Issues with converting a date in SQL Server
<p>I have a column in my data that is full of 'dates' that are formatted like <code>030816</code> and have a datatype of Varchar. I've been trying all morning to convert this number to a date format of <code>03/08/2016</code>. Nothing I seem to do gives me the desired results. Here's what I've tried:</p>

<ul>
<li>I changed the column datatype from Varchar to Date. This resulted in a more acceptable date format, but also resulted in changing the date completely. Upon this conversion the dates that are supposed to read <code>03/08/2016</code> ended up reading <code>2003-08-16</code>.</li>
<li>I tried keeping the datatype as a Varchar, and using <code>Convert(Varchar(10),Bill_Date,103)</code> when building out my select query, but this resulted in no change and continued to display the results as <code>030816</code></li>
<li>I also tried using <code>Cast(Bill_Date AS Date)</code>, but this also provides me with a result of <code>2003-08-16</code>, which again is not the correct date.</li>
<li>Lastly, I tried <code>Format(Bill_Date,'MM/DD/YYYY')</code>, but this gave me an error message claiming that the Argument data type Varchar is invalid for the argument.</li>
</ul>

<p>Is there a way to get SQL to either convert this string of numbers to the date format I need or at the very least is there a way to display the string of numbers in a select query that will give me the format I need?</p>