<p>As someone who lived in the south for many years and then moved back north, I can tell you that people may not seem as friendly up north. It is not that northerners aren’t friendly and helpful in their own way, but they may seem less openly kind or polite, not so chatty with strangers, more rushed, etc. The culture is different. OTOH, when I lived in the south, I had to learn to “read” people to figure out what they really meant. Now that I’m back in the midwest, I can just assume that people mean what they say. Maybe a little less entertaining, but refreshing in its own way.</p>
<p>As far as boots the best you can go are going to be goretex. A little more expensive but so worth it for the warmth and waterproof, leaving you with toasty feet. My son has goretex hikers he wears all year in heavy rain to keep his feet dry. Tights can have all kinds of synthetics and trap moisture, making you colder. Smartwool base layers are excellent. They breath and don’t itch. Athleta has leggings and 1/4 zip tops on sale now for ladies. I’d wait on a coat until you’re there and know what the local styles are. Generally a goretex shell that can be worn three seasons as a raincoat/light jacket with a fleece lining that zips in for colder months, or can be worn alone is a good investment. REI has a great selection.</p>
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<p>As a NYC native who went to the midwest for college, I noticed many folks in the midwest college town were much more willing to greet/strike up conversations with strangers or sometimes even rudely intrude* into conversations than was the case in NYC. </p>
<p>Striking up conversations with random strangers in NYC would get one labeled as “weird” at best, especially before the mid-'90s. </p>
<p>Intruding on others’ conversations in NYC before the mid-'90s tends to be regarded as “not minding your own business” which at best, usually got the offender yelled at harshly and sometimes at worse…would probably subject the offender to some form of physical violence. </p>
<p>While this isn’t as much of a case nowadays, I still see some instances of the above rearing its head on occasion in the subway or on the streets. Fortunately, none of them involved physical violence…just harsh yelling at the offender for “not minding his/her own damned business”. </p>
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<li>Some busybody “English Only” town resident had a beef with my speaking Mandarin Chinese with some classmates one time. Ended up giving him a civics lecture on how the First Amendment protected my right to use whatever language I damned well please on a public street and if he didn’t like it, tough.</li>
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<p>I visited NYC recently for the first time since the mid 80’s. I was pleasantly surprised at how much “safer” and cleaner it seems now. However, I did witness a few episodes of shouting–there is more impatience, a “looking out for number one” attitude. I did find the energy, the vibe, of the city exciting for a week, but the population density, the crowding in subways, elevators, and on the street is something I’m not at all used to.
The constant noise, traffic/honking, grit/exhaust/smell of the street, lack of green space, lack of personal space (I actually had nightmares about people pressing up against me in the subway) etc. would stress me out if I had to stay there a long time.
cobrat–I hope the stranger at least knew what language you were speaking. Once a southern neighbor of mine, referring to another neighborhood family who was Chinese, said, “I can’t understand a word they’re saying–they’re always speaking Spanish!” (H and I still make jokes about it.) I would also say that while it is more typical for small town folks to chat with strangers, it is not typical for midwesterners to confront strangers in a negative way–we’re usually about avoiding conflict, so I’m sorry you had that experience.</p>
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<p>Yes, there’s still a bit of that. Granted, I’ve noticed and heard from visitors that there’s much less of that in the last decade and half than was the case in the '80s and before. </p>
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<p>You’d probably have a harder time adjusting to visiting Beijing or other major Mainland Chinese cities, especially in the summer. The level of overcrowding on public transport and the streets even back in the late '90s was far far worse than what I’ve experienced in NYC. </p>
<p>And the pollution was already worse back then…and has gotten worse since. </p>
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<p>No need to apologize. That boor doesn’t speak for anyone else but himself. It also took place nearly 15 years ago and from what I’ve heard, the town residents’ attitudes have moved on since then. </p>
<p>Most local townspeople greeted and struck up friendly conversations with me and I did the same in return. In some ways, that aspect of my midwest college experience is more compatible with my personality than the “MYOB” culture in NYC…especially during my childhood in the '80s.</p>
<p>EMS used to have silk long underwear. Don’t know if they still do, but that was a great thin layer that was breathable. I wore them trekking in Nepal and they kept me warm. If you move to one of these northern climates, it is likely your body will adjust somewhat. I’ve lived most of my life in MN and VT. I moved to AZ for grad school and when I moved back to VT (in the summer!) it felt really cold, but I adjusted. I agree about layers and waiting until you get to campus. My son wore EMS hiking boots when it was cold at Grinnell. Some girls wear Uggs in the summer even, but observe what other people wear and ask questions before buying. North Face has an outer layer that is water resistant and has a hood. With a fleece underneath, it would probably keep you warm and dry. In my opinion, it is silly not to keep gloves and a warm hat in your pockets so you can put them on if needed. Something to cover your ears at least. Your school list sounds a lot like my son’s, except Haverford instead of Bryn Mawr. Well, he didn’t apply to NYC schools. I know some people love to live in cities, but he gravitated to small town LACs. You’ll figure out what is right for you. My dear MN gramma had a little saying for us if we were going out in the winter under-dressed: “Well, if you think it’s such fun to freeze…” It really isn’t that much fun.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t lump all of PA and NY together as having the same climate. Philadelphia is pretty similar to DC–both get about 20 inches of snow per year, but Philly is maybe 2 degrees colder than DC in its average daily high in the winter. Pittsburgh gets twice as much snow as Philly (40+ inches, similar to Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis) and is another 2 degrees colder. New York City falls about halfway between Philly and Pittsburgh in snowfall but its winter temperatures are similar to Pittsburgh’s. And much of upstate NY is much snowier and colder. Syracuse, the closest sizable city to Cornell, gets about 3 times as much snow as Pittsburgh or 6 times as much as Philadelphia, and daily high temperatures in winter are about 10 degrees colder than in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>If you’re thinking about Philadelphia, think DC but just slightly colder. If you’re thinking about upstate NY, think Canada. If you’re thinking about Pittsburgh or NYC, think somewhere in between.</p>
<p>Never fear. 
My D is a born-and-bred Californian going to school in Indiana. It can be done. </p>
<p>One of her secrets is scarves; she has a bunch of them in various weights. On a really cold day, she’ll wear two – one around her neck and one up over her head and ears.</p>
<p>She’s also a fan of silk long underwear. As bethievt says, it’s lightweight and comfortable and really helps you stay warm.</p>
<p>As HappyBCDad has another good strategy: layers. Long underwear, topped by a long sleeved-shirt, topped by a sweatshirt or heavy sweater, topped by a coat.</p>
<p>At home in the evenings, D puts [Grabber</a> Full Insole Foot Warmers](<a href=“http://www.warmers.com/grabber-full-insole-foot-warmers-5-hour-30-pair/]Grabber”>http://www.warmers.com/grabber-full-insole-foot-warmers-5-hour-30-pair/) inside her slippers. They keep her feet toasty all evening.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t buy a coat or boots until you get to campus. You won’t need them for a few months, and you can find out what the locals wear.</p>
<p>ifoundalaska–ok-add a pair of jeans, a North Face winter coat or similar and gloves and you would have been fine. Keep in mind that it’s a process. Even the northerners have time to adjust to the cold each year, gradually moving from warmer weather of the summer to the winter temps. 30 degrees in January is a LOT colder than 30 degrees in March :D. You will be fine. Like other’s have said, layers. Cuddle Duds brand long underwear is wonderful. It’s thin, comfortable and can be layered under a t-shirt and sweater, etc. Once inside you take off your jacket, maybe the sweater even, bundle back up before going outside. Keeping your hands and feet warm goes a long way for the rest of your body staying warm too.</p>
<p>Blocking the wind is also helpful–I found back when I was in college that on the coldest days, throwing a pair of wind pants over my jeans was very warming because it kept the wind out. They were easy to take off when you got to class, put on at the end.</p>
<p>I agree with the person who said to layer clothes. I also agree with thermals, warm boots, and a warm coat. Don’t forget a scarf, gloves, and a hat for windy, blustery days too. </p>
<p>PA is probably not as cold as NY or OH, especially near Philly, which is S.E. PA, but they do get some pretty bad snowfalls on occasion when Noreasters go through. Some of the more northern colleges have tunnels underground, like the ones in upstate NY. I wouldn’t worry about it too much - you’ll adapt. Just think of all the pretty snow you’ll get to play in! :)</p>
<p>Suggestion:</p>
<p>My alma mater, Cornell, is in a place that’s colder and snowier than any of the schools the OP is considering. It also has a huge campus, so people walk long distances routinely, regardless of the weather.</p>
<p>Go on Cornell’s Twitter feed (@Cornell) and look for photos of “Cornell right now.” There are at least two photos of students outdoors that have been posted since classes started for the spring semester. Within the next week or two, there will be more. Take a look at what the kids are wearing. You’ll get an idea of what sorts of clothes you would need.</p>
<p>What you would need near NYC or in Pennsylvania is no heavier than what the Cornell students are wearing. Maybe less so.</p>
<p>Marian,</p>
<p>Are you sure that includes Oberlin, Ohio(NE Ohio)? While it may not get as much snow, it does get really cold…and the cold/snow season starts earlier and ends later than NY or Boston IME. </p>
<p>Granted, that’s compensated somewhat by the fact Cornell has a much bigger campus and isn’t nearly as flat as NE Ohio.</p>
<p>I just want to second the idea to wait and shop when you get to the school in the fall. You will not learn where you are going (unless you do ED) until April and there will be little choice of winter clothes available here in NC (unless you live in the mountains) from then until you leave for school.</p>
<p>Layers are good, and polar fleece and wool are far, far, warmer than those cotton fleece college sweatshirts that everyone wears. Find polar fleece since it’s so easy to wash.</p>
<p>I’ve also been wearing my wool knee socks the last few days and that helps too. There are many kinds that you can machine wash and dry, just look around at REI or some other place like that.</p>
<p>Winter at Cornell is a very long season. bclintonk summed it up well: “If you’re thinking about upstate NY, think Canada.”</p>
<p>I lived in turtlenecks under wool sweaters and wore Bean boots every day for months on end. It snowed during spring finals in May one year. That was unusual. And Marian is correct that the campus is huge and you just had to walk everywhere. I don’t think we were properly dressed for the weather but we didn’t notice it at age 18.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned North Face layers upthread. Excellent advice as they are often waterproof and allow you to add/remove layers as needed.</p>
<p>One more thought on the issue of cold legs for women. In addition to boots, the winter coat that we bought for our daughter was full length. It allows more flexibility for what one wears indoors.</p>
<p>What will kill you is not cold feet, but wet feet. Make sure you get boots that are waterproof.</p>
<p>I will also add that the farther north you go, the more fun you can have playing up the (supposed) differences caused by your southern upbringing.</p>