<p>I would wait until you got to Kalamazoo. During freshman orientation there are opportunities to go to some bigger stores. It would be easier and cheaper to buy gear then. You will need a coat, a hat and gloves. Some people like scarves. Prices vary so much. You can buy things like these at Target or Meijer for a cheaper price (coats as low as maybe $40, hats/gloves/scarves around $10) or there are sporting goods stores where you can buy Patagonia or North Face brands. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my S is a sophomore and has never owned boots (except for the ones for LandSea) and we we live only about an hour from Kalamazoo. He wears just regular shoes and lots of students wear athletic shoes in the winter. It is nice to have waterproof boots, but not totally necessary. As long as you have some good sturdy shoes that cover your feet and have a durable sole on the bottom, you will be fine.</p>