Question for those families with kids in colder climate colleges.

[Anonymous]

My daughter hates the heat and is really looking at Northeast, and upper Midwest. She has a tendency to be lazy outside of sports and my concern is those cold/snowy winter months are tough on the kids as there is no sitting outside, picnicking, socializing outside etc... I feel like it is a recipe for depression and loneliness. I am trying to steer her towards some southern/western schools emphasizing she won't be there during the summer. She loves the snow but rarely skis and not sure if all these colleges up north will benifit her emotionally.

Any feedback would be great.

[Anonymous]

My DD, born and raised in DC, has really loved Chicago and hasn't been a shut-in over the winter months. Choosing a dorm right next to the recreational gym (and experiencing a relatively mild winter last year) may have helped prevent hibernation. But she also did a crazy early morning outdoors thing in February, so she clearly wasn't in cold-avoidance mode.

FWIW, I made sure she had excellent coats and boots (bought cheaply online after Xmas of Sr year). In some places (like Chicago) windproof matters as much as warm. And water resistance can be a big plus. A good thermos (i.e. one that really does keep drinks hot for 18 hours) and an assortment of provisions for making warm beverages (chai packets, hot chocolate flakes, spice packets for mulled cider, milk steamer) also contribute to her enjoyment of cold winter days/nights.

[Anonymous]

I hate the heat as well, and was so, so happy to leave Georgia and head to Minnesota (Carleton) for college. We were out all the time in the winter there--cross country skiing, ice skating, or just walking or running outside. They do a great job in most wintry college towns of keeping the roads and sidewalks clear. That area is pretty sunny overall though, even in the winter. I think that makes a big difference for anyone with the potential for seasonal affective disorder, which really hits some kids hard (my DD, who hates cold and grey, is very happy at Rice).

[Anonymous]

college activities involve studying and socializing (and eating) irrespective of the weather.

[Anonymous]

Another Carleton grad here. There were plenty of outdoor activities except when it was super cold, which is rarer these days. Sledding (using cafeteria trays), skiing, broomball, etc. And most colleges have plush rec centers these days.

My DC also goes to college in a cold place and does similar activities. DC also does IM indoor soccer and basketball.

[Anonymous]

You said she loved the snow, so presumable she'd be happy there, no?

Or does she not know what snow every day feels like?

It's very healthy to walk in the snow. Cardiac workout, minimal gear required!

[Anonymous]

A third Carleton grad, in my case originally from Florida. I don't think it's a coincidence that so many of us grads opened this thread, because Carleton students spend so much time outside in the winter despite the cold. I loved trying cross-country skiing and ice skating as PE classes and playing broomball and sledding with friends. And I, too, played indoor soccer.

So my lessons learned: 1) Pay more attention to the activity level of the school population (and what they do for fun) than worrying about exactly how cold a place is. 2) When headed to live in a cold place, don't buy gear intended for a warmer climate! (I'm sure now everything can be bought online, but back when I was in college, I wished I had waited and bought my coat in Minnesota.)

[Anonymous]

Learn to love gore-tex

[Anonymous]

As someone mentioned, most campuses do a great job of clearing snow and people do outdoor activities, and social life doesn't slow down due to weather, most bars near campus were extremely active in winter.

[Anonymous]

You think there's no activity in the cold places? We bundle up and go out there!

We hike, we skate, we go to the gym. We cross country ski. We go for walks.

Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Believe it or not, some people get depressed and lonely in the summer - and feel invigorated and active in colder temperatures.

I LOATHE summer. I feel stagnant and disgusting and depressed all the time. Cold temperatures & snow give me energy, and make me happy - and I've never even been skiing!

Let your daughter make her own decision, and not based on your own feelings or subjective perceptions.

[Anonymous]

My DD is UIUC. She averages 4-5 miles of walking a day to get to classes, lectures, events. Mine hates the cold but loves her boots and her Canada Goose coat. She also loves the opportunities her school provides.

[Anonymous]

Another Carleton grad! So many of us on this board. I was originally from the South and liked the heat, and I found the winter climate in Minnesota very challenging. It was my least favorite part of Carleton. It was hard, and though I loved Carleton, I maybe would've picked a warmer place if I had to do it all over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You think there's no activity in the cold places? We bundle up and go out there!

We hike, we skate, we go to the gym. We cross country ski. We go for walks.

Seriously.

+1

OTOH, those of us who despise the heat are stuck indoors from June-September in DC.

My DC is like me, in that he vastly prefers the cold and snow to the DC climate. We both have the opposite of SAD, and get depressed when it gets hot and muggy outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Believe it or not, some people get depressed and lonely in the summer - and feel invigorated and active in colder temperatures.

I LOATHE summer. I feel stagnant and disgusting and depressed all the time. Cold temperatures & snow give me energy, and make me happy - and I've never even been skiing!

Let your daughter make her own decision, and not based on your own feelings or subjective perceptions.

This describes me perfectly, as well.