It’s not as cloudy in Saratoga or Poughkeepsie as schools closer to the lakes which get a lot of lake effect snow. I lived in Syracuse and now Albany (just 30 miles south of Saratoga) and our winters aren’t nearly as depressing as in Central NY. Not as much snow, either. Our snow comes more from N’oreasters than lake effect. We get more one day big snows then Central NY, but there it can, and does, snow practically every day.
Yes, the sun is low in the sky in northern climes - but, for instance, Bates newer buildings (like Commons and Pettingill (sp) ) have walls which are almost all windows - to let in as much sunlight as possible.