What to Wear on a Graduate School Visit

Hello, friends! How’s your week going? Since we are in the process of preparing for prospective students to visit our research lab this week, I thought I would share my thoughts on picking out the perfect outfit to wear on a graduate school visit.

When it comes to graduate school, I’ve had a lot of experience with school visits and making first impressions with advisors. I’ve actually been through the process twice now–I did my M.S. at Texas A&M and now I’m pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

I know from experience that if you are going through the process of choosing the right graduate school (or even just thinking about applying for the next year), you’ve probably got a million + one questions rolling around in your head. And I’d actually love to write another post about why I chose the schools I did and what I think are the most important things to look for, so if you’ve got questions leave ’em in the comments below or feel free to shoot me an email.

In the meantime, let’s talk about what to wear to a graduate school visit, since I know these visits can seem a little daunting when you don’t know what to expect.

When it comes to graduate school visits, it’s all about first impressions and making the right connections with people, whether they be a potential advisor, an administrator, or another student you might work with. All of these interactions are important, so don’t take any of them for granted. These visits are all about exposure and finding out if you are a good fit for the program, as well as if the program is a good fit for you.

For first impressions, I think it is really important to look and feel your best. When meeting with faculty and students on campus, I would definitely recommend wearing business professional attire that makes you look well put-together and ready for all the challenges that graduate school will inevitably throw your way.

That being said, I don’t think you have to hide behind a boxy suit that swallows your figure. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, I’m not afraid to show off, and quite honestly, fully embrace the fact that I’m a female engineer. Now, this doesn’t mean to show lots of skin or wear exceedingly tight clothing. You still need to be professional and show that you can be taken seriously in this field. Think confident, powerful, go-getter. For me, this means wearing a fitted skirt and fun colors that speak to my personality.

Being different and standing out doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I am a firm believer that it is our differences, not our similarities, that enable us to have unique perspectives and to approach unsolved problems in new and novel ways. And that’s really what makes engineering, and really any job, fun and exciting, no?

And your outfit is more than something to impress others by, it’s also something to make you feel your best too. If you don’t feel confident in your skin and what you are wearing, it will show in your body language and make the process 10x more difficult than if you could just relax and be yourself. The visit it already a little nerve-wracking, no? No need to make it any more stressful for yourself.

For me, I feel most confident in feminine tailored- cuts and bright colors. That means a classic pencil skirt with a simple cami and cardigan over top. I love putting unexpected color combinations together that really speak to my bubbly personality and excitement for the field (of space exploration).

And while I am all about showing your own unique, funky personality, I also know that you don’t want to go too crazy either. It is a graduate school visit after all. It’s a balance, right? So for this look (which is the exact one I wore this time last year on my own visits), I balanced out the brighter colors of my skirt and cardigan with a black cami and other black details that brought the look back to a more professional setting. And if you aren’t as out there with colors as me, you could just as easily pair this red skirt and black cami with a camel colored cardigan, or another neutral color or pattern.

For a subtle, albeit nerdy detail I added an astronomy-inspired gold necklace and paired it with my favorite gold watch. I also added a fun jeweled bangle to tie in the colors with the gold pieces.

I definitely think less is more when it comes to adding jewelry to a professional look. You wouldn’t want to add a statement piece to this outfit and distract from what you are there to do. Let your personality and excitement be your statement pieces for the day!

And while I think it’s a great idea to bring along flats for any campus walking tours you may do, I wore heels to my meetings with professors. There’s just something about them that makes me walk a little taller and feel more confident when I’m in them. I chose these pumps because they have a smaller heel than most and come in a classic black color.

I also think it’s a great idea to bring a larger (but not huge) bag, like this black crossbody purse, for the visit so that you can stash any pamphlets and/or maps you get throughout the day. I’d also bring along a little notepad and pen in case you want to jot down any notes or questions you think of throughout the day. I don’t travel anywhere without mine.

And other than that, the only thing you should remember is to wear your smile! As cheesy as that sounds, you wouldn’t believe how far a little smile can get you when making first impressions. People are much more likely to want to talk and have a relationship with someone who is fun and easy to talk to. And a smile is the handshake you have before the real one. So have fun, be yourself, and be open to meeting new people and forming new connections on these visits. It’s all about finding out if this program is the right fit for YOU. Don’t be afraid to really put yourself out there even if you are apprehensive about it. Even if you don’t end up going with this school, chances are you will work with these people in your field at some point in your career. And think of the head start you can have if you form relationships with them now, right?! So get after it, girl. You can do this!

Are any of you going on a graduate school visit soon? I’d love to know where you’re looking and what questions you may have!

Photos by Outside Ourselves

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Get the Look…

Top: J. Crew Factory | Cardigan: J. Crew Factory | Skirt: J. Crew Factory | Heels: Antonio Melani | Purse: Fossil (similar here, here) | Necklace: Loft | Bracelet: J. Crew (similar here, here) | Watch: Fossil | Lips: Revlon (certainly red)