Before interviews, internships, graduate school applications and recruiting cycles, there is the walk to class. Across Northwestern campus, some students choose to dress in ways that quietly foreshadow their futures.
In technical fields like engineering, some students prioritize style that is streamlined, practical outfits.
McCormick first-year Alex Wang hopes to pursue a career in either the engineering or scientific fields. Wang gravitates toward what he calls a “minimal, functional” look.
Quarter-zips in neutral tones, simple T-shirts, sneakers for the long distance across campus and jackets that can handle the Evanston wind. Wang’s goal is not to create an impression, but to be efficient.
“Applied math and engineering do emphasize clarity, efficiency, function and my clothing reflects those values through simplicity and purpose,” he said.
Weinberg sophomore Yoyo Lin said she hopes to break into the finance industry, specifically investment banking. She describes her daily style as “slightly minimalist,” focused on neutral colors and simple patterns.
While prioritizing a comfortable personal style, she said she is sure to wear her black blazer to her interviews to meet industry expectations.
For David Liu, a Weinberg first-year who plans to become a lawyer, fashion tends to be more formal. He regularly wears jeans and trench coats while layering more business-casual pieces.
“(I) hope to look as if I’m serious about what I’m doing, and I hope to feel serious about what I’m doing,” Liu said.
For Wang, dressing up is situational. He states that he only dresses up for presentations, research meetings or formal events usually requiring a formal look.
From his point of view, however, competence outweighs appearance in STEM spaces.
“For (the) STEM area, what really matters is if you can do your job,” Wang said.
Regarding finance, Lin said appearance is more important. Interviews, networking events and info sessions demand a polished, professional look — black blazers, tailored trousers and white shirts.
Still, she’s careful about the line between polished and performative. Flashy luxury brands or loud accessories can backfire, she said.
Unlike engineering culture, which focuses on efficiency and direct computational output, Liu views appearance as inseparable from professional credibility. In legal spaces/arenas, professional clothing is not optional, it is part of the job, Liu said.
“How you dress is the number one way everyone evaluates you as a lawyer — your clients, the judges, the juries,” he said.
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