Life in SoCal is not always all that it’s cracked up to be in the weather department if you don’t live near the beach. The temps in the inland valleys (Claremont Colleges, Occidental) are hottest in August, September, and October and come with higher levels of smog. 90-100 degrees on Halloween is not unheard of. Someone mentioned the beauty of spring sports, but forgot to mention that it’s hot for fall sports. I have a cross country runner who looks like something the cat dragged in when he’s done with practice or a race.
But it’s that dry heat! 
When I lived in San Bernardino, the AC didn’t come on until it was close to 100.
@1518mom,
Yes, I would say that Sept and early Oct are definitely the worst with the heat. Add the Santa Ana winds, the humidity drops to zero, and the fires start. It does get too hot for fall sports. My kids are not very sporty so didn’t think about that.
Today was gorgeous in Massachusetts. Above freezing and sunny. A beautiful blanket of snow over everything, making the whole world look clean and white. Everyone was out in my neighborhood enjoying the day.
Visited LA earlier this month, it was like a tropical vacation after our colder than normal winter
I could totally see a kid preferring that to the snow piles of Ohio
I do have to say our weather where we live in So. Calif. Is pretty spectacular. We are close enough to the coast that we never get too hot or too cold and just in a few miles so that we don’t get much fog. Our youngest is at school farther south where it might be even nicer-living in La Jolla has been a big burden for him ha ha- and I would say he might never leave except that he could not afford to live there once he graduates. We are very spoiled by our weather- I can’t think of anyplace that I would like it better- but we are paying for it dearly with our drought.
3girls,
Nor Cal needs rain! Just not in mid June please
D just texted me that Northern NY has snow in the forecast tonight/his weekend… reinforcing her decision to avoid the NE
If D does not like the cold, I fear you will be sorry if you make her go there.
We are from the South and My D CHOSE the cold weather , Ind, and she is now feeling it.
The weather is only good 1 month in the Fall and 1 month in the Spring . She cannot be outside and do the things she loves to do, sports and outdoor activities.
Her time is spent in the dorm, the classroom, and a little time in the Rec center. Maybe once a week she attends an event outside those areas.
She loves the school so she is sticking with it but she hates the weather.
@fire123 this is exactly my fear. How far north is your D?
I’m trying to remember this, but it’s difficult to think back that far. Stanford’s Class of 2019 might well not experience a wet winter in their four years, and should instead be prepared for short showers, dry lawns and dirty cars. Also, I agree with the Taco Bell description of Stanford’s architecture, though I think of it more as Spanish Howard Johnsons.
D is at Purdue, West La fayette. 2nd winter.
Indiana winters are not as cold as more northern states, even NW IN. Certainly good weather more than the first and last. One can make the same bad weather claim for places where it tops 80 degrees routinely- too hot to move fast. More conducive to studying with cooler weather.
You can but thats a pretty lame case.
What you say the perfect temp is? 70F, 75F?
Is 80 closer to that or 20F?
@fire123 LOL.True. Quality of life is a real thing. Even in college.
If weather was an issue, I’d minimize it by saying that during college years you’re usually busy indoors, in classrooms, dorms and labs. If living on campus, you travel short distances on foot or larger campuses by buses, so daily commutes are short, safe and free. My college had dreary wet winters. My first November, I counted 28 days with rain. But that’s hardly the best or worst thing I remember from college!
Agree with the above. No place has perfect weather. Variety helps. College experiences depend not on the weather, but on all of the other factors. A run of “perfect” days makes one want rain just for a change. Four seasons are a great experience, although after many decades of them it is nice to skip the cold and put up with heat.
Talking to a neighbor today, his D gave up UMich for UCF (Florida)several years ago and he says weather was the determining factor. I am slowly coming to terms…
When I was further south than I am now, we used to say we had 2 seasons… summer, and Christmas Day.
In Wisconsin, the seasons are winter and road construction.