<p>Wool socks are a definite. Kiddo lives in them all winter.</p>
<p>D2 has a nice down (ski/snowboarding) jacket she wears in the winter. She also a windproof shell w/ heavy fleece lining. It’s not so much the snow that’s an issue but the cold temperatures and wind off the Lake.</p>
<p>And in the 4 years D2 has been at UR, there has never been a really deep, wet snowfall that fell all at once. Lots of 3-6 inch snowfalls are more typical (which usually have melted before the next one arrives) and the groundskeepers are super at clearing the walks right away. Plus there are always the tunnels. </p>
<p>Damp conditions hiking boots will be fine. He really won’t need a pair of Sorels or Kamiks for the snow.</p>
<p>Winters aren’t predictable. Rochester had almost no snow for 4 years and then 2 years ago was hit, like every place in the northeast - or even the east generally - and then nothing much this past winter. (As a note, if you want snow, head east toward Syracuse. TV news focuses on blizzards coming off the lakes in Buffalo but the real snow belt is from about Syracuse to Rome.)</p>
<p>The buildings are warm and you probably don’t spend much time outside unless you want to be outside so you should have clothes you’d want to be outside in and clothes you’ll be comfortable wearing indoors and in the transitions. The freshman dorms are close to everything. The longest you’d be outside is going to science classes, which means a few minutes. As a sophomore, my kid lives in Phase (aka Hill Court, though called Phase because it was once the next phase of building) and that requires walking across a long, exposed bridge behind Sue B. She uses her jock friends as human shields. </p>
<p>Winter in the northeast is more gloomy than horrid, partly because there’s more clouds and partly because it gets dark so early. Rochester at least gets dark later than the east coast -about 22 minutes more light a day than Boston, which is really noticeable in late December.</p>
<p>Just because it’s one of the coldest areas in NY state, it does not mean it doesn’t get hot. It’s also grossly humid. Bring a fan. The heat can get brutal, even it is just for 2-3 weeks. (Unless you live in O’Brian…)</p>
<p>Okay I’ll start things up again 
</p>
<p>I am wondering about lamps for the rooms in terms of whether a standing lamp or a desk lamp is best. What did your students have?</p>
<p>Floor lamp and a desk lamp. Went to Target in Henrietta, 10 minutes away, bought both. The rooms are all large enough for a floor lamp. </p>
<p>BTW, I was surprised to see Walmart still sells torchiere halogens, the kind that point up. Those are illegal in dorms because kids put things on top and those catch fire. You need a lamp with a shade.</p>
<p>Does the room light switch then go to a plug to switch on a lamp?</p>
<p>We still have some of those torchiere halogens at home. I know they can’t have them a school, real fire hazard.</p>
<p>And what about those over the bed standing shelves I see advertised. Did your student use them?</p>
<p>IIRC, in the quad dorms, the switch turns on the overhead light and is not connected with any outlet. Don’t know if it’s true for Sue B.</p>
<p>D and her roomies hit the thrift stores for lamps. (There’s a Savers right by the big movie theater complex near Marketplace.) Got a couple for under $5 each. D brought her desk lamp from home.</p>
<p>Since all the beds were high-up lofted (think top bunk level) in her freshman triple, D didn’t use the over the bed shelves–not enough head room for a shelf. Plus the desks all have a built-in bookshelf</p>
<p>Thanks, I wondered if there was a central light in the room.</p>
<p>There is an overhead light in SueB. </p>
<p>You don’t need an over-the-bed shelf, with the desktop book shelf and large dresser tops available. In SueB, there is a hanging strip up high and you can hook light things over it. You have to see how you want to use it. Some sort of reading light can work. All that stuff is easily done by the kids taking the shuttle bus to the big box stores or cadging rides from friends. </p>
<p>BTW, check into zip car membership. Great deal for students.</p>
<p>Before joining zipcar, check with your personal insurance about whether or not your kid will be covered on your auto policy while in the rental. The insurance zipcar carries on their cars is the state minimum, which in NY is very low. Like $30,000 max or something. </p>
<p>My son has just taken a desk lamp both years and been fine, although I kind of thought a floor lamp would’ve been nice.</p>
<p>The only extension cords allowed are the power strip kind with surge protection, so get one (or two) of those with a really long cord. </p>
<p>Wireless printers are not supported on campus, so if you take a printer (not necessary but some students find it helpful to have their own), don’t bother paying more for wireless, but a long cable for it may help with finding a good spot for the printer in the room.</p>
<p>And if you are planning to bring a printer, please coordinate with your roomie(s). No room needs 2 or 3 printers!</p>
<p>Good point about the car insurance. I have State Farm and will call.</p>
<p>You will get a reduced rate on your State Farm insurance if college is more than 100 miles from home. I can’t remember the exact amount but I think our premium went down hundreds of dollars. </p>
<p>Don’t know how that would work if you want to be covered on the zip cars.</p>
<p>I emailed the rep. Since freshman can’t take their cars, my son’s will be sitting for much of the year here. Don’t know if that will help with insurance rates but I will ask.</p>
<p>Ink? Printers? Availability? Should I send the printer or will it be just one more thing that won’t be needed because there is access to printers/paper? If so, is there a cost?</p>
<p>Students can send print jobs to the library print center. They can do so wirelessly from the comfort of their dorm room (or anyplace else on campus) and charge it to their UROC account.</p>
<p>One of the special interest dorms offers free printing to those who are members of its special interest group (CIF–Computer Interest Floor). Not sure what the requirements are to join CIF.</p>
<p>Printer vs no printer is a personal issue. Some students prefer the convenience of having their own printer. Others really don’t care. But be sure to communicate with the roommate about the printer. No room needs 2 printers. Also the wireless servers in the dorms are not printer-enabled. Bring cables if you bring a printer.</p>
<p>The campus bookstore carries printer paper and a very limited selection of ink.
<a href=“http://urochester.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SubcategoryView?categoryId=40102&parentCatId=40029&catalogId=10001&storeId=27055&langId=-1&topCatId=40003&level=[/url]”>http://urochester.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SubcategoryView?categoryId=40102&parentCatId=40029&catalogId=10001&storeId=27055&langId=-1&topCatId=40003&level=</a></p>
<p>D2 brought a printer and never used it after her freshman year. Many of her courses (other than freshman writing) allowed her to submit papers/reports/homework electronically instead of on paper.</p>
<p>Thank you. Very helpful reply.</p>
<p>Always, always questions. Need boot recommendations. Ordered a pair of Doc Marten’s 1460 but now thinking maybe he needs a different type if this happens to be a snow year. Suggestions? Or did we do okay with the Doc’s?</p>
<p>I’m planning to send S with his Doc Martens and some extra warm socks. Also have to remember to get them waterproofed. I went to UR eons ago and lived in my Duck Boots (remember lots of slush), but doubt S would wear them if he had them. Do make sure that the 1460’s soles deal well with cold (don’t harden up), traction will be important.</p>