I went to college in NE. I didn't notice the weather. I grew up in the upper midwest, so it was actually warmer in NE.

Wear boots, coats, gloves, scarves. Do a lot of stuff outdoors. They have heat and they clear walkways quickly. Winter sports are fun.

New England weather isn't depressing. It's not the Arctic Circle. It gets sunny most winter days. It's cold for a while, and then it warms up.

If your child hates cold weather, as my DC does, then look South. But I wouldn't skip NE schools becuase of weather. It's not that much worse than it is here.

Anonymous wrote:Op again, and thanks. DC likes skiing -- isn't amazing at it but perfectly competent. So there's that.

That helps a lot. Did for me. I went to school in Vermont. One day during college I skied 19 days in a row

Full disclosure: I was also drunk and high a lot.

I grew up in a warm state, and honestly my winters in MA and RI didn't feel much worse than winters here in DC. I don't think there's a huge difference in terms of darkness hours. We've had bigger/more snow here in DC in the last 10 years than I did in (southern) New England the 10 years before that. So basically, if your kid is ok with winter here, I think she'll be okay with winter there. You pack warm clothes, you deal, and generally you go home for like a month over winter break anyway.

Now, NORTHERN New England, or the upper Midwest, is a different story. My friends at Carleton and Colby had to adjust to life on what felt like a different planet. I will never forget visiting my Colby friend in Feb., and asking when the snow on the ground had fallen (like, how long ago was the storm?) She looked at me blankly and said: November.

Well and what sucks is that if you are from Connecticut or Vermont and live there year round, you have nice summers. But as students, unless you are at Dartmouth, you are there for the dreary winters but not lovely summers.

Do these still happen with global warming?

Around here you can have a winter with hardly any snow.

Anonymous wrote:I only wish I had gone to college in a cold climate - instead, I went south where it was always muggy. I would have loved sledding, cold, crisp air, and getting to wear boots and coats all the time. Heading south was the wrong decision for me!! Definitely a cold weather person.

+1

Op again, and thanks. DC likes skiing -- isn't amazing at it but perfectly competent. So there's that.

I'm not outdoorsy, went to college in NH and loved it, but then again I don't have depressive tendencies. I don't understand people who are so affected by the weather but I know it's a thing.

I went to Rochester and loved it. I loved the tunnels connecting the buildings. I loved the snow. I, after all, didn't have to drive in it. I loved shopping for snow boots. I loved eating hearty cold-weather food. It was great.

If DS is not into outdoor sports, AVOID the NE schools at all costs. These prior posts all fail to mention one overriding point....the day after day cold/short hours of daylight can and DO become very depressing. VERY DEPRESSING. GO ELSEWHERE if you are not into the outdoor winder sports.

As a grad of one of those NE Schools, these prior posts are all BS. The overwhelming thing NOT being mentioned is that the long cold winter can and DOES become very depressing. Day after day of dark, cold winter is really depressing. YES, if you like winter outdoor activities, they are great. I'd recommend that if DC is not into outdoor sports etc., look elsewhere.

My kid's school had indoor heated pools, racquetball, basketball, indoor track, weight rooms, movie rooms, all kinds of things to do in the cold weather. You only get bored if you want to be bored.

I don't know what you are talking about. All I hear about is the Earth is getting warmer....

The Earth is getting warmer.

The Earth is getting warmer.

The Earth is getting warmer.

The Earth is getting warmer.

The Earth is getting warmer.

I went to the University of Vermont. They heat the classrooms and dorms. :O)

Just make sure DC had the right equipment.

Good jacket, gloves and boots. Luckily, flannel, sweaters and turtlenecks were in fashion when I was a student. Not sure about now, though

Anonymous wrote:Went to college in VT. Like PP said, you adjust. We took advantage of all the things winter has to offer - skiing, skating, midnight sledding, snowball fights, broom ball, etc..

One aspect that was nice, and probably had something to do with it being a crunchy school to begin with, is that the glamor quotient is toned down. Hard to be all dressed up when you are in snow boots, hats and bulky jackets all of the time. Formal parties were a challenge but we overcame ?

I loved my years at a crunchy small college in the northermost reaches of WI! Nothing glam about it and I loved it. Plus, there are some things up north that you'll just never do int he DC area, like learning to snowshoe and dog sled, or walking out on a frozen Great Lake. And tapping your own maple syrup!