I said I was happier with four seasons … thats a lot different than saying tons of people were in utter dispair because of the weather. In my four years at Cornell I certainly knew a few people who were from warm weather climates who did not like the winters much; I did not know of anyone who the weather drove to depression. I also knew many more people from warm weather climates who really enjoyed being introduces to hockey, sledding, and making snowmen and snowangels (not saying they wanted to live in the northeast forever but enjoyed there time there). If trying the winter stuff does not sound like an adventure and does not sound interesting and the winters really concern you then yes I’d say it’s a good reason to cull schools in winter climates from your list … there are 3000 schools out there and there are plenty of them where you can avoid winters and stick to weather you know you like.</p>
<p>See, to me, I wouldn’t say you’re spoiled living in So Cal - because that would imply that I envy your weather, which I don’t! I would so miss out on the change of seasons, especially fall and winter … wonderful tweed clothing, heavy wool sweaters … a beautiful snow fall … The same ol’ same ol’ weather would be a disadvantage for me, not an advantage. But, of course, to each his own!</p>
<p>To each his own; to me this sounds wonderful. Growing up in Seattle has perhaps given me some rather abnormal weather preferences, but I love seasons, rain, and overcast skies, and really hate the sun.</p>
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<p>I don’t think there’s a name for it, but I go to the Midwest every winter break. And love it.</p>
<p>I was really looking forward to going East for college and experiencing, among other things, seasons. Cold snowy nights sound so lovely. However, I still applied to places in California, and when it came down to it a school in CA turned out to be the best choice for me. I will deal with the weather. Even though weather does affect my happiness, for me there were much more compelling factors driving my decision. OP, you say you haven’t really experienced snow, and are just going by what other people tell you. It’s quite likely you would find winter rather bothersome, slightly depressing, but something with which you could definitely cope.</p>
<p>Consider, too, that there’s a difference between NYC and Boston winters and those in the Upper Midwest or Upper NY. The latter you might very well find too harsh and long-lasting; the former quite tolerable.</p>
<p>I grew up in Philly and have lived in Chicago for 25 years. The differences between the winters are far, far exaggerated. It’s pretty much the same thing. And Philly was where I got snowed into an airport for 3 days in 2010. You see blizzards and extreme cold spells both places. Midwesterners Like to act like it’s soooo much rougher but it’s nonsense IMO. Same difference.</p>
<p>I used to think people who posted like this were incredible weenies, but based on the numbers who have done so I’ve grown to accept that a reasonable subset of the Socal types are genuinely petrified at the prospect of cold weather.</p>
<p>Whereas most people like me who lived for substantial periods in the Northeast or Midwest have no idea what they are so scared of, and have little sympathy. To them, this is a largely irrational phobia, like somebody saying they didn’t want to attend a certain college because they had some spiders outside and they were scared of spiders. That’s because they have actually lived in these environments, and managed there just fine.</p>
<p>I think Barron’s said it well in #22. There are indeed some people who go to a different climate situation and find they just can’t adjust, or really don’t like it, a lot. IMO more people find out that they can adjust to it fine, and many enjoy the different experience. Which then makes them more willing to entertain a broader range of geographical possibilities later on.</p>
<p>If you never try it you’ll never know.</p>
<p>But that’s not to say you have to, if you like where you are perfectly well.</p>
<p>My D runs track and performs/trains best in cooler weather…she also likes to snowboard. Climate is a huge factor in where she want to go to college. I know kids who HATE cold weather…it makes sense to consider quality of life in college choice.</p>
<p>Weather weenies, weather whiners, weather wimps…I have a variety of names for this type. I’m pretty shocked at the number of young people who exhibit this syndrome. Perhaps my lack of sympathy derives from growing up where the jet stream undergoes big and unexpected shifts, and the temperature can undergo huge swings between morning and evening. Heat, humidity, ice, snow, tornadoes and all four seasons, all of them with their own pleasures and irritants. At least it makes for a variety of memories.</p>
<p>I’m still smiling at the memory (from long ago) of some student friends from somewhere in the Middle East who showed up at my apt. in heavy winter parkas in October, declaring that “you were right, it does get cold here!” This was in Wisconsin; it was probably in the fifties. Boy, were they in for a shock.</p>
<p>I grew up in Texas and went to undergrad there but went to grad school in the upper Midwest. The difficulty in adjusting had little to do with the snow and not that much to do with the intensity of the cold. The difficulty is in the length of the winter, the great number of long, dark, depressing days where walking outside is uncomfortable regardless of how many layers of clothing one puts on because that wicked wind finds every exposed spot and leaves none unpunished. Winter was fun at first but was a bit tiresome by late March and absolutely discouraging by late April. And by the end of April the people from the area seemed every bit as despondent as those of us from down South. Of course in May there was an explosion of life and excitement, but I never felt that it made up for all the misery that preceded it.</p>
<p>If you read through the thread, you’ll see that there are many people who have said the opposite too: that they wouldn’t want to go college in SoCal or any other traditionally-sunny place because only experiencing the seasons makes them happy. So I wouldn’t generalize and say only SoCal kids experience this.</p>
<p>Furthermore, like I’ve said before, I’m already a transfer student. There’s not much I could do if I chose a school in the east and ended up wanting to leave. And there are so many great options in the west and south or east for those who want to avoid year-along sunshine (a fact you guys also seem to under-emphasize when calling people who take weather into account “wimps”).</p>
<p>Like others here have said, the student will indeed be spending years of his life at the school, so considering weather is like considering urban/rural location, school size, et cetera…just another quality of life factor that will have at least some effect on one’s college experience. </p>
<p>Personally, I think it makes more sense for me to do undergrad in a place I know I’ll enjoy. After a few days of playing in the snow at Tahoe and partaking for the first time in those much-talked-about “winter activities” like making a snowman, a snow angel, snowball fight, et cetera, I was bored and couldn’t imagine those things being very entertaining after that one time. I already was excited to get back to the sun of San Diego. But still, I’ve said several times that I am open to the possibility of enjoying winter weather. I just wouldn’t bet on it, the same way many people suspect they would hate the constant sun in SoCal and would rather go to college in a place where the seasons change. </p>
<p>It seems the best way to think about it is this: apply mostly to places where the weather (along with everything else) fits your preferences, but still apply to places outside your weather comfort zone if they offer something truly compelling that you just couldn’t get at the other places.</p>
<p>Not me. I love it here in SoCal. I’ve lived in many parts of the country, and as I recall “four seasons” was a concept that usually wound up involving jumper cables.</p>
I was one of those folks … but here’s the rub … why I know that I prefer 4 seasons is because I spent two years in California … one in SF and one in LA. If I had never tried it all the SoCal folks raving about the weather would have continued to be a draw … which after experiencing it I certainly get why it is great for some people but after experiencing it knowing I preferred living with 4 seasons more.</p>
<p>Well, if a person is a weenie, so what? If they want to test their mettle against a weather challenge, great. But if they don’t, no loss. Same goes for people who prefer an urban or rural environment. Maybe there’s some merit in being a super-flexible person who could be happy anywhere. Still, most of us aren’t like that. You don’t get a prize for sticking it out in a place where you’re miserable.</p>
<p>Anyway, my guess is that most of us have our weather limits, no matter how comfortable we are in the cold and dark of a Midwest or New England winter. How many of us would be up for a move to Fairbanks?</p>
<p>It’s a reasonable concern. I go to a small LAC in northeast Fl & I met a girl who transferred from Brown (!) because of the miserable weather. Like posters above, southeast options could still be considered.</p>
<p>well me being from texas, I LOVE hot weather. so id probably go to a college with a hot climate, i mean, why spend 4 years somewhere where you dont like nearly everything about it? lol</p>
<p>Let me put my comments in context. I’m not suggesting that climate/weather inflexibility is a character issue. I’m responding to the examples I see (both in real life and anecdotes here on CC) of recent college graduates who are unable to find jobs in their chosen fields but who are unwilling to consider a national search. Sometimes the reasons are not entirely weather-related, but include a number of other ‘personal comfort’ issues. It would be wonderful if we could all find the ideal job in the ideal location without any compromises, but it often doesn’t work that way.</p>
<p>If a student has several college options that provide equivalent academic opportunities at equivalent cost, then there is no loss if the choice is made on the basis of weather, but elevating climate preference to the level of a personal religion seems to indicate a mind-set that might not work too well in today’s economy.</p>
<p>The undergraduate years may well be “four years of your life”, but it isn’t supposed to be a four-year vacation.</p>
<p>I’ve enjoyed reading all the posts! I do know when my daughter was looking at schools that weather was a factor; she didn’t apply to east coast schools. She ended up visiting a school in the mid-west during a snow storm and quickly decided after 3 days of “snow days” that she wouldn’t enjoy a real winter. LOL</p>
<p>In my opinion, it’s a personal decision and there’s no ‘right or wrong answer’.</p>
<p>I am way past college age but am facing this decision as I think about retirement within the next 5 to 10 years - what should I do about the weather?</p>
<p>My firm desire is to be a snowbird. I love NY spring and fall and I can manage summer. I think I could manage summer better if I didn’t have to work and could choose when and where to go out. However, despite living in NY my entire life, I have never adjusted to snow and its fellow traveler, ice. If I never saw either again in my life, I’d be happy.</p>
<p>The cold is miserable but snow and ice terrify me.</p>
<p>So, when my son tells me he wants a college where he can wear shorts all year round, I listen.</p>
<p>I’ll note that I’m not a big fan of New England winter. It’s fine until around March, when I long for spring. But my main complaint is driving. I don’t like to drive in snow/ice. I can do it, and I do, in a good car with caution. But that isn’t an issue , generally, at college.
My child is happy in the cold and didn’t want to look at schools in the south - except CA - and guess where he is heading - SoCal! Weather wasn’t a factor in the decision.</p>
<p>I’m from upstate NY, but I still took weather into a factor applying to schools! I absolutely love spring and summer upstate, but I hate snow and the cold. I love being outside when it’s nice out but I never got into skiing and snow-shoeing haha, so I dread the winter! I looked at schools in the south, but things didn’t work out money-wise so I ended up choosing a school in Mass. It wasn’t hard for me because I’m already from the northeast, but I think everyone on my campus kinda stops and wonder why we all didn’t choose schools with warmer temperatures when a huge snow storm rolls around haha</p>
so id probably go to a college with a hot climate, i mean, why spend 4 years somewhere where you dont like nearly everything about it? lol</p>