a good fabric. Get it tailored. Not too difficult. Between eBay and Goodwill, I was able to turn up multiple good-quality suits -- I got a black worsted wool Jones New York suit for $25 and a navy microfiber one for $8. Tailoring will cost a bit, but still cheaper than buying new.