how to dress for graduate school meeting?

[deranged]

Hi guys, I need some advice please:

I am handing in my applications for an accounting MBA program i'm applying to tomorrow.
The person in charge of the applications is currently out of town and instead I will be meeting with the assistant director of the program. I have been in communication with her through emails and phone calls for the past 4-5 months while putting my application together.
I have never met her personally and I was wondering how I should dress. If I went in a full suit, would I be overdressing? I want to make a good impression because she is on the panel that will ultimately decide if i will be accepted.

Is there such thing as overdressing in this instance?
I plan on handing her my application and asking her a few quick questions on the program, probably no more than 10-15 minutes.

Your advice is appreciated.

 

[Flambeur]

Jacket at the very least, and no, full suit wouldn't be overdressing for a graduate business program. Now if this was a LA&S program, that's a different thing.

I'd do a suit.

 

[deranged]

Okay, i was leaning towards a suit too. Just needed someone to agree with me.

I'm thinking of a tailored fit dark charcoal-gary suit, solid blue shirt, black dress shoes.
What colour tie should I do with that? Is a fat tie or a slim tie (not skinny) more appropriate?

 

[phildo]

I think wearing a full suit is overdressing for just handing in an application, if it was an interview it would be different. Plus its supposed to be like 43 tomorrow with the humidex. I'd just wear a button down, trousers, and dress shoes.

 

[Mountains]

Originally Posted by Flambeur

Now if this was a LA&S program, that's a different thing.

Yeah, my first thought was "t-shirt, jeans, maybe close-toed shoes if you want to be really formal".

 

[JayJay]

You don't need to wear a suit to hand in an application, not even for a B-school. It won't hurt, but it's definitely not needed. A nice pair of pants, shirt, and shoes are more than adequate.

 

[Peak and Pine]

While a suit could be a bit much, go with it. It shows her you're sincerely serious about all this.

Remember too that, unlike a job interview where if you get it they pay you, in this case if you're successful, you're paying them. And so they may be already wanting you just as much as you're wanting them. And no fat tie, not even at a fat tie guy convention.

 

[redzapper]

Definitely a jacket but a suit may be overkill. I suggest dialing it up a little bit from your curent dress code at work. If it is casual, wear a jacket and a tie. Since you've been communicating with them, I assume they know where you work etc. Show them your this-is-how-I-dress-for-work look....dressed up of course

Show some business savvy - don't show them that you overdressed for the occasion.

 

[onix]

Just business casual, not suit needed.