<p>A lot of the colleges I've been considering are way up north on the east coast- places in Boston, New York, etc. The problem is, I've lived in southern California all my life and I honestly don't know if I'll be able to adapt. Some people say the differences are huge- accents, fast-paced living, culture, and especially weather, but others say it's basically the same (except weather, I guess.) </p>
<p>So, for anyone who's moved from southwest to northeast (or vice versa?), how much of a difference do you feel there was? Was it easy to adapt?</p>
<p>Especially adapting to snow. Oh my god, how am I going to deal with snow?</p>
<p>(This is also my first post here. Hi guys!)</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the southwest but I’ve lived in the Boston are my whole life. Snow is crazy, not because the fact its cold, but because its everywhere and you can get so much of it. Weather in Northeast is extremely spontaneous. (We just went from having a blizzard, to 40 degree weather, to 15 of snow a week later on the eastern part of the state) Just bundle up in clothes and you’ll do fine with the snow :P</p>
<p>I hope so! Over here, 40 degrees is equivalent to absolute zero. Seriously. Any weather where I can see my breath is automatically cold. Guess I’ll just have to spend time inside, then.</p>
<p>@adalayde… We are also from So Cal. My DS12 is going to be going to St Lawrence University in Canton, NY this fall. I wonder the same thing… how the heck is my So Cal beach kid going to adapt to -20 degrees, and snow on the ground till April/May?? We will see. Here is So Cal if the temp is 75 it’s too hot, and if it is 68 it’s too cold… 72 and sunny is the only way we are happy…LOL!</p>
<p>I think that a transition from the Northeast to the Southwest is much easier than a transition from the Southwest to the Northeast. I grew up in the Northeast and remember a family moved into our neighborhood from Southern California. I became fast friends with their daughter and son, but they only lasted 2 years. Both children were in the middle of high school when they moved back. Their mother told mine in confidence that “the whole family was depressed”. This was a very nice neighborhood mind you, with loads of welcoming families, but they hated the weather and the fact that you were indoors most of the winter. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you are in an area with close proximity to a ski resort, you could continue that outdoor lifestyle with a little effort. I do find as I get older that weather has a huge impact on my mood.</p>
<p>For my family the biggest issue in the North/South divide is not the snow and cold, but the fewer hours of daylight in the winter. You can dress for the weather. If the OP is in the LA area, then they are at 34 degrees north latitude and if they go to school in the Boston area they will be at 42 degrees. This is a significant difference and the OP’s experience may be compounded by the greater amount of overcast weather in New England. Having said that, both of my kids love being up north. Good luck!</p>
<p>@5boys - Canton, NY? Like the one near the end of Lake Ontario? They get feet of snow there and wicked temperatures. Is he in the witness protection program? ;)</p>
<p>@adalayde. Son2 made the reverse move - Michigan to LA. He loves the weather but wishes it would get cold once in a while just for a change of pace (No, the high 40’s don’t count as cold). I think your ability to adjust will be based on your attitude. If you’re already worried about the snow you’re setting yourself up for long winters. </p>
<p>We lived in the Boston area for a few years. Near the coastline the weather is highly variable especially in the late fall and early spring. In winter you just put on more clothes and find winter things to do - ski, ice skate etc. Everybody is in the same boat so there’ll be plenty of things to do and explore. Frankly, the changing seasons are part of the allure of the area. Glorious fall afternoons, spectacular blizzards and sunny spring days (I still swear you can smell baseball in the air in late March).</p>
<p>Buy a parka, gloves and a hat. Build a snowman. Go skiing. Use a cafeteria tray as a sled. Worst case your taking about a few weeks anyway, first half of December (2 weeks), mid January to mid-March (8 weeks) with Spring Break thrown into the middle. </p>
<p>Upstate NY, VT, NH or Maine - that’s another story.</p>
<p>Like everyone said, you can adjust to the cold via clothes. The strangest thing is how dark it gets during the winter. Short days coupled with a ton of overcast is crazy. BUt one thing he will see if the amazing fall time color changing. If you go to Mass, sometime in the fall you need to take a drive through the Berkshires. One of the most amazing things</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input! I can’t exactly say I’d miss seeing the sun, since I usually go out more during the summer, anyways. Might be strange adjusting to the snow though, but you guys make it sound not too bad. I’ll live. </p>
<p>But how about the “culture” that’s apparently different? Is there really a big culture shock?</p>
<p>“Culture”? Well that’s impossible to guess at since we have no idea what is important to you culture-wise or even how you define the word in this instance. If you go to school in Boston you’ll be in a city with more colleges than you can shake a stick at; there are students everywhere with plenty of things to do from the arts and sports to music and outdoor activities.</p>
<p>If you mean the East Coast ‘attitude’, well that’s part of the charm. It is a bit more in your face than the West Coast, but that just makes it easier to know where you stand with people. College tends to be far more diverse an experience than students expect so I wouldn’t project too much into stereotypes.</p>