Barrett seems ideal in so many ways for my D16, but she hates hot weather. Anything over85, she is miserable. Do people just stay indoors in Aug/Sept? Are there ways to get around campus without going outside? (Here in the upper midwest, a lot of schools have tunnels or skyways so people can avoid the winter.) I’ve been assuming ASU is out for her because of heat, but don’t want to eliminate it prematurely.
@Booajo - August into early September is definitely hot. There are no tunnels, but everything is air-conditioned. People do get used to the heat a bit and the rest of the year is glorious. There are a lot more people moving here from Minnesota/Wisconsin/the Dakotas/Canada than vice versa. I remember my days at Michigan State trudging in below-zero temps to an eight a.m.class, wondering if I would actually make it. You never will feel that way in the heat. Then, there’s the weeks without sun during winter versus the bright blue desert skies.
There is something to the saying that it is a dry heat. We moved to Phoenix from New Orleans. I’ll take summers here over anywhere in the deep south.
Finally, June and early July are actually the peak for heat usually. Your daughter would miss most of the summer here, although there are still quite a few summer students.
Bring her for a visit late fall or early winter!
I have lived here for a long time and I would be a bit hesitant to recommend ASU for a student who is very sensitive to heat. It is true that most people do adjust to the heat and the payoff is beautiful weather for the rest of the year while many other states are covered in snow. But it is mid October as I write this and today was pretty warm. Somewhere in the 90’s. I would say it is “hot” from June to October. Most people stay indoors during the day (air conditioned buildings, the rec center, the Memorial Union) and people adjust and it becomes normal. Recreation is indoor-centered (movies, malls, etc…) or for outdoors swimming is doable. The mornings are very nice for outdoor exercise - I wouldn’t call them “cool”, but more like neutral to warm. If your DD decided to come visit in the spring she would fall in love with the weather (and with ASU which is an awesome school). But if she were to come back in July or August she would be shocked at how hot it is. So if she is miserable when the temperature is over 85 that is definitely something to take into consideration.
Thanks for the responses. I think we have decided it is just too much for her. Maybe one of my less sensitive kids will be a better match.