What to wear to university interview?

[PoesyCherish]

Hello, me again. For university interviews do you wear normal interview attire - i.e. smart trousers, blouse, suit jacket?

Depends a bit on the subject, I think. While what you suggest is surely fine anywhere, my DDs interview togs for engineering was black skinny jeans, shirt, jumper and a decent coat.

Clean, 'decent' and not unkempt is probably all that really matters.

It won't matter what you wear. Something you feel comfortable and confident in is best, and what you describe would be fine.

But people wear all sorts of things and no one will particularly notice or care about it. I don't think, off hand, I've seen many women wearing a suit jacket, but I wouldn't think anything of it either.

Thanks both. It's for a Healthcare Science degree leading to registration to (hopefully) work for the NHS, not sure if that makes a difference to what I'd wear.

Something you feel confident, comfortable and won't notice it.
If you are comfortable with suit jacket, then it is, otherwise, you can replace it with Cardigan, make it less formal but still smart.

I think the degree subject does make a difference. For what you describe, a healthcare degree leading to a professional qualification, I would wear what you first described to the interview, basically smart office wear.

Good luck

I had my interview yesterday and wore a suit however I was the only one, most people wore black leggings and a blouse so we're slightly more casual than me but still looked smart. Good luck, when's your interview?

I think, for a healthcare related qualification, I would present a clean appearance and definitely wear clothes that look neat. I think looking unkempt and a bit scruffy isn't really on for healthcare where being clean matters! However, most people would wear clean clothes to an interview and are of a clean appearance - so just choose something comfortable and presentable.

The soundest advice is that you don't want the interviewers to remember you for what you wore: you want them to remember you for what you said. You shouldn't go over the top. Clothes you would expect to wear at work in the job you're training for are fine. Clothes you would wear if you were going into a more formal business role should be fine. Something you would wear at a wedding probably isn't fine. Something you would wear for a hen night definitely isn't.

The things that are guaranteed to annoy interviewers are excessively short skirts (especially without tights) and low-cut tops or tight shirts/blouses gaping between the buttons. Even jeans & a baggy jumper wouldn't cause as much outrage as these do.

Guidance from KCL for medical school applicants:

“As we are seeking to identify your suitability for a clinical environment, we expect our interviewees to adopt the dress code required of clinical medical students at King's”

DD wore smart black trousers, a jacket and blouse.