<p>As a student from the west coast who is seriously considering attending Yale, I just had a question about how to adjust to the weather there. I've heard that you stay indoors for most of the school year due to the harsh winters and was wondering if any Yale students from the West could share their experiences transitioning to the climate (i.e. what kind of clothes they found necessary, etc).</p>
<p>Geez: It's New Haven CT, not an Anarctic research station! LOL</p>
<p>You know, a goodly portion of the US population lives in that climate similar to New Haven ...</p>
<p>WInters aren't that harsh (but it's all relative, I guess). Very few days of under zero, some slush and maybe one or two big storms. First snow generally in Dec. Melts in March. Jan & Feb are pretty grey. </p>
<p>Boots, long underwear, good coat, hat & gloves.</p>
<p>T26E4 is right--much of the world lives in a climate that is similar to New Haven's, or harsher. You'll find a way to deal. It is untrue that "you stay indoors for most of the school year"--as T26E4 pointed out, winter is Dec-mid March. It's true that you probably won't be hanging out outside a lot during those months.</p>
<p>Coming from San Jose, I haven't found the weather to be that big of a problem, though now that I'm back for Spring Break I can say that CA's weather is truly gorgeous.</p>
<p>But yeah, all you need are several layers, a hat, gloves, and a scarf. I worried about the awkwardness of wearing long underwear, but haven't had to wear it once. The only problem is when it gets below 20 degrees, which is when exposed skin starts to hurt. But this winter it went that low for probably only 2 weeks total.</p>
<p>i apologize if i sounded melodramatic, but at this point weather is something i'm giving a lot of consideration to. i live in seattle, and although it gets cold here, it never dips below 30 degrees. actually, this thread was inspired by an article i read in the yale daily news about how yale hasn't called a snow day since the 1970's and only after the governor shut down the state. in any case, thanks for clearing up some misconceptions!</p>
<p>Think of it as an opportunity to invest in many, many stylish coats. Also, if you stay over the summer, you'll get to experience the other extreme! I did a debate program at Yale two years ago and it took no less than six fans to make my dorm room remotely bearable...despite the fact that I come from California.</p>
<p>I'm from South Texas. I gets to about, 115 F during the summer.</p>
<p>I think I can talk about this :0</p>
<p>It can get cold. But you can adjust yourself to the slower movement of particles rather easily. (Hehe, Chem reference). The bad part comes in dealing with the wind. Oh, the bloody wind. Just find a way to deal with the wind.</p>
<p>That said...it will be an interesting experience. Don't worry, a majority of the US's great colleges are in the cold too...you are going to have to deal :) Come to Yale: We have snowball fights at 4 am.</p>
<p>i actually heard about the annual snowball fights between rival colleges on the first snowfall of the year. it all sounds so exciting!</p>
<p>Oh yes! Unfortunately, on old Campus, they ganged up on Vanderbilt Hall (which houses Branford (woohoo!0) and Berklely freshmen). The other 8 freshmen housing areas on Old Campus ganged up and attacked us!</p>
<p>For VANDY WE MUST FIGHT!</p>
<p>oh man i just read an old post entitled "confessions of a yale freshman" and it's just chock full of unabashed, yale-centric enthusiasm. my favorite part is the sheer pride that every yalie seems to have for his or her college. i just can't get enough!</p>
<p>Calif gal...types of coats? boots? hat? Gloves? Same as for skiing, or?</p>
<p>Wait until you get to CT. Better selection & better prices than anything you can get in CA (which is aimed at the ski crowd). </p>
<p>Sometimes CT even has tax free holidays (tax-free weeks where clothes and shoes are tax free). I don't recall how often but it happens.</p>
<p>Thanks T26E4. Love the idea of tax-free week!!! I wish we had that in California!!!</p>
<p>Tax free weeks are usually in the summer, before k-12 starts in CT. Probably late August.</p>
<p>I recommend one of the huge poofy jackets(with the feathers or down), they are warm as hell. The wind is worse than the cold. This winter has been nothing compared to years passed.</p>
<p>I don't go to Yale (waiting for decision right now), but I live about 20 mins away, so...</p>
<p>This year has actually been pretty insane. We've had some 70 degree days in the middle of winter, followed by snow storms. Yeah. That's the main thing to get used to.</p>
<p>Okay, so like T26E4 said, I'd wait 'till you got here before you go shopping. On tax-free days, all items of clothing under $75 are tax-free. I think. You know, I never really pay attention to these things. You should be able to get away with single layers until... sometime in September, I would think. After that, invest in a sweatshirt or the like. You'll want a coat starting in October. The cold weather should last until March, but like I said, there have been weird days this year. New Haven is pretty mild compared to the rest of CT/New England -- since our county is shoreline, we don't get as much snow as northern CT (usually a few inches at most for us). I don't recall temperatures going below zero this year, although there have been a few days when it's been single digits, and the wind chill can get pretty bad.</p>
<p>Really, if you've been here awhile, the usual temps in the 30s don't feel so bad. :) And temps in the 40s in the winter are almost heavenly.</p>
<p>I'm actually concerned about this too :D.</p>
<p>I used to live in Connecticut (Fairfield County), but since moving to California, my blood's thinned a lot. Whereas 40-degree weather never fazed me before, I now think 60 degrees is chilly.</p>
<p>Hopefully the readjustment won't be too painful.</p>
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Hopefully the readjustment won't be too painful.
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<p>Yes, but don't forget the days in September/June when the humidity is like, 100%, and it feels like you're in a permanent sauna... :)</p>
<p>I forgot to mention: CT sales tax isn't too bad, anyway -- it's 6%, compared to NY's 10%. I don't know what it is on the West Coast, though. Oh, and also, do bring a fan. It does get cold here, but it also gets really hot, especially since I don't think some/any of the freshman dorms have air conditioning (someone correct me if I'm wrong). A few years ago, I stayed in the Old Campus at Welch over the summer for a program, and it was stifling.</p>
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Yes, but don't forget the days in September/June when the humidity is like, 100%, and it feels like you're in a permanent sauna...
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<p>Oh, I haven't forgotten, hah. The days when everything was so sticky that I didn't even want to move at all, and I constantly needed a fan or an air conditioned room.</p>
<p>I do miss the snow though, so that'll be nice to have back. Snowmen and snowball fights sounds like a great winter.</p>