Looking the Part: What to Wear to Your College Interview

There are myriad circumstances in your life where you may have to dress for a certain role. You might be on a sports team, in which you wear your jersey the day of an important game. Maybe you’re having dinner with your grandparents so you put on some clean, ironed pants and a nice shirt. Or maybe you’re all dolled up and headed to the prom. Different circumstances call for different attire, and when you near the end of your high school career, you’ll enter new territory in this regard. There will be special events, graduation and graduation parties, and of course, college interviews. Preparing for interviews can be stressful. You are probably busy thinking about how to answer possible interview questions, planning how you’ll frame your unique experiences and communicate who you really are. You might be so busy thinking about what you’ll say and talk about during the interview that you don’t spend much time anticipating what you’ll wear to the actual interview. It can be hard to decide what to wear to a college interview, especially if you’ve never interviewed for something similar. In this post, we’ll outline how you can play the part so that you make a positive first impression and show that you are serious about your college ambitions. Because many students spend time stressing about how to dress for interviews, some colleges now specify the appropriate attire. If you interview confirmation specifically states that you may dress casually, you should do so, assuming that you aren’t wearing any ripped clothing or inappropriate logos. But if your interview confirmation specifics business casual or doesn’t offer any insight at all, keep reading. With our top tips for how to dress and prepare yourself outwardly for the college interview, you’ll be able to let your mouth do the talking, not any flaws or missteps in your appearance.   You will need to choose clothes that look business appropriate. These are the kinds of things you would wear to a formal class presentation if you wanted to make a really positive impression. Your clothing should be modest and simple, but clean and crisp. A good general rules of thumb is, if you wouldn’t wear it to a family dinner with your grandfather, don’t wear it to an interview. What does this entail exactly? You don’t need a full suit or anything, but you should at least look clean and put-together. Try to avoid any large brand logos on your clothing and certainly avoid jeans or t-shirts. If you’re a boy, you should consider wearing dress pants or khaki pants paired with a collared shirt. Be sure to tuck your shirt in and wear a belt so that your pants fit snugly and no undergarments are visible. If you’re a girl, you should consider wearing dress pants or a knee-length skirt or dress. Pair these with a simple blouse or business appropriate sweater. Be sure that none of your undergarments are visible through your clothes.   Your shoes should be appropriate and polished. You should not wear any sneakers, platforms, or high heels over 3†. Make sure that your shoes are not exceptionally scuffed or worn. If you don’t already have a pair of nice, professional shoes, now is the time to invest in a pair. You will need them beyond the interview for jobs and other events in college.   Be sure to leave most of your fashion accessories at home or in the car. You should not wear or bring any sunglasses or hats to the interview. These types of accessories are more likely to distract attention from what you have to say. The same is true of piercings. If possible you should remove all visible piercings except for earrings. If you do wear earrings, or any other jewelry, it should be modest and not distracting. Hopefully this goes without saying, but you don’t want to show up for the interview with last night’s pizza on your chin or the stench of yesterday’s workout lingering under your arms. Be mindful of arriving for the interview having recently showered, brushed your teeth, and used deodorant. This shows that you have planned ahead and taken it seriously. Beyond that, be careful not to apply too much perfume or cologne before your interview. For people who are not used to the smell, it can be overpowering and/or unpleasant. Some people are even allergic to strong perfumes. If you do choose to wear perfume or cologne, just a small amount will suffice. Again, your outward appearance should convey that you are taking the interview seriously and are respectful of the process. You should look composed, but not over-the-top. For girls, makeup should be natural and light. Don’t wear bright lipsticks, eyeshadows, or anything else that might distract from what you have to say.   For boys, make sure to shave or trim your facial hair. Having a beard or a mustache is of course fine, but it should be well-kept. Remember that your facial hair is an indication of your care and preparation. Even if you normally wear it ungroomed, you should trim and groom for this occasion. Estimating your chance of getting into a college is not easy in today’s competitive environment. Thankfully, with our state-of-the-art software and data, we can analyze your academic and extracurricular profile and estimate your chances. Make sure to iron your clothes before the interview. Even completely appropriate attire will appear unprofessional if you arrive with it wrinkled. If you are traveling from afar and won’t have the opportunity to change into your interview clothes after you arrive, be sure to bring a wrinkle release spray. Practice using it at home. Mist your clothes from a distance, smooth out wrinkles with your hands, and allow the spray to dry. Also think about small impressions, such as the watch or the socks that you’re wearing. If they don’t fit the part, leave them at home. Top it all off with a conservative hairstyle. There’s no need for mohawks or wild colors for this event. Remember, again, that you want the focus to be on you and what you have to say, not on what you’re wearing or how you’ve done your hair. Despite wearing clothes that are outside of your normal wardrobe, try to feel comfortable in what you choose for the interview. Make sure that everything fits comfortably so that you won’t be adjusting your clothing or distracted by it during the interview. Also, try to stay true to yourself even if you’re wearing something out of the ordinary. There are plenty of methods to incorporate your own sense of style in subtle ways that won’t overpower the rest of your image. A small piece of jewelry, a scarf, or cufflinks are some ideas.   Remember, this is a college interview and your interviewers expect a high school student to walk in the door. They are not looking for a lawyer or a CEO. There is no need for a complete three-piece suit unless that’s what makes you feel most comfortable. Similarly, if you don’t normally wear high heels, today is not the day to try them out for the first time. Your interview attire should be something that makes you feel comfortable and composed while conveying that you take the process seriously and are respectful of the institution and the interviewers. There’s no need to spend lots of money on expensive clothing. A few polished staples that you can reuse for other events will do just fine. Finally, don’t forget that no matter what you choose to wear, it won’t have any impact if you can’t complete the image by backing it up through your own actions. Your body language is just as important a part of your outward appearance as anything you’re wearing. When you walk into the interview, even if you are feeling nervous, put a smile on your face, make eye contact, and shake hands with a firm grip. As you do so, introduce yourself and thank your interviewer(s) for having with you. At the end of the interview, do the same and thank the interviewer(s) for their time. Tell them that you’ve enjoyed speaking with them and look forward to exploring your options at their institution. This advice might seem overwhelming if you feel like you don’t look the part of the aspiring college student. Maybe you have some visible tattoos or piercings that can’t be removed. Maybe your wild hairstyle or color can’t be changed, or perhaps you just can’t get through the interview without your fluorescent pink plaid lucky socks. If this is the case for you, don’t worry; this isn’t the end of the world. If there is a glaringly obvious component to your appearance that seems unusual or even out of place, relax. You won’t be the first interviewee to present an unusual image. Rather than allowing it to be the elephant in the room, bring it up during the interview as a talking point. The interview is meant to get to know you better as a candidate and what better way than discussing how your appearance reflects who you are? Be confident in yourself and offer some insight so that the interview committee isn’t left wondering.       College interviews can be a stressful time, especially if you’re about to have your first one. Remember that if you prepare ahead, remain true to yourself, and go into the interview with confidence, you will put your best foot forward. There are few opportunities in life where you get to talk so much about yourself, and it can feel awkward at first, but with some practice and a little reminder to be yourself, the interview process can be comfortable and even fun. If you are nearing college interview time and you need some more help preparing, whether it’s choosing your attire or preparing your talking points, consider our ’s Mentorship Program , which provides practical advice on topics from high school activities and college applications to career aspirations, all from successful college students who have been in your shoes.

The growth of Gulliver's madness in Part IV of Gulliver's Travels Essay

The growth of Gulliver's madness in Part IV of Gulliver's Travels - Essay Example He descends further into madness because he cannot (and does not want to) think clearly. Indeed, Gulliver’s madness is a result of pride that is founded in disception. Gulliver refuses to accept the truth about his race because it means accepting the truth about who he is. He would rather live a liar and in deception. Discussion Gulliver’s madness started when he becomes unable to control events. His madness started slowly and with his interaction with the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos. In a sense, his madness is the result of his inability to accept and discern what he has encountered. He knows what is happening but he cannot make real sense of it other than wants he wants. Gulliver’s madness becomes evident when he begins to think of his own â€Å"kind† as less than acceptable. His interaction with the Houyhnhnms makes Gulliver to admire them greatly. He tells us that their ideas and viewpoints â€Å"opened my eyes and enlarged my understanding, that I bega n to view the actions and passions of man in a very different light† (250). He admires the Houyhnhnms and, as a result, begins to despise anything else, including those of his own race. The fact that Gulliver wants to be accepted as a Houyhnhnm is also an indication that he is slipping into insanity. Gulliver believes, â€Å"the Yahoos . . . were observed to be the most unteachable of all brutes† (227). Indeed, Gulliver belittles himself when he belittles the Yahoos. Gulliver knows what he is but believes that he can change because of the Yahoos repulsive nature. Gulliver is an example of what can happen to us when we allow our minds to become clouded and refuse to think for ourselves. Gulliver loves the Houyhnhnms and essentially begins to hero-worship them. For example, as he continues to stay with them, he begins to think of his friends, family, and the â€Å"human race in general† (272), as â€Å"Yahoos in shape and disposition† (272). It should come a s no surprise then, when Gulliver’s master tells him that he is considered to be a Yahoo that his mind snaps. His master has no choice but to â€Å"employ† (273) Gulliver like the â€Å"rest of his species† (273) and orders him to â€Å"swim back† (273) to the place from which he came. Because Gulliver has already disassociated himself from the Yahoos and his own race, this news is unacceptable and too much to live with. Gulliver has already gone too far in his appreciation of the Houyhnhnms and cannot go back to the way things were. Gulliver thinks too much of himself to consider life as a Yahoo. Further evidence of Gulliver’s madness can be seen in his thoughts regarding Don Pedro of whom he considered â€Å"like an animal which had some little portion of reason† (281). Gulliver does not want to return home to those that he considered Yahoos. When he does return home, he brings himself to â€Å"tolerate the sight of yahoos† (284). H ere we see how Gulliver’s has taken him over because he does not consider himself a Yahoo but better than them and the ultimate sign of his diseased mind is when he considered that fact that by mating with one of the Yahoos and fathering more of them causes him the â€Å"utmost shame, confusion, and horror† (284). He does want to touch the Yahoos and admits that he cannot â€Å"endure my wife or children in my presence; the very smell of them was intolerable†

Ethical Dilemma Executive Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical Dilemma Executive Summary - Essay Example It is something which is very common in public sector and law enforcement firms, yet as a responsible citizen and police officer it is my duty to take necessary actions to stop this practice. As I am transferred to the current police department only recently, I must not show impatience in reporting the misconduct done by any colleague/police officer. I will secretly collect necessary facts and gather the past records of that officer on my own. I will wait till the time I have strong evidence that supports my claim. However, since that officer has strong connections and has established goodwill and PR among influential people while on the other hand, I have not yet built the integrity and trust which is required to challenge an experienced officer. Therefore, in this case I have several options: I will find out the name and designation of his immediate supervisor or the person whom he reports to; and I will quietly collect his/her views about bribery. I can send an anonymous letter to the internal affairs office of the police department which is responsible to carry out investigation about any misconduct or police abuse. Many countries have state police posts that can be used to report the cases of corruption. However, in case there is extreme violation of law, I will have to take serious actions by reporting anonymously to public safety board which deals with officer’s disciplinary actions and police corruption. Otherwise, I will try to find local FBI near my department from their official website i.e. http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm. If the issue is not yet resolved then I will write an anonymous letter to the editor of the local newspaper and will send him/her the police disciplinary records because when media is involved serious efforts are made by concerned authorities to investigate the claims of corruption and breach of employment code of conduct. The professional implications of police reporting can be very serious especially when one is repo rting against some big fishes of the police department. In such situation following consequences may occur: If my name is revealed, my job will be at risk or perhaps I will be transferred to some other department/city. I may receive threats and the security of my family can be endangered. Police officer can send me behind the bars by putting false accusations against me or due to some false disciplinary charges. There are two ways to deal with these consequences; first is to report the corruption claims to the most trusted authority that ensures that my identity will not be revealed under any circumstance. Second condition is to challenge on the basis of strong evidence, public support and recordings of victims. Some countries use the tactic of â€Å"mystery audit† in which some senior police officials or people from investigating agencies disguise as common people and go to the police department for filing a complaint. They talk to the officers who are the suspects of corrup tion and create a situation of offering bribe or gifts. If officer(s) accept the bribe then the suspect is caught red handed. This method is very successful for conducting unbiased investigation. On the other hand, the liabilities of not reporting such acts are much greater than the consequences of reporting those acts. When an officer breaches the law, its impacts are not seen on the individual or departmental level only, rather it affects the whole system. The rights of the