I spent 7 years in Ithaca, NY (college and grad school). Yes, it is cold but also can be quite beautiful. My kids headed south for college and love the warmer weather, but my niece goes to school in upstate NY and couldn't be happier. She just wears lots of layers, great boots, and looks forward to Spring.

^^ forgot to add--make sure your kid comes home for Thanksgiving and Winter break, and maybe if there is a break in February too. Breaking up the accumulation of gray sky day after gray sky day really helps.

Anonymous wrote:Neither DH nor I went to college in New England or other brutally cold parts of the country. As DS begins his college search the long, cold winters in some of these places make me nervous. What is it like, really? Are more students at these schools depressed (staying inside more)?

I'm from Southern California and went to law school in New England. I was woefully unprepared, but your kid will be with:
llbean.com
landsend.com

ah and there's one more; I'm sure it will be on someone's reply.

Know that shoes can be waterproof! I had no idea and had wet socks for months before figuring this out.

Know that you can put on the most amazingly warm coat, but it's your head, neck hands and feet that need to be warm for you to feel warm. You can actually get away with not such a huge coat if you learn this lesson.

And I'll go back and look at the replies but I'm sure "layers" has been mentioned.

I've got a fabulous alarm that has also changed my life (and my kids' lives, too!) It's called the Phillips Wake Up light. Get your kid that.

Take Vitamin D3 drops to combat the lack of sunlight.

Lastly, I had trouble "getting" the NE until one day I looked at it as if I were in England. Same language, different culture. Once I realized that NE is a different culture than SoCal, I "understood" it a lot better and didn't feel so much like a misfit.

Your kid has a great opportunity and will benefit tremendously, OP. Don't worry!

Undergrad in upper Midwest and law school in NE. Would take NE winters over Midwest every time.

Bates Grad here - loved it - we skied a lot, Winter was the best part of the year.

College in MN and grad school in New England. I skied a lot in both places so was outside all the time. I love winter though so did not find either place depressing.

Anonymous wrote:My younger sister chose Syracus
e. I bought her LL Bean snow boots as a graduation gift. She survived.

I chose SYRACUSE, too---and I am SOOOO glad I did....YES, a lot of snow....BUT it is a large (although self-contained) campus, and a lot of "school spirit" in part because of the school's location and weather....I loved this aspect of the school...I think it boils down to the "type" of school you want!! It is a very campus-driven school.

Anonymous wrote:I went to Bates College in Maine and I must admit that it was pretty cold up there but it also meant that a lot of the social life was centered on campus since nobody wanted to walk too far in that weather. We complained but it was usually pretty fun and beautiful from what I recall. As long as you have some warm sweaters, coats and good boots you are fine. My DC is looking at Maine schools now and she's someone who doesn't get bothered by cold so I'm encouraging her not to let the weather be a huge factor - though I will have her visit in the winter just to make sure she really "gets" how cold it will be!

+1 Colby grad here....it can be BRUTAL. Glad I did it...but would think twice about advising DC to consider it. There are better schools in warmer climates.

Anonymous wrote:Cold weather makes for a very easy excuse not to turn up to class however.

Hah! We wish it did. Not once in four years was a single class cancelled due to snow or cold. We should send the entire DC area up to NE to grow some balls when it comes to snow.

Anonymous wrote:Shining post-LOL

It made me laugh too. That's what I think if long winters but others love the cold. Skiing, sledding, hot drinks by the fire. If winter was just one month long, I'd love it. I hate the darkness mostly.

Cold weather makes for a very easy excuse not to turn up to class however.

I went to Bates College in Maine and I must admit that it was pretty cold up there but it also meant that a lot of the social life was centered on campus since nobody wanted to walk too far in that weather. We complained but it was usually pretty fun and beautiful from what I recall. As long as you have some warm sweaters, coats and good boots you are fine. My DC is looking at Maine schools now and she's someone who doesn't get bothered by cold so I'm encouraging her not to let the weather be a huge factor - though I will have her visit in the winter just to make sure she really "gets" how cold it will be!

Shining post-LOL