Starting a Grad class today --- what to wear?

[dj-jd]

Should I wear a jacket or not, is the big question. And tie, or open colar?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Manton]

What field, what college?

Still, in all the graduate seminars I have attended, I can recall one teacher who wore a jacket. Students, never.

 

[rach2jlc]

I second what Manton has said.

If you are a student, I wouldn't unless I knew that it was expected. Probably most of your fellow students will be wearing jeans, shorts, or casual sportswear.

If you are the teacher, it's up to you. Wear what you want (just so long as it won't get you in trouble with your department head); that's part of the joy of being the teacher.

 

[greekonomist]

Dress casually. Good luck with your studies!

 

[dj-jd]

Thanks for the replies... however, I'm confused on what casual dress is for this situation. From what I've been reading, casual dress means coat. Short sleave dress shirt with slacks? Long sleave dress shirt with coat?

Thank you again,
J

 

[lee_44106]

T-shirt, shorts with frayed edges, and flip-flops always gets the job done!

 

[rach2jlc]

Are you a student? Have you seen how other students dress? Are they dressing in a jacket, tie, and slacks?

Really, we just mean dress casually... like jeans and a polo. Or, perhaps slacks and a button-front shirt. I don't think you need a jacket unless you know it is expected, or unless you want to look out of place and "reaching."

Also, how old are you? IN any grad class I've taken or taught, the only students wearing anything more formal than jeans and a polo were older/nontraditional students coming to class after working at an office for the day.

If you are a young guy and you show up to class in slacks, jacket, tie, etc... I think you are going to feel both overdressed and a little out of place.

Are you the teacher? If so, wear what you want or take a look at what your colleagues are wearing.

 

[philosophe]

Business casual and academic casual are totally different.

Academic casual runs the gamut from business casual (SC, shirt with collar, real shoes) to just out of the lab t-shirts and jeans.

FWIW, I've had more than one grad professor who wore jacket and tie to every class. In the humanities, no less.

As a professor, I try to dress a little better than usual for the first day, and I never wear jeans to class unless there's a snowstorm. Try to fit into the culture of your department/university.

 

[dj-jd]

Thanks all. Big help.

 

[lbcgav]

Lose the coat. Just wear what is comfortable for you. The dressiest students are the MBA students, only because they're usually coming directly from work. Don't worry, you won't be judged by what you wear.

Edit: Answered above.