<p>For any parents who have kids who have gone from a warm climate to cold climate How are your kids adjusting to the climate change? And for kids considering this kind of move, how big a factor is weather in your consideration?</p>
<p>I think my fear of inclement weather is hampering my ability to be objective. There are some really great LACs in some really COLD places. D is definitely going East, but I find myself steering her toward schools without horrible weather reputation. </p>
<p>My California D (who has not much blubber) thinks snow is fun and cold overcast days are cozy. Its true that when it snows here (once every two years for about a day) it is very fun. And we certainly enjoy cozying up to the woodstove when the temps dip into the high 40s. Maybe Im projecting my aversion to wearing socks or closed toed shoes, or reacting to the fact that D says its cold when its 60. </p>
<p>Please tell me I'm overly concerned about the weather Please reassure me that if D is at a school she loves, the horrible, nasty, weather will be a small inconvenience. As D points out, think how great spring will be! (I dont think she realizes that will be in June, not late March.)</p>
<p>My D went from Southern California to Connecticut. She's an adventuresome kid who always loved the cooler days here, and she thought the weather would be kind of fun. She was ecstatic about the first snow, and didn't mind the cold through the winter, until about February. That's when it gets kind of hard. Spring doesn't come until May, and then they have about two weeks of nice weather before it's time to come home. She finished her second year, and California grad schools are looking very appealing.
Would she choose it again knowing how unpleasantly long the cold lasts? Absolutely. It's a great time in their lives to experience something different. If her four years convinces her that she's a California girl, I certainly won't complain! It's all about the education and the opportunities provided by the college experience. If your D is willing and eager to try the change, I wouldn't dissuade her. She may hate the cold, but it probably won't taint the experience for her. I do think the harsh winters "build character" of a sort that we Californians could benefit from!</p>
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<p>Please tell me I'm overly concerned about the weather Please reassure me that if D is at a school she loves, the horrible, nasty, weather will be a small inconvenience. <<</p>
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<p>You are in fact overly concerned. My SoCal-born-and-raised D went off to Boston and did just fine. The cold weather was part of the adventure. If your D otherwise likes the school, the weather probably won't matter much. Besides, 18 year old kids are pretty resilient.</p>
<p>i have the same concern.....i'm moving to chicago for grad school in the fall and i'm a texas girl! everyone time people hear that i'm going to the university of chicago, their response is the same: "great school, great city....(pause).....except for the winter" ..... i'm scared!</p>
<p>Exactly IDad. NH, ME, VT, upstate NY. Brrrr... Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Middlebury, Cornell. Those are the ones I've been shying away from. Some are really remote and probably off the list anyway.</p>
<p>My D went from SoCal to Maryland and I wondered how she would adjust to the "cold" She slept under a down comforter year round at home. Well she loved the weather. She got a good coat learned what heavy socks are for and just went out. One night she called us to share her excitement over lightning and thunder, a very rare occurance here at home. I think the humidity and warm temps when she goes back to school the end of August will be harder to deal with. She moved to MD in January so missed the fall.</p>
<p>Yomama, I live near you and I have had a kid go to the East coast and another who was living in Russia in December. It was cold, but there was really no particular issue. In fact, my San Francisco-born son found that he was more acclimated to cool weather than his east coast peers - in October he was running around in a t-shirt while everyone else had put on sweaters and jackets. </p>
<p>The bigger problem for my son was rain -- it rained a lot on the east coast, and unlike California, it wasn't restricted to one time of year. So rain gear is important. </p>
<p>I have to say that a mere 2 years on the east coast did convince my son that he needed to come home to California, but it wasn't the weather -- it was the people. He just wasn't comfortable with the different social/cultural atmosphere.</p>
<p>I was raised in Ca and attended college in New England. The weather was no big deal for me-- though I was accustomed to snow from lots of skiing growing up.</p>
<p>Your child will need good basic gear. I think the most useful items are sturdy outerwear: snow boots, rain boots, parka, raincoat. Miscellaneous hats, scarves, gloves & silk longjohns help. Truly, your kid's job is to get from Dorm A to Classroom B-- usually a 5 minute walk. At which point, they peel down to regular clothes.</p>
<p>My memory was that the classrooms in winter were usually heated to sauna level. My worst problem was over dressing UNDER my parka, so I'd be sweltering with parka off. Once I figured out how to have normal clothes under heavy outerwear, no more problems.</p>
<p>In New England the first day of spring is so exciting. You can actually smell it. It may still be 62 degrees, but suddenly everyone has spring fever and wears shorts. Spring is entirely different when you have eagerly waited for it for 6 months!</p>
<p>PS spent a few years in bad weather but finally came back to Ca about 6 years after graduation.</p>
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Please tell me I'm overly concerned about the weather.
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<p>You're overly concerned about the weather.</p>
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Please reassure me that if D is at a school she loves, the horrible, nasty, weather will be a small inconvenience. As D points out, think how great spring will be! (I dont think she realizes that will be in June, not late March.)
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<p>If D loves it there, the weather won't bother her. Unless she's going to Alaska, spring will be in April, not June. As another San Franciscan who was born and raised in the East and whose offspring has made the reverse journey, let me assure you that the weather qualifies as NBD [no big deal]. Millions of people, adults and kids, make the transition every year (Ok, maybe only a couple hundred thousand a year) with no ill effects. Just latch onto the shopping threads here and get her some winter wear.</p>
<p>Lived in Chicago 20 years - grew up there. We all loved the weather, even lived through the BIG blizzards when the city shut down for three days. What fun! Went out and helped shovel the whole street, passed out hot chocolate to all the men shovelling, made snow angels, snowmen, etc. Wnet to college in S IL, where we had ice storms - still remember the crystal palace look when the lights hit the icy trees, and all of us sliding to class and back. It was an adventure and lots of fun! The adults weren't so happy - they had to get back and forth to work, and some of the highways were closed, but this never affected us on campus. For us, it was alla lark! Never bothered me until I grew up and had to drive to work. Kids won't mind it, and will have fun in the weather. And yes, need normal clothing under all the heavy gear - central heat can be very warm, and you don't want to swelter inside. Not good to go outside all sweaty. Your perspective of life is different than that of the college student - we would have a more difficult time adjusting - they just have fun with it!</p>
<p>Uh, lets see. The kid is going to college, right? You expect kid will study a bit? Party a bit? Sleep a bit? Most kids do those things indoors. </p>
<p>Seriously, campuses are self contained cities for a reason. If a kid wants to spend lots of time outdoors in below zero weather, they can - no parents around to tell them otherwise. If they don't, they'll manage, too.</p>
<p>I always get a kick out of parents or students who want it all - excellent academics, excellent weather, etc. etc. There's only one Stanford, and I suspect that's no accident.</p>
<p>I'm CA born, midwest raised, lived as an adult in CA, Midwest, TX, MA, among others. IMHO, the absolute WORST weather is Texas. To spend the long days of June and July indoors because the 100+ temps are just too unbearable outdoors is the pits. Give me a parka, boot and mittens any day. You can always layer on. You can't strip beyond...</p>
<p>BTW, Chicago is not always colder than Boston. This past winter was actually colder in Boston, not to mention the snow difference (about 25" compared to 90")</p>
<p>One final bit of advice: Don't start buying too soon. Every fall these threads are full of comment about kids and parents buying the wrong winter gear. Let them go in the fall and check with dorm mates about what works, what's in style etc.</p>
<p>YoMama, I think reaction to weather depends a lot on how active and outdoorsy kids are by nature. If youre the type who likes to hibernate when the temperature drops then its going to be a long, cabin-fevered 6 months in the snow belt. If on the other hand you can imagine yourself immersed in snow fun skiing, snowboarding, snowball fights, skating, snow angels, or just long walks in the snow then youll look forward to it. </p>
<p>I think its splitting hairs to debate which place is the coldest or snowiest. Rural areas may have more snow and lower temperatures than coastal cities, but they also maintain their pristine beauty longer and dont have the urban canyon windchill. Urban environments offer more indoor options; rural easier access to snow sports. </p>
<p>We live in the tropics and my son was certainly apprehensive about his first Berkshires winter. Some days the temperature difference between Williamstown and home is over 100 degrees! It turned out that he loves winter, looks forward to it. </p>
<p>Cold weather clothes have improved so much lately. They are light weight and inexpensive; just layer them on and they feel as comfortable as shorts and flipflops. I would advise your daughter to choose her college by the ambience she feels the most comfortable with and put weather our of her (and your) mind.</p>
<p>My DS went from the Big Island of Hawaii to Boston. Winters are a *itch, as far as he's concerned, and after two winters of listening to him whine about the snow on the ground in April and May, I'm tired of it. Nonetheless, he thinks the education is worth it and plans to tough it out, before he moves someplace more reasonable after graduation.</p>
<p>However, this winter he learned to ice dive. Scuba diving under the ice. (I think he's insane.) Winter activities don't seem to make the actual slogging through dirty snow any easier.</p>
<p>He's not cold, mind you, he's annoyed.</p>
<p>I don't think you can do much expect hope it works out. My son loves MIT and doesn't plan to leave (even as he *itches and moans about the weather).</p>
<p>If your D really likes her school she won't be paying much attention to the temperature outside. And braving the cold gets to be a badge of honor for Cali and sun belt kids.</p>
<p>Weather is not really a reason to pick a school.</p>
<p>That said, after three years, I'm beginning to dislike the Northeast. Doesn't get warm until late in the year, always seems to be raining or cloudy.</p>
<p>Yo Mama-
Based on what I've heard from family and friends because I've only been to the NE once in the winter, wouldn't Bowdoin be the best bet on your list? Like Momrath said, it is out on the coast. Then again, it is in Maine! Anyone? </p>
<p>I know our oldest D applied to Cornell and then had second thoughts. She was also worried about the cultural differences from the west coast to the NE. She worked in the NE last summer and will visit friends there sometime soon, but she feels that not locking in for 4 years in New England was a good choice for her. Guess it just depends on the kid. Unfortunately, you may not know for sure until she actually gets there!</p>
<p>I think the poster who recommended rainboots is hilarious! I'd love to see college students wearing rainboots!! At the most they'll put their sneakers on and take off their flip flops.
Its a common sight say, in Boston in the late fall (40's in temp) to see the kids in shorts,flip flops and a hoodie or fleece.</p>
<p>I grew up in So. California, went to college in Oregon and Wisconsin -- so from warm to cooler to reaaally cold. And it never fazed me. Most places in New England aren't that cold all the time. They offer "real" winters and great opportunities for outdoors fun. </p>
<p>My only real concerns are two: driving a car in snow and ice conditions takes patience but can be learned by anyone; there are some kids who are sensitive to sunlight deprivation syndrome and they need to take care in some environments (my nephew had the problem when he went from Santa Fe to Princeton for college).</p>