Is weather a factor at SU for students not used to cold weather?

Hi–My son got in to Syracuse and it is a great fit in so many ways… except we live in LA and wondering if kids from warm-weather find the long winters to be a big negative?

I lived in Syracuse for a number of years. Moved from another part of NY (downstate) and it was still an adjustment. Not only was there a lot of snow but it was cloudy much of the time. Honestly the lack of sunshine was harder than the cold/snow.

The key is to dress appropriately. Great boots, outwear, and layers!

We had a recent thread about this. Lots if kids come to the NE from the west or SW. Most acclimate, get the right winter clothing. Most activites will be indoors. In CA, lots of kids have experienced cold weather in the mountains. The difference is shorter sunlight hours coupled with temps.

Dorms and classrooms are usually plenty warm. You’d want to check how far he’d walk to meals or his particular classes. December and semester breaks can get you out of there.

Thank you for your thoughts! Are there plenty of activities to do indoors? My son plays tennis, for example. Are there indoor courts? Is the campus set up so that activities, classes, meetings are easy to get to in inclement weather?

@klevine There indoor tennis courts at a local country club that are free for SU students (free bus to get there, just s 10 minute ride). Beyond that, they are always things to do indoors. It seems like there are feee movies several nights a week, and the new gym will be open this fall with lots of recreational activities.

My Ds friend last year was from LA and he loves it there. The kids don’t seem to mind the cold too much, and they manage to adapt. There is always one glorious week in February when the temps get into the high 50s or 60s and the campus is filled with kids in shorts and T-shirt’s celebrating the weather.

There was one issue this past winter when lots of snow turned to rain so everything iced up and campus was a bit hard to navigate, but beyond that it has been very well maintained. They also canceled classes one day. Some of the walkways are even heated to prevent snow and ice buildup.

My husband and I both went to Syracuse but are from the east coast. We live in CA now. Our son is a junior and interested in Syracuse. My husband took him to visit the campus the weekend of the Duke game. We wanted him to see it in the winter so he could make an informed decision. It wasn’t too cold that weekend though. He loved the campus and thinks he can handle the weather so hopefully next year at this time he’ll be accepted.

The cold and snow isn’t a problem. There is plenty of cold and snow at other northeastern and midwestern schools. The big issue is the lack of sun. For kids who love syracuse it’s totally worth it. For those who don’t love it – it can be a problem. It’s very hot and sunny until the end of October. Then it’s cold and grey until May (with a few sunny days scattered about).

I lived in Syracuse for 3 years and the biggest difference (I am from the midwest) is that the winters are looooong. I remember it snowed each year in October and basically lasted into April. And I second (third?) the lack of sun issue. As long as he has the proper clothes he will be fine, but the long winters can be rough.

I grew up an hour north of Syracuse and attended college at the University of Rochester (2 more hrs West of Syr), I’ve lived in NJ near NYC from the time I graduated and enjoy not having winters like back home!

The weather does get COLD (well below zero at times - nose-hairs freeze if you breathe outside without a scarf some days) and snowy, but it’s easily manageable. There may be days when kids would be more comfortable wearing thin long-underwear under their clothing, but generally, you’ll bundle-up to go out and will take it off once you enter any number of buildings/busses, etc. It will be part of the experience for students who’ve spent little time in such a diverse climate. The falls can be breathtaking and the springs are SO welcomed, that kids probably go without jackets when it hits 55-60 degrees.

The only thing I’d be concerned about about is someone from CA driving on Rt 81, particularly in the winter. It is a long, unlit highway in very rural areas in most sections. I knew to warn my own D when she decided to attend Skidmore and has driven on the NYS Thruway in snow - it can be hypnotizing, especially at night. It is SO important to keep a safe distance from other cars and also to slow down when the Lake-effect storms come. I’ve driven when I couldn’t see the road and only the red lights of a trucker in front of me helped me stay on the mostly straight highway. Driving in the country is gorgeous most of the year, but in winter inexperienced drivers need to take a lot of extra care. If they won’t be driving, no worries! Anyone driving a taxi/bus/Uber around SU knows how to drive in snow and the plows are pretty amazing to see in action when they’re out clearing and salting the highways!

(Hope that wasn’t too scary - Syracuse is a great school - congrats!!)

When driving in icy or snowy conditions, it is important to pump the brakes rather than applying constant pressure so as to not lose control of your vehicle.

The primary concern for one moving from sunny LA to overcast Syracuse, is depression due to lack of sunlight.

Definitely not recommended for tennis players.

I haven’t been to Syracuse in the past decade. I always found the city to be rundown & depressing. Not sure if anything has changed over the past decade.

@Publisher, that is outdated advice about driving. I found this: “You absolutely should not pump the brake pedal in a car with ABS. … In a car with ABS the wheels should never lock in the first place, so pumping the brakes will just make you take longer to stop. In an emergency stop in a car with ABS, you should apply the brake pedal firmly and hold it while the ABS does all the work.”

Interesting. I have done a lot of driving in Colorado & still abide by the old guidance. But, Colorado does not ice over as much as in the Northeast US.

P.S. I just googled “braking in icy conditions” & “driving in icy conditions” and read conflicting advice. One said to stomp on ABS brakes, while the other site advised to release the brakes once sliding begins.

Regarding Syracuse in general, Travel and Leisure placed it at the top in this article on college towns: https://amp.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/americas-best-college-towns?source=dam.

The article noted by @merc81 lists the top 20 college towns (2014). Including #1 ranked Syracuse, I have been to 16 of these top 20. In my experience, the other 15 are far superior to Syracuse. I spent much of my teenage years in the area (Finger Lakes & Lake Ontario) in addition to Syracuse & have many friends who still live in Syracuse.

The ratings focused on “live music, pizza, dive bars, hamburgers and other qualities”.

Syracuse took top honors based on beer, good, cheap food, & strong coffee". Lafayette, Louisiana was second.

  1. Syracuse

  2. Lafayette, La.

  3. Charlottesville, Va.

  4. Fort Collins, Colorado

  5. Duluth, Minnesota

  6. Saratoga Springs, New York

  7. Asheville, NC

  8. Flagstaff, Arizona

  9. San Luis Obispo, California

  10. Boulder, Colorado

  11. Santa Cruz, Calif.

  12. St. Augustine, Florida

  13. Burlington, Vermont

  14. Annapolis, Maryland

  15. Ann Arbor, Michigan

16)Williamsburg, Virginia
17) Bozeman, Montana
18) Boone, North Carolina
19) Athens, Georgia
20) Oxford, Mississippi

The author of this Town & Country article must have had some really good cheap beer & pizza in a dive bar to place Syracuse above the other places. If the list was inverted it would make more sense. But, I will admit that “dive bars” are in short supply in Boulder, Colorado.

Many parts of the city are still like that, but the Armory Square district of downtown has really come to life with restaurants and bars, an ice skating rink, decent museum, etc. I don’t think a lot of undergrads take advantage, at least until their parents come and take them out for a nice meal, but it is there. The area directly bordering the University has your more typical Chipotle, pizza, sub shops, sushi, etc places that are more budget friendly. A,so close to the University is the Westcott neighborhood that has more cute restaurants.

To quote our illustrious coach, Jim Boeheim, “Syracuse, New York, is like Hawaii for eight months of the year. The other four months, I don’t care about the weather because we’re playing basketball.” As an alumni like me, that is pretty much how we remember the weather, beautiful in the fall and spring and very snowy in the winter, but the Carrier Dome is always warm and just a short walk from your dorm.