University Interview - Medicine -What to wear?

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DS1 is wondering what he should wear to his forthcoming university interviews to study medicine? (Asuming of course he gets some interviews.)

Deputy Headmaster says cheap shiny dark suit, white shirt and conservative tie. I think it's a bit middle management estate agent yuk and will make him feel terribly uncomfortable and wrooong. He just wouldn't look himself (he'd ike to wear orange shorts and a t-shirt).

Dep Headmaster said my idea of a pair of smart navy moleskins, a v good smart shirt and a jumper (take tie in pocket and decide at last minute) is too Planter's Rig.

Please help him, lovely Mumsnetters as I have no idea.

I would say a suit and tie.

You really can't overdress by wearing a business suit, but you can underdress by wearing casual clothes. It's not worth the risk.

I also interview students (for a very competitive course but not medicine) and the candidates that I see wear a wide variety of styles/levels of smartness. I really don't think that anyone I've ever interviewed with has cared what a candidate has worn (although for girls, wearing short skirts, low cut tops etc is not wise especially as they often look fairly uncomfortable if the panel is all female!). I don't think I've seen any evidence that it affects success rates(even subconsciously) in the interviews I've been in. Certainly there are very good reasons not to be swayed by clothes as they are often indicative of the applicant's social/financial/parental background rather than ability or motivation.

It is much more important that he is comfortable in what he is wearing. For most candidates that usually involves something along the lines of shirt and smart trousers and perhaps a jacket and tie. If he is much more casual than his peers or is wearing something unusual he may feel as if he has stepped 'out of line'. Also it can be good to feel 'professional'. Having said that, I'd be wary of being too smart if he's not used to it. I've often felt sorry for candidates who look as if they have been starched into the obviously new suit that their parents have bought specially.

My advice on open days is always to go in what makes you most comfortable so you can focus on what is important.

I would suggest smart trousers and shirt would be fine.

Scholl is wrong not all university interviews require a suit and tie. When he gets his interviews the university will probably give him an idea what to wear. I know that when DD2 had audutions she was given a list of what to wear.

I went to a group university interview 2 years ago - 15 women in black suits and 1 in a fantastically bright dress - the latter looked the best, was the brightest student there and always dresses like that. So I'd agree with Catz - comfort in your clothes and something that stands out a little is good IMO. Always wearing a suit for an interview is a phenomenally 80s thing to do. Reminds me of my teachers telling me that no professional woman was allowed to wear trousers in the workplace .

Make sure he doesn't trip up on the way out of the interview - happened to dh at his Cambridge interview which he thinks otherwise went well, and he didn't get in!

But then he went to Edinburgh instead and met me, so not so bad overall!

(shirts, and tie and chinos sounds good to me!)

Hmm. Went to 5 med school interviews myself, then saw/guided around God knows how many interview groups over the next few years whilst at uni.

Can remember sbout 4 or 5 blokes in all those years not wearing a suit and tie, and they all looked absolutely petrified and embarrassed.

All subsequent job interviews - never seen a suit not worn.

I would say smart, dark coloured trousers, a decent shirt (but not white) and a tie if he wants. I would say 'no' to chinos and 'no' to a jumper.

Well you learn something new every day. The standard formal attire is suit, shirt, tie (maybe smart matching trousers & jacket instead of suit).
If it gets hot, then your senior officer may issue 'shirt sleeve orders'. This means that you may remove your jacket, remove your tie, undo your top button and roll up your sleeves (or wear a short-sleeved shirt).
'Planters rig' means remove jacket only i.e. tie stays on, top button done up and (long)sleeves not rolled up.

Planters rig does not have an apostrophe, per Cranfield.

Thank you all for your thoughts and experience. It seems the consensus is a suit and tie or a non matching jacket and tie.

I agree totally with Catz.

At our University, it honestly doesn't matter what you wear - the only important thing is that the student themself feels comfortable when they set off, and then that they continue to feel comfortable when they see the other interviewees. Trousers and a shirt is probably the best compromise for a lot of people (and they can always have a tie shoved in their pocket just in case they panic suddenly). But students can wear jeans and a t-shirt and have blue dreadlocks if that's what they feel comfortable in.

I wore the most bizarre (but highly, highly trendy) outfit for my interview and they still let me in

My DS did interviews last year, his was an arty subject and they were all very casual, mainly in jeans-I was glad that I hadn't got DS to wear a suit because he would have been really embarrassed. He was adamant he was wearing jeans-I just made sure that he looked a bit tidier than usual. However, medicine may be entirely different-I expect art students are supposed to look scruffy!!