Proper Attire for MBA Non-Interview Meeting

[athletics]

I have a personal Information Session at a top 25 MBA program in two weeks. This is a 30 minute meeting, not an interview, with a representative from the program. What would be proper attire?

I want to give the right impression, but don't want to over do it.

 

[Tarmac]

The Official MBA Uniform is a collared long sleeve shirt, sport coat, and either jeans or slacks. Add the douchey pair of dress shoes of your choosing.

If the weather is hot you can lose the sport coat and roll up your sleeves.

You can also wear a suit if you want to pretend you just got off of a job which requires a suit. You won't be overdressed because there will be other people there who actually have a job which requires a suit.

 

[Joffrey]

I say just wear a suit.

 

[Concordia]

Just wear a boring suit. Not a big deal, and if the rep from the program dresses up you won't feel like a dork.

 

[athletics]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

The Official MBA Uniform is a collared long sleeve shirt, sport coat, and either jeans or slacks. Add the douchey pair of dress shoes of your choosing.

If the weather is hot you can lose the sport coat and roll up your sleeves.

You can also wear a suit if you want to pretend you just got off of a job which requires a suit. You won't be overdressed because there will be other people there who actually have a job which requires a suit.

I try and go out of my way to avoid any douchbaggery.

 

[Fuuma]

Wear pants, pantless people don't get much respect. Keep sexual organ inside pants for added points.

 

[Agnacious]

You really can't go wrong with a suit.

If this is a pre-application information session or a post acceptance orientation session, then business casual will be acceptable. Wool pants, collared shirt (conservative, not nightclub) etc. That is what I saw most people appeared in.

You could always call the university and ask.

Whatever you do, don't wear a suit with no tie. In my opinion this says you made a conscious effort to be more casual than the situation, and your position, (as a candidate) warrants.

 

[Tarmac]

I've been to many of these MBA informational sessions and people are dressed very casually. Less than 1/4 of people are wearing any kind of sportcoat, suit or not.

 

[Southern Beau]

Yes, yes, suit. I know it has been said but there is the odd chance they might have you sit in on a class. We had some prospective MBAs grace on of our classes last year and one guy was wearing a polo tucked into his khakis for the interview. Granted admitted students classroom attire is business casual but it left enough of an impression on everyone that several people mentioned to our program admissions that we don't want people in the program that don't present themselves seriously. Leave nothing to chance.

 

[oscarthewild]

Nothing too fancy, nothing too rotten. Remember if you are good, you are interviewing them too. See how they and your prospective fellow students behave. Isn't networking a big reason for going to a good school?

Friend (went to HBS) wore camel hair blazer with button down sans tie, decent polished shoes for most of his meeting prior and during his time there. Wore a suit for the interviews and presentations.

 

[vinshter]

I went to these dressed pretty sloppily in jeans and flip-flops... and I got into school. It's an opportunity to meet the people who work at the program, but I don't think it affects your chances of getting into a program at all.

 

[fredfred]

You wear a suit because you just came directly from a mtg with some VP at a bank that is interested in hiring you. Maybe you'll go with the bank position. Maybe you'll go with the MBA school and work part time consulting to help pay for the MBA school.

Just hope the guy doesn't know people who work at the bank. Maybe it's a guy from a bank in some far away town... or the head of one of the banks in Charlotte. Or some hotel operator from Las Vegas who's in town looking for smart business people.

Whatever fits your style.

 

[JayJay]

suit or blazer and tie

 

[dirk diggler]

wear a bowtie

 

[mbc]

Dress shirt and slacks should be fine. I always thought the prospective students that came to our classes in suits were overdoing it a bit. Then again, I got my MBA in Southern California where most full-time MBA students wear polo shirts and jeans or shorts to class unless they have an interview or something.