I don’t understand a lot of things. This includes why vegetarianism is so hard, why people go vegan, why we still haven’t met the mother (but I love the show, so it’s totally OK), and why Syracuse is so bleeding cold. But one of the biggest things I don’t understand is why college students (especially juniors and seniors) wear sweatpants to class!
Syracuse University is in a very cold place. Sweatpants are often a very inviting idea, but there is almost always someone important on campus – visiting, giving a lecture, or even recruiting/hiring for jobs. Although the university is huge, each school also normally has an event going on – which means people are here to meet and greet. And since each school is relatively small, there is a high chance that you will bump into, or even meet, that day’s visitor. Also, professors are the key to building a larger network, and many are important people in the Syracuse University community – or even in Syracuse itself. My freshman “Introduction to Management” professor is the Assistant Dean of undergraduate programs at Whitman. I didn’t exactly want to see him while wearing sweatpants – it’s a bit embarassing. Plus, most professors at Syracuse have worked in their field before, and can refer you or even recommend you for a job. Do you really want them to remember you as “that bright girl who always wore sweatpants to class”? No! You want them to remember you as that put-together girl who would always answer questions and was ridiculously witty.
Also, wearing sweatpants to class gives others the impression that you just don’t care enough to put a bit of effort into your appearance. Sure, it’s so much easier to slap on a pair of sweats and run out, but it’s also pretty easy to lay out the next day’s outfit the night before. And nobody needs make up everyday – although makeup enhances beauty, everybody’s also naturally beautiful. Plus, there are so many comfortable and flattering clothing choices for women nowadays – yoga pants, skirts, dresses, even leggings (but only if under a short dress or really long shirt or sweater) – you don’t even need to only wear sweatpants “because they’re comfortable”.
Now that you’re in college, you should always dress to impress.
You never know who you may meet – especially here in Syracuse. You might bump into Mike Tirico (who’s coming next month), the worldwide creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi, the CEO of Aflac, or Playboy, or Tiffany’s & Co., or even Annie Leibovitz (who was here two years ago). There are almost always recruiters visiting, and our alumni come up so often that you never know when to expect them. These are all people who can help you in your future – either by giving you advice, or even offering to mentor you. Would you want to meet them looking like you just rolled out of bed, and only had time to put on sweatpants? Or would you rather meet them looking like a young professional (or at the very least, put-together)? Plus, you may meet a cute guy (or girl! I fully support LGBT rights!) in your next class.
The bottom line is, dress to impress. After all, you wouldn’t wear sweatpants to a formal, a party, an interview, or to dinner. So why wear them to class? Leave the sweats for the gym and games at the Dome, and look your best everywhere else.