<p>just how cold is it really at Macalester. could a South Carolinian who actually enjoys cold weather survive in the Minnesota winters? How cold is it compared to Boston or NYC?</p>
<p>Mpls-St. Paul is a good deal colder than either Boston or NYC. To give you an idea, here are average high/low for St. Paul in Dec & Jan compared to Boston, from The Weather Channel website:</p>
<p>St. Paul: Dec = 27 H / 12 L, Jan = 23 H / 6 L
Boston: Dec = 42 H / 28 L, Jan = 36 H / 22 L</p>
<p>On the plus side, Minnesota has a "drier" cold and is much sunnier than the northeast, which both make the air feel a bit warmer. The dryness also means that the temps can be really variable, even in winter. Temperatures well below zero are not uncommon, and are downright horrible no matter how sunny it is. The Twin Cities are actually pretty warm compared to the rest of the state; I grew up in the northeastern corner of MN, which was usually a good 5 to 10 degrees colder!</p>
<p>All in all, people adapt very well, and the cities are designed for it (skyways or tunnels connecting the buildings, heated bus stops, etc.), so I don't think it would be that difficult for a southerner to adjust. I lived in Texas for many years, and it never bothered me going back to see my parents for the holidays.</p>
<p>I live in Minnesota, and although it gets pretty cold during the winter, the typical day would be maybe between 15<em>-30</em>, and when its sunny and not windy that isnt really as cold as it seems. Yeah, blizzards happen, but for the most part those are few and far between. Far less than when other regions get cold. Really what it comes down to is you get used to it, although I am obviously a bit biased growing up here. Otherwise, the area is great and I realy don't think you'd regret going to Minnesota, even though the cold might get annoying. There is a better chance that you may kick yourself later for skipping out Macalester for this reason. But anyway its a great school, and in the end the decision is up to you</p>