<p>Honestly, how bad is the winter in Minnesota if you come from a place where the coldest it gets is 40 degrees? Is is bearable or is it miserable? I am pretty tolerant of the weather, but I have never experienced cold like that except for occasional trips to the snow.</p>
<p>It’s hard to explain how it feels until you experience it. I have no idea what it’s like to live somewhere where the coldest it gets is 40 degrees. But for someone who’s lived here my whole life I can say it sucks. But the U has tunnels. Stay inside and it wont suck that bad. It’ll definitely be a shock because you “take occasional trips to the snow” because there’s three feet of snow in my back yard and there has been for a while. Stay inside and it won’t be that bad. </p>
<p>Thanks, if I choose to go there I will take your advice for sure. Like i said I’m not the guy who lets stuff like that bother me but I have never experienced anything even close to zero let alone below zero.</p>
<p>I moved from Texas to Michigan long time ago. Although it is not as cold as Minnesota, it took one winter to adjust for it. This winter has been extremely cold in the mid-west, so that would have been a shock to those freshmen from the South. Just make sure you are well prepared for the winter. You will need layers of winter clothing and winter boots.</p>
<p>Make sure you can layer your clothing plus a good pair of water resistant shoes/boots is a plus. DS says it hasn’t been too bad but then he enjoys the cold weather. He spent most of his life in Northern VA. </p>
<p>Living in Southern Cal and D will be deciding between UC Santa Barbara vs Univ of Minnesota. On paper I like UMN because of the study abroad, 4 year guarantee, BA program in CLA (allows more freedom to possible minor or double major) and possible work study/research. UCSB was her not her first choice as a UC, but I think once she visits the campus next weekend (its’ right there on the beach) UMN maybe a hard sell. Really how bad are the winters (excluding this year as I know it not the norm)? I’ve told her the best time to study abroad would be to pick a Spring Sem so she could skip the winter. </p>
<p>Also how easy is it to travel into downtown or Mall of America from campus in the winter? Living on campus is it easy to shopping for necessitates like at Target in the winter? </p>
<p>@Lakerstype Winters are bad, but don’t let the cold be the reason she doesn’t go to the U. It’ll be a shock, but don’t let it change her opinion. It’s extremely easy to shop, tons of stores all over the place and a light rail directly to the mall. </p>
<p>When the green line opens up, you can take the light rail directly to Mall of America (transfer at the Metrodome to the blue line). Now you have to take the bus to the Metrodome station and take the light rail to the Mall or downtown. You can also take the light rail to the airport. They are opening a Target Express in Dinkytown plus there is a Walgreen/CVS near the campus. It is extremely easy to get around :)</p>
<p>I currently do PSEO here, and I’ve lived here all my life, so I’m pretty used to it, but honestly it sucks. I usually end up using the tunnel system, which is really nice so I don’t have to be outside as long. They have good bussing and they’re opening up another lightrail so that would be really nice. </p>
<p>Pretty much as long as you get a warm winter coat and gloves you should be okay. </p>
<p>Thanks guys I am visiting in two weeks and I know it is no longer really winter but I will at least be able to experience a little bit of cold</p>
<p>We could get up to 12 inches of snow tonight… lol</p>
<p>Wow I don’t get that much rain a year!!! @TransferGopher</p>
<p>@lakerstype Basing my knowledge on staying in Minneapolis for 4 days for a conference a few years back, getting to the Mall of America was pretty straight forward. The light rail is really efficient, and during my stay winter hit really hard. There are tunnels everywhere which is good.</p>
<p>Oh, and the mall is really really HUGE in case you haven’t been there before. It’s a good workout to just walk around. The prices are a little bit higher, but the varieties of eateries and shops is mindblowing. Fascinating is a word I’d use to describe it.</p>
<p>It gets pretty flipping cold, but that shouldn’t be a determining factor of whether or not you choose the school! I’ve lived in MN all my life and am pretty used to it, but even my first year on campus during the winter was pretty rattling. Invest in a long coat and wear hat/gloves and you should be fine. Campus connectors (free buses that run between the banks) and the tunnels are a great way to walk around the big campus during the winter without having to be outside.</p>
<p>@little1 Yeah, I agree, unless you get sick easily like myself. I’m from chicago and I get sick every other week during the winter.</p>
<p>Really depends on how you take weather. I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life and I don’t mind it, but some of my friends who have lived here their whole lives too hate it. But honestly, if you dress for the weather and only go outside when it’s necessary, then I think you’ll be fine! </p>