Grad School Attire

[Texastyle]

I start grad school at Texas A&M in the fall and I'm unsure of what to expect for a dress code. I want to look professional but not look like I am trying too hard. I have a few suits for more formal occasions but I have no idea what to expect for day to day wear. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[landshark]

I think boots, blue jeans, camouflage t shirt, and A&M hat is the standard dress for College Station.

I really wish I was kidding.

 

[Texastyle]

I know that's true for undergrad but I'm hoping its a little dressier for grad school. It's for public administration if that helps.

 

[landshark]

If you wore anything more than dress shoes, a button down collar shirt, and dress slacks at A&M you would probably stick out. That being said, when I visited there I wore a 3 piece suit

However, I don't have to live there. If you want to dress nice, a sportcoat with a nice shirt, trousers, and shoes will fit the bill just fine. I am all for wearing ties, but College Station is not the place for them.

 

[Texastyle]

Thank you! I just bid on a great looking sport coat so that advice sounds great.

 

[GBR]

Originally Posted by Texastyle

I know that's true for undergrad but I'm hoping its a little dressier for grad school. It's for public administration if that helps.

It makes little difference and changing status grad versus undergrad does not imply any reason why your outlook on clothes should change. Enjoy being young while you can.

 

[Oleg]

Originally Posted by GBR

It makes little difference and changing status grad versus undergrad does not imply any reason why your outlook on clothes should change. Enjoy being young while you can.

This. No harm in smartening up a wee bit but you're still at college.
I would expect GBR's sound advice to be lost in an avalanche of posts from 20 year olds who've been wearing bespoke suits to class since High School.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Texastyle

I know that's true for undergrad but I'm hoping its a little dressier for grad school.
It's not. If anything, it's worse.

 

[Gibonius]

There's almost no difference in dress between grad school and undergrad in most programs. Some people will throw on a decent shirt when they have to teach; I never saw a single person wearing a sport coat.


The foreign students can be hilarious. One girl wore almost all Playboy branded clothing, one guy apparently had taken his fashion cues from Walker Texas Ranger. Kind of scary to think that this is what "American culture" looks like from overseas.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by GBR

It makes little difference and changing status grad versus undergrad does not imply any reason why your outlook on clothes should change. Enjoy being young while you can.
This, for the most part, is sound advice. That said, when I was in b-school, I tried to avoid looking ratty, as did most of my serious classmates.

 

[shonuf323]

When I went to grad school a few years after undergrad, I had the same notion that I needed to dress up for class. This, however, is a myth.

The only people who were "dressed up" were the people that were coming from work, the other people wore what they would normally wear. Some looked like slobs others looked well put together, but no one was wearing suits and sport coats unless there was a need to.

 

[Yachting Man]

American university campus attire is casual no matter what year you're in. (excluding the ivy's but they're pretty casual as well)

Keep it casual. I wouldn't go any further than:

Shirt, khakis, dress shoes (nothing too formal)

 

[marg]

just don't look homeless and you will be fine.

to stand out (in a positive way), picture an outfit or look that would make a great impression on you if someone else wore it. wear that. more importantly, act mature and friendly; you never know who you will work with/for in the future, and you want to make connections everywhere you can.

 

[facet]

Originally Posted by Gibonius

The foreign students can be hilarious. One girl wore almost all Playboy branded clothing,
That sounds hot.

 

[smc]

Originally Posted by marg

just don't look homeless and you will be fine.

And, even this isn't a hard and fast rule.

In my experience as a Physics grad, this strip says it all.

When I wear a button down and jeans, people think I'm going for interviews.

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/arch...p?comicid=1147