What to wear to the dental school interview for both ladies and gentlemen
I had no idea what to wear to my first pre-dental interview. As a lady, I felt that I had more choices than men, which meant that I had to worry about what color suit, what kind of suit (skirt or pant) and how I was going to pick out the proper shoes. Below you'll find what I saw people wearing at the dental school Interview Day (both the good and bad) and what I chose to wear.
Keep in mind that you'll be interviewed by an older audience made of dentists. So, dress conservatively and respectfully. You're trying to get on their good side, so imagine what they'd like to see.
Ladies: skirt suit or pants suit for the dental school interview?
This one depends entirely on your personal preference. Some people are more conservative and want to wear pants. Some are trying to exude a classy yet feminine vibe. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure its tailored to fit right and really properly fits YOU and YOUR personality.
On Interview Day, I chose to wear a skirt suit because I wanted to show off a LITTLE bit of skin and I felt really good about my outfit. I will tell you, most women I saw in my interview round were wearing skirt suits. I wanted to be distinct from the gentlemen in the room, thus a skirt suit was my pick.
I mean it, do whatever makes you feel more confident. The school will not judge you based on whether you wear a skirt or pant suit, but they WILL judge you whether you took the time and effort to get your suit properly fitted.
On Interview Day, I chose to wear a skirt suit because I wanted to show off a LITTLE bit of skin and I felt really good about my outfit. I will tell you, most women I saw in my interview round were wearing skirt suits. I wanted to be distinct from the gentlemen in the room, thus a skirt suit was my pick.
I mean it, do whatever makes you feel more confident. The school will not judge you based on whether you wear a skirt or pant suit, but they WILL judge you whether you took the time and effort to get your suit properly fitted.
Gentlemen: the tie and jacket debate
In my personal experience, every gentleman in my interview cohort was wearing a tie and jacket during the entire interview process. I would suggest a neck tie and NOT a bow tie as the former, in my opinion, looks more professional. The bow ties were generally worn by the Admissions Committee, so I'd say pick the neck tie.
The Tie: Do not choose a loud pattern. This is not a time to show off your incredible sense of fashion, but rather a time to look polished. The tie should also be darker than your button down colored shirt.
Bottom line: You want to stand out by how good you look in your professional clothes and NOT how bold your fashion sense is.
The Tie: Do not choose a loud pattern. This is not a time to show off your incredible sense of fashion, but rather a time to look polished. The tie should also be darker than your button down colored shirt.
Bottom line: You want to stand out by how good you look in your professional clothes and NOT how bold your fashion sense is.
For everyone: what color suit?
I had no idea what color suit to wear, but luckily I had some friends to shed light on the topic. Here's my top suggestions in the order of preference:
1. Navy Blue
2. Charcoal
3. Gray
4. Black
5. White suit if you Interview Day is in Miami (JK, absolutely avoid this!)
Try to avoid wearing the black suit if you can as it comes off as very formal, official, or like you're dressing for a funeral. That said, if you have limited resources and already have a black suit, pair it with a lighter color tie.
1. Navy Blue
2. Charcoal
3. Gray
4. Black
5. White suit if you Interview Day is in Miami (JK, absolutely avoid this!)
Try to avoid wearing the black suit if you can as it comes off as very formal, official, or like you're dressing for a funeral. That said, if you have limited resources and already have a black suit, pair it with a lighter color tie.
For everyone: what shirt to wear under the jacket?
Ladies
I would strongly suggest trying to find a shirt that is white, cream, or ivory - it's the safest color and matches everything.
Some ladies wore a button down colored shirt, others wore something with a little more flare to it. I chose the latter because I felt the button down was a little too masculine.
Some ladies wore a button down colored shirt, others wore something with a little more flare to it. I chose the latter because I felt the button down was a little too masculine.
Gentlemen
Stick to a solid white or light blue button down collar shirt. If your shirt has a pattern, choose a solid colored tie. Make sure to iron it the night before to ensure it's wrinkle-free.
for everyone: what shoes should i wear?
Ladies
This is a time for heels. Wearing flats makes you look like you're not taking the day as seriously as you could, or that you're just looking to be comfortable. Black heels will match all of the above mentioned suit colors.
Gentlemen
This is NOT a time for loafers. They need to be shined, so that limits you to leather (or at least leather-like). You don't need to be an expert shoe-shiner, but go to the department store and get a shoe shiner kit. Worst case, get some olive oil and rub it over your shoe. They need to be lace up and MUST match your belt.
Black dress shoes will match any of the above suit colors. Remember, no brown shoes with the black suit.
For the socks, get the dress socks. Do not choose the athletic socks as they will shoe through your tailored suit when you sit down or cross your legs. This is the ONLY place in your suit where you can express some personality. You'll have formed a good first impression in wearing an appropriate suit, so add a bit of spice with some brighter colored pattern socks. Try to keep it in the same color scheme of your suit (Blue suit=light blue pattered socks).
Black dress shoes will match any of the above suit colors. Remember, no brown shoes with the black suit.
For the socks, get the dress socks. Do not choose the athletic socks as they will shoe through your tailored suit when you sit down or cross your legs. This is the ONLY place in your suit where you can express some personality. You'll have formed a good first impression in wearing an appropriate suit, so add a bit of spice with some brighter colored pattern socks. Try to keep it in the same color scheme of your suit (Blue suit=light blue pattered socks).
For everyone: Accessories
Ladies
These include: earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces. I would suggest pearl earrings and one ring. Bracelets are distracting, especially if you talk with your hands. Necklaces will also be distracting and hard to see if you are wearing a suit.
Gentlemen
These include: cuff links, tie clips, pocket squares. If you already know how to use these, go for it. Be warned, if you don't have prior experience, it'll always be safe to leave them out.
Now that you've got the outfit, find out
What to Bring to Your Interview and What To Expect on the Dental Interview Day!
What to Bring to Your Interview and What To Expect on the Dental Interview Day!