<p>I'm a senior who is very interested in McGill and I have already submitted my application. I've spent a lot of time weighing the pros and cons of each school I'm applying to and for McGill, I keep coming back to the extreme weather in Montreal. I've lived in southern California my entire life and I've actually never even seen snow...I know that the weather in Montreal is very cold during the winter and I'm aware that if I decided to go there, it would a huge shock. My question is this: has anybody else come from an extremely warm climate and dealt with the weather? How bad did it end up being? My mom keeps mentioning how cold it is every time I talk about McGill and I'd just like to get a better idea of what I could possibly be in for...thank you!</p>
<p>Montreal gets a lot of snow, as does anywhere in the Northeast. I can’t imagine making a college decision based on weather though…</p>
<p>When I took a tour, the girl giving it was from Hawaii… but in any case, it’s probably not a great idea to be base a college decision on weather. Just buy a few jackets.</p>
<p>I wasn’t planning on making a college decision based on weather, but it certainly is a factor in my decision. I don’t think it’s realistic to completely ignore it.</p>
<p>I agree with Rachel – though I lived on the East Coast as a child, I’ve lived in SoCal for 35 years, and after a while, you do start to wonder about your ability to withstand months of cold weather! People take into account lots of thing when choosing a college, and one of them is the environment of the university itself, and that includes the weather. Lots of people choose to attend college in California for exactly that reason, though it’s for the GREAT weather :-)</p>
<p>Our daughter, a native SoCal girl, is also considering McGill, and we have certainly had our discussions about Montreal winters. Ultimately, it shouldn’t be the deciding factor, but it can’t be ignored, either.</p>
<p>First, it’s not that bad (for example, there was no winter to speak of last year). Second, you get used to it, it’s a matter of adapting. Buy the right clothes, the right shoes, and wear them appropriately. </p>
<p>Because one mistake those who aren’t used to a much colder climate do is to bundle up too quickly, as soon as the temperature drops below their comfort zone. If you wear as many layers as possible too early, the shock is just going to be more brutal when the temperature drops even further. Also jacking up the heat in your living quarters (assuming you control that) just makes things worse. Keep the room temperature sensible, and wear an extra layer inside if it’s still a bit chilly. It’s better for you, for your wallet (assuming you’re paying the heating bill separately) and for the environment.</p>
<p>dress in layersssssssss</p>
<p>Son’s good friend was born and raised in LA and handled the Montreal climate just fine. She actually came to love the snow! The city is well-made for the cold weather and white stuff with the underground Metro (which can even be too warm in the winter I’m told), efficient snow removal and even tunnels on the McGill campus.</p>
<p>Thousands of Californians have adapted just fine to Montreal’s winters and hundreds have not. Ultimately whether or not you do is personal: if you have an optimistic disposition and don’t let small things get in your way, then you will be just fine and will probably love the snow and the fresh, bracing temperatures that help wake you up in the morning! If you are the sort that looks for excuses to stay inside and avoid activity, then the cold will be a perfect excuse to complain and become morose. </p>
<p>I would tend to be more concerned about the shorter winter days and the amount of gray compared to southern California rather than the cold. (Montreal has fairly balmy winters compared to where I come from.) Those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder may find a Montreal winter difficult due to the reduced daylight. There are many people in Montreal that run and cycle all winter, so snow and cold do not have to slow you down, unless you want to let them.</p>