<p>We moved from a cold climate to a warmer one and ironically, we’ve found that it’s harder sometimes to live through winter in the warmer climate. Buildings in colder climates have better insulation and are built with cold in mind. Campuses are planned for the weather. Where we live now, my D complains that it’s always cold because the school is built with an open air orientation. That’s all very nice but it’s often in the high 30’s/low 40’s on winter mornings and it doesn’t warm beyond the high 50s. That’s not sit on the outdoor quad and hang out there weather!</p>
<p>I have a different opinion on cars. It really depends on the terrain and the amount of snow the area gets. Where we lived, all wheel drive or snow tires (NOT all season tires) were all but essential. The place was hilly and often snowy/icy in winter. I had my share of scary moments trying to drive up hills in a minivan and learned my lesson. If you live in a flatter, more populated area, the requirements will be less–but we did see a LOT of Subarus on the road throughout the state.</p>
<p>Another note on the car situation-if he ends up in a place where it snows a lot and he doesn’t have covered parking he’ll spend a lot of time shoveling out his car. This has to be done after every storm because if you wait too long and the snow/slush warms and then refreezes you can end up with a car trapped in blocks of frozen slush. Some cities also have parking bans when a big snowstorm is forecast. When that happens it can be tough to find a parking spot.</p>
<p>Every climate has its challenges. A smart capable graduate student will likely figure it out, maybe making a few mistakes along the way. As someone pointed out this extreme cold is very unusual - how many had heard of a polar/arctic vortex? - so worries about hypothermia are a bit extreme. Even so temperature change from fall to winter does take time, so you do have time to buy appropriate clothing.</p>
<p>I also found winters in the Soutb could be more challenging, because often there is one event a year that catches everyone unprepared (well, it’s not worth the cost of snow equipment for one event but there are consequences). When I was in Chapel Hill, one night it snowed about six inches. That snow was on the ground (iced after one day) for six more days - no snow plows. That’s the one time I actually needed my Subaru.</p>
<p>Montegut, hypothermia is not an ongoing concern for people in the north, except in unusual cold like what we are having now, and it will be trumpeted all over the news. You’re really overthinking this!</p>
<p>And no one is going to stay outside long enough to develop hypothermia, unless they are impaired (such as drunk) or woefully underdressed. Millions of people live in places with “real winter.” Most of the nation’s biggest cities have “real winter.” Chances are the worst that’s going to happen is he will be chilly - nothing that a cup of tea or hot chocolate won’t solve. Aside from ensuring he has appropriate winter clothing (which he can buy up north when his current clothing isn’t enough), there’s not all that much to think about. Whether he should have a car or not is a function of his overall life situation and campus / living arrangement.</p>
<p>Now if he is planning to take part in this program, [IceCube</a> Neutrino Observatory](<a href=“http://icecube.wisc.edu/]IceCube”>http://icecube.wisc.edu/), the OP’s concern might be considered reasonable. If not, not so much.</p>
<p>" Should he not even try to come home for holidays, for fear of not being able to get back to campus in time for the spring semester? "</p>
<p>I don’t understand this question. Every Tgiving and Christmas, students leave campuses and travel home (or elsewhere) for holidays as their budgets permit. Why would your son be any different?</p>
<p>Hear, hear. H and I have lived in NC, IA, MI, and WI, but my H claims that the coldest Christmas he’s ever spent was in Atlanta - during a cold snap in a house with poor insulation.</p>
<p>As someone who has always lived in warm climates, I have found the following to be true…</p>
<p>Warm climate folks are far less likely to check weather reports!!! lol. We often rarely know what’s coming because we don’t check…we assume warm and sunny! :)</p>
<p>However, my chicago-suburbs-raised H is always checking the weather reports…because that’s what cold-weather folks do. </p>
<p>So, Montegut…your NOLA son is likely not used to checking the weather and probably just knows that in southern winters to keep a hoodie on and that will be enough on any given winter day. </p>
<p>you may tell him to download a weather app onto his smart phone for daily heads up.</p>
<p>Actually, I check the weather all the time in winter. The weather doesn’t often get below freezing, particularly during the day. But it could easily be in the mid 30’s. it could just as easily be in the 70’s. You really can’t plan. I grew uo in the south and went to college in New England. It was impossible know what to pack when I came gone for winter break. </p>
<p>Obviously the specific types of clothing option you need to have available will vary in other climates.</p>
<p>We live in the northeast. I went out for my daily walk Tuesday when it was 4 degrees with a wind chill of -15. Extra layer of clothes, gloves, sunglasses (bright sun & snow really strain the eyes( & a furry hat that covered my ears. What was cold on me? My cheeks which were the only exposed skin.</p>
<p>One point that hasn’t been mentioned…up ‘north’ there is less light. </p>
<p>I’ve lived in CA all my life but have spent some stretches of time in more northern climates. If you are used to longer daylight hours and suddenly find yourself in an environment where it gets dark at 4:00 p.m. and stays dark until 8:00 a.m. it can have a detrimental affect on your mental well being. SAD (seasonal affect disorder) is very real. Winters are not only colder in certain areas…they are longer.</p>
<p>OP … don’t you also have a post in the snow-plow parent thread?</p>
<p>To me, this level of concern is taking you towards the snow-plow or helicopter parent end of the spectrum. There are literally thousands of colleges in the north with hundreds of thousands of students (millions?). All these colleges are in towns with stores … if your child shows up unprepared in some way anything he needs is easily available … all the people who live up north have to get their stuff somewhere. A grad school age student ought to be able to figure this our fairly easily … hopefully mostly in advance … but it certainly is very easy to take care of whatever else needs to be done once at the school.</p>
<p>I have a positive, constructive suggestion for parents from warmer climates who send students to snowbelts. Parents can really help by understanding about hometrip scheduling. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break still have plenty of issues for travel up north.</p>
<p>Work with your kid to not schedule too tightly around the holidays. Allow some wiggle-room for start and end dates. If he’s driving, be willing to have him miss a family gathering if that’s what it takes to check in overnight to a motel. Snowstorms come up suddenly and students are tired at end of semester. </p>
<p>Students usually press on because they don’t want to disappoint their family, but sometimes they are safer to get off the road overnight, if they hit very bad weather along the way. If he wants to go back to school a day sooner because of weather up north, let him go. Just stay flexible!</p>
<p>dietz, the days are shorter EVERYWHERE in the winter, not just cold places. And a lot of cold places are sunny, which helps combat SAD. Also, some of the “happiest” countries in the world are at very northern latitudes: Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden rank 1-4 in this Forbes survey.</p>
<p>Sally305: someone moving from a more southern latitudes is used to (biologically adapted to?) a greater amount of day light during the winter days. The sun rises earlier and sets later at the more southern latitudes. It is not a value judgement, it is geography. The Forbes links doesn’t separate out those who have always lived in such a climate from those who move to such a climate.</p>
<p>Good point. I am one of those people who moved from a southern latitude (south Florida) to a more northern one (the midwest) for college. It’s just not that big a deal for most people.</p>
<p>OP- don’t worry about things. Your son will choose the best program he can get into and tolerate the winters while enjoying the glorious summers.</p>
<p>Our working college grad son is now in Seattle, we are in Tampa after all being in Wisconsin. He came to visit last month- chose the Phoenix hub and there was no bad weather in all three involved cities but his departing flight was 2 1/2 hours late, meaning a missed flight, etc. His flights back via Minneapolis were on time. The weather in a totally different area can foul travel plans. Don’t use this as a reason to avoid the snowy cities.</p>
<p>Any decent car will work but it needs good tires. I noticed this one year when I thought I could wait to replace mine- what a difference good tread (all season) made. Front wheel drive is definitely good, you don’t need a truck or all wheel drive. The first snowfall is hazardous for all drivers until they remember to slow down and other winter habits.</p>
<p>Not sure this was legal, but when I was a resident OOS my mom, whose name was also on my car, kept up the insurance payments and I don’t think she changed where the car was kept. Check on things with your insurance agent. Who knows, the rates could be cheaper in his college town.</p>
<p>There is a learning curve to any new place. I have learned to keep a sun shield and umbrella in my car summers just as I kept the ice scraper and snow shovel in my car winters up north.</p>
<p>He needs to count the costs of heating (and summer air conditioning likely wanted- except it isn’t available even in new, upscale housing in Seattle) in evaluating apartments. He probably will be able to check utility costs for apartments on the local utility website. Don’t forget water costs as well. We found huge differences for our son based on where in the building the unit was located, not just how many tenants were likely there. Covered parking is ideal, but he can’t count on it if he drives to campus. Being able to walk to campus and drive to stores is a better idea.</p>
<p>He will start in the fall and be able to buy winter gear where he lives. His department will help a lot- more so than being an undergrad. He will be focused on his degree, that counts much more than the location. Remember even professors from warm climates will go to northern schools because of the academic advantages.</p>