<p>I’m a senior from Connecticut who loves Michigan a lot; I was very happy to be accepted to LSA. It seems like a great, reputable school in a phenomenal college town. Everything just seems peeeeeeerfect…</p>
<p>…except one thing.</p>
<p>I hate the cold. I CAN NOT STAND the winter in Connecticut, with its’ short days, muddy snow and depressing leafless trees. When it’s cold outside, I just want to stay INSIDE and wait until it’s warm again. Even the fall depresses me, as it foreshadows winter. </p>
<p>On the contrary, during the spring and summer months I’m as happy as can be. I’m energetic, active, and just have a great state of mind.</p>
<p>The one thing holding me back from this amazing school is the fact that it is known for its’ brutal temperatures and long winters-just what I hate. EVERYTHING else is perfect about the school though.</p>
<p>So…how do you deal? It’d be silly to choose a different school just because of weather-especially when Mich is perfect for me. What should I do?</p>
<p>Tips, advice, comments would be great. Merci beaucoup!</p>
<p>I feel you, man. I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, and I get the WORST mid-winter depression imaginable. But I’ve found a few ways to beat it, although it does take a bit of effort. I got one of those Verilux “HappyLights” that give off natural light and help synthesize Vitamin D. You have to sit by it for a while, but it helps. I also take a multivitamin with a lot of B-Complex vitamins, which help with depression. Go to GNC and ask about it, they can help you out. Finally, and probably biggest, exercise, especially something that gets you moving, like running. The release of endorphins and the movement in general is proven to help combat symptoms of depression, and it works wonders. Good luck!</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll be applying to UCLA, as that’s on the complete opposite side of the country (I’m from the east coast).</p>
<p>Those are good suggestions Crono, and I appreciate them! How would you say the winters are within the context of the university (and not like, medically)? Are people still out on the lawn playing frisbee in 20 degree weather? Do people just tend to hang out inside? etc…</p>
<p>Since u like good weather, i assume u would would want to live in West Coast. might as well start now.
The cheaper UCLA tuition are more than enough to make up for the more expensive airplane tickets.</p>
<p>I agree with the B-vitamin thing. Also, buy a space heater and fleece blankets. They come in handy. Good warm socks and thermal shirts are a great investment too. </p>
<p>Also, try joining some sort of sport in the winter. The activity helps me to stay positive during those dreary days. Swimming is especially good because of the heat of the pool area. :)</p>
<p>OP could look at schools on the west coast, or say even schools like University of Florida/ Miami. Maybe even University of Texas- Austin, and UNC, Duke etc… </p>
<p>Though if University of Michigan is absolutely perfect for you in reasons it would be silly to decline the school away just because of the weather. You probably could ask the same question for other schools as well, such as ( example) UCLA being absolutely perfect for you besides its on the west coast… to reasons that also would be a silly reason to exclude the school.</p>
<p>If your a resident of Connecticut the weather in Michigan is very similar and would be a example of what type of winter to expect. Michigan often gets more snow and often the reason is due to the Great Lakes ( lake effect snow).</p>
<p>Haha, you’re not gonna see people outside during the winter unless it’s to get to class. I go to A2 for State choral competitions for a week every year in January/February, people aren’t outside. They’re all huddled up indoors somewhere. But that’s not to say there isn’t plenty to do!</p>
<p>I am a native Midwesterner, and I always try to keep myself active. My schedule is so busy that I don’t have time to look up the weather. I have adjusted to fluctuations in the temperatures.</p>
<p>Finally…</p>
<p>DO NOT LOCK YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM ALL DAY.</p>
<p>Anyone who does that is bound to have depression symptoms.</p>
<p>Haha, yes they do! My friends and I play frisbee on Thursday nights … last Thursday it was actually 20 degrees. We’re planning to continue playing.</p>
<p>Of course, there’s IM sports year-round, so you can find something to play, though it might be indoors.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I disagree with you. People are outside all the time, including in the winter. OK, perhaps you can’t spend all day outside anymore, but there’s still plenty of fun things to do outdoors during the cold.</p>
<p>Especially sledding/skiing/snowboard in the Arb. That tends to be awesome.</p>
<p>Christmas decorations, hot chocolate, and Refuse To Go Outside Unless There is a Fire, and Maybe Not Even Then movie days. I’ve also lived in SE Michigan my whole life (and I have arthritis and cold completely sucks), and for me it’s just a matter of appreciating the beauty and staying inside as much as possible. Doesn’t make it easy to cope with, but it makes it livable. </p>
<p>Though I just bought a pair of snow boots and look forward to going sledding for the first time ever this year. I am pretty excited about that.</p>
<p>interesting. thanks, everyone, for all the responses! i’d love to hear more opinions if anyone has any. it’s like…i’m falling in love with the school while i’m looking at online pictures of UMich and Ann Arbor (as the pictures have green grass and the sun shining)…but then i realize that 2/3 of the time i’m there it will be disgusting, wet, and cold!</p>
<p>The good thing is that it won’t be disgusting and wet most of the time. Typically, in the fall, before mid-November or so, the weather varies a lot - there will be warm, sunny, pleasant days, and there will be annoying, rainy, wet ones. But once winter hits, everything gets a lot colder, and there’s very little wetness. </p>
<p>In other words, you can expect snow and cold for a lot of the time you’ll be here, but at least the campus won’t be muddy and disgusting.</p>
<p>As a native Michigander, what sucks more than the cold is the gray. Starting in late october, it gets really gray, and doesn’t let up until like March-ish. That’s what gets me down the most.</p>
<p>i think weather is a huge part of the college decision. i applied to michbut the idea of being so cold, makes me miserable. I want to be able to just go out without bundling up. There are schools that are warmer with the same features as Mich. I think UNC would be my next choice before Mich</p>