Cute and Classy Ideas for What to Wear on a College Tour
This post is about what to wear on a college tour.
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College tours are one of the most helpful tools to help you figure out where you want to apply for college and what school you eventually want to attend.
They’re a great opportunity to learn about a school, but even more importantly, they give you the chance to make a good first impression.
You’ll probably take a walking tour of the school’s campus, which means when considering what to wear on a college tour, you need an outfit that’s comfortable, easy to move around in, and fitting for the local climate.
You might even meet up with a professor, do an interview, or audition! So, in addition to everything we mentioned before, your outfit also needs to be respectful and appropriate for an academic environment.
Picking an outfit that meets all of these criteria can seem a little daunting, but don’t worry!
We’ve rounded up our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about what to wear on a college visit. Plus, we’ve included some inspo to help you pick a college visit outfit that’s cute, comfy, and college-appropriate!
Here are Cute and Classy Ideas for What to Wear on a College Tour.
IDEAS FOR WHAT TO WEAR ON A COLLEGE TOUR
1. CUTE WALKING TOUR OUTFIT
If you’re going on a walking tour of campus, you’re going to want to wear a college visit outfit that’s comfy and easy to walk around in.
This outfit formula is a tried-and-true for a college walking tour.
If your tour is taking place in the spring or fall, a light sweater will keep you warm, but you won’t overheat, even after a ton of walking.
This pair of jeans is crisp and professional, but has slightly distressed and cropped hems to give it a little visual interest.
Finally, finish the look with a cute, comfy pair of sneakers, like these adorable bubblegum pink Converse!
The pink and white color combo is super trendy for this year, but if it’s a little too colorful for you, you can totally recreate the look with more neutral pieces!
Recreate it!
2. WALKING TOUR OUTFIT FOR COLD/RAINY WEATHER
If you’re visiting a school with a colder climate, especially during the fall or winter, you’re going to want to bundle up!
This outfit incorporates layers, so it’ll keep you warm, but it’s still cute, casual, and not too bulky.
A black turtleneck is always a classic. Layer it under a puffer jacket to shield you from the elements while walking around outside.
If you can find a beanie that matches your puffer, even better!
Finally, finish the outfit off with a pair of black boots, which will protect you from rain, ice, snow, and slush, but are still cute and comfortable to walk in.
Recreate it!
3. WALKING TOUR OUTFIT FOR HOT WEATHER
If your college tour is taking place during the summer or in a place with a hotter climate, it can be hard to pick an outfit that keeps you cool, but is still school appropriate.
This outfit incorporates shorts, but they’re slightly longer and look a little like trousers, which gives you a classier, more business casual look.
On top, a breezy white linen button down definitely gives collegiate vibes, but is still airy and breathable.
Finally, a pair of black sandals are cool, comfy, and easy to walk in, but still help pull your look together in a professional way.
Recreate it!
4. CUTE INTERVIEW/AUDITION OUTFIT
If you’re participating in an interview or audition, you’re definitely going to want to bust out your best business casual outfit.
Jeans can totally still work for this scenario. Just pick a more tailored pair with no rips or distressing, and accessorize with a black leather belt.
On top, layer an oversized blazer over a neutral t-shirt.
Finally, finish the outfit off with a cute pair of loafers or flats and some dainty, minimalist jewelry!
Recreate it!
DOES IT MATTER WHAT YOU WEAR ON A COLLEGE TOUR?
If you’re just going on a general campus walking tour, you don’t need to stress too much about what you’re wearing.
Just make sure that you show up wearing something clean, comfortable, and easy to walk around in.
However, if your college visit involves an interview, audition, or meeting with a professor, you might want to put a little more thought and effort into your outfit.
That doesn’t mean that you have to wear a suit and tie, just aim for an outfit that’s put-together, not too casual or revealing, but still comfortable.
For example, we wouldn’t recommend you show up to your interview in a crop top and cut-off jean shorts.
However, if you have a pair of rip-free jeans, cute sneakers or flats, and a school-appropriate t-shirt, blouse, or sweater, those are all great options.
The most important thing is that you wear an outfit that makes you feel confident in this new academic environment!
CAN I WEAR RIPPED JEANS ON A COLLEGE TOUR?
If you’re just going on a general admissions tour, where you walk around campus with a big group of potential applicants led by a tour guide, it’s definitely OK to dress a little more casually.
If you’re on this kind of college tour, we think it’s fine to wear ripped jeans. Of course, make sure the jeans are clean and not ripped in any risque places, like your butt.
However, if your college visit includes an interview or audition, we would err on the side of caution and avoid jeans with rips in them.
Instead, wear a pair of rip-free jeans. Or, you could even take your outfit a step further and take it in a more business casual direction with a pair of trousers.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS WEAR ON A COLLEGE TOUR?
College tours are much more about you than your parents.
So, our advice about what your parents should wear is pretty minimal.
If they’re going on a walking tour with you, we’d also recommend that they wear something comfortable, easy to walk in, appropriate for the local weather, and not too revealing or risque.
Again, it’s totally fine for them to wear more casual clothing items, like sneakers, jeans, and t-shirts.
As long as you feel like their clothes are appropriate for a school environment, it’s OK for them to wear it!
IS IT OK TO WEAR SHORTS ON A COLLEGE TOUR?
Like our advice on ripped jeans, our advice about wearing shorts on a college tour depends on what kind of tour you’ll be taking.
It’s OK to wear a pair of shorts on a college campus walking tour, especially if it’s the summertime or you’re in a place with a hot climate.
However, we’d recommend you avoid wearing shorts that are super short, ripped, or overly casual, like workout shorts.
If you’re attending a faculty meeting, interview, or audition during your college tour, we’d stick with pants or a midi- or maxi-length skirt or dress, not a pair of shorts.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING TO YOUR COLLEGE VISIT?
If you’re going on a college visit, here are a few of the things we recommend bringing with you.
If you know you’re going to be walking around campus for a while, remember to bring a water bottle in case you get thirsty in the middle of the tour.
You’re also going to want to bring a notebook and something to write with so that you can take notes about the school and jot down any questions that come to mind.
You also might want to pack a little makeup bag with a compact mirror, comb, mints, and lip balm or lip gloss, especially if you’ll be meeting with professors or admissions officers one-on-one.
Finally, put it all in a cute backpack or tote bag!
If you’re just beginning the college admissions process, it can be hard to figure out what to wear on a college tour. Don’t sweat it! These college visit outfits are all the perfect balance of cute, comfy, and college-appropriate, so you can put your best foot forward no matter whether you’re interviewing, auditioning, or just getting to know campus.
