College Interviews Aren’t Corporate Interviews

Some Vassar students in the 1950s preferred men’s collared shirts that a family member or boyfriend had already worn. For your college interview, you can borrow that relaxed campus style: a button-down, soft cardigan, and trousers—not a junior executive’s wardrobe.

You may not need to dress up at all. MIT says, “You do not have to dress up for your interview.” (mitadmissions.org) Stanford welcomes “typical high school attire.”

Check your own college’s advice before choosing an outfit. The conversation can still carry weight: at Yale, admissions officers read your interview report with the rest of your application. The school encourages you to share your ideas, what you’re curious about, and what matters to you.

Borrow from campus style

Campus clothes had to be comfortable, too. At the Seven Sisters women’s colleges, students wore menswear for the roomier fit and athletic clothes they could move in. Oxford shirts, crewneck sweaters, and penny loafers became part of their campus wardrobe.

Try the parts of prep you like and leave the rest. You can borrow the cardigan and loafers without copying a whole campus uniform. Wear them with pieces you already reach for.

Look for shape, not stiffness

Look for pieces that hold their shape. A neat collar, neckline, or button front can make an outfit look put-together without feeling formal.

A knit polo gives you the look of a collar with the feel of a sweater. A button-front cardigan works, too. You can wear it instead of a blazer—or keep the blazer if that’s what you feel best in.

For bottoms, look for trousers with a defined waistband and legs that hang smoothly. Straight, tapered, and easy wide-leg cuts are all options.

Try a knit polo with straight-leg trousers and loafers. Prefer a skirt? A button-front cardigan, A-line skirt, and Mary Janes are another option. If you’d rather keep it to one piece, try a simple day dress.

Your favorite colors can stay. Navy and cream are easy options, but burgundy, olive, or a striped shirt can look just as put-together.

Try sitting down in your outfit before interview day. Walk around and reach for something, too. You want to focus on the conversation, not sleeves you keep tugging at or shoes you can’t wait to take off.

Check your outfit on camera

Take a minute to see how your outfit looks on camera. Small, high-contrast patterns—including tiny checks and pinstripes—can look like they’re flickering on screen.

Open your camera in the light you’ll actually use. If a pattern flickers, try another top. If your shirt looks clear on camera, there’s no need to change it.

Start with your own closet or something you can borrow. A shirt you already love might only need different trousers to feel ready for the day.

If there’s a gap, search Curtsy for secondhand pieces you’ll want to wear after interview day, too.

The goal isn’t to dress for an imaginary office. It’s to feel ready for a real conversation.