The stereotypical image of a university student is someone who has just rolled out of bed and has barely made it to class. And as university student, you have all had mornings when you wake up late and only have time to grab our bags and go to class.
Part of this image is clothing choice. Now the main argument is function versus comfort. Is it more important to be comfortable or functional? I say that it is much more important to be functional. When a person dresses up or looks presentable, he gets much more respect. As the old saying goes, “Dress for the job or career you want to have.”
One example is professionals. For instance, if your teacher wears shorts and a T-shirt to class, he or she isn’t going to be taken as seriously as if he or she dressed in slacks and a button-down.
The same thing can be said for students. If a student shows up in sweatpants, he or she can expect to be taken less seriously. The phrase “look good to feel good” comes to mind. Appearance is something engrained into our society. Part of the reason people go to the gym, read fashion magazines and take showers is because appearance matters and makes a difference in how people see you and how you see yourself. However, there’s more to the argument for why what you wear matters.
A February study by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology shows that how you dress affects not just how people perceive you, but your own cognitive processes. If you wear a certain type of clothing, and know what that clothing stands for or represents, you will see an improvement in the capacities associated with that clothing. For instance, if you dress like a doctor — white coat and all — you will supposedly pay more attention to details.
So, as a student, you should always be looking to put your best foot forward — for the sake of your academic performance.
Another motivator for looking presentable is so you can be social and attentive. If you find yourself looking like a mess, you feel less self-confident, and therefore might be less likely to engage with other people, according to a study by Northwestern University.
When you wear your sweatpants and sweatshirt to class, you will plug in your headphones, walk to class and plug back in when you leave. By doing this, you deprive yourself and others in the class of an important element of college: socialization.
Given that the U is a commuter campus, many of us come to class and go home with little social interaction. We should do our best to interact in the few instances where we can and not let poor clothing choices get in the way.
Make sure you are presentable and comfortable — get up a few minutes earlier, take a shower, brush your teeth and get ready for the day. It will help you get internships, better grades, the love of your life and friends that you might never have.
