How important do you think weather is when you choose which school to attend?
I strongly dislike cold weathers, so it’s difficult for me to decide schools.
Do you think having strong academics and programs are far more important than weather?
Do you think weather should be the criterion in choosing schools?
It will take one year to adjust to the tougher climate unless you’re from SoCal or a really mild climate. Another issue for you may be the maximum temp at the dorm. Northern schools may set the thermostat pretty low.
You may want to look at how much walking around outside you need to do on your campus. Some campuses are pretty compact and would spare you the suffering. Others encourage outside strolls.
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You know you, and you know your priorities. IMO cold is less critical than grey: there are cold places where there is plenty of sunshine, and other places that are cold and grey (NW PA comes to mind). Bright skies can make up for a lot!
In general, I would put cold behind most metrics in terms of importance. Academics and the overall campus culture would be the two biggest to me, closely followed by 'extra’s (ECs, on & off campus activities). Dorms and food would come next, followed by weather and travel access. BUT: that’s me. When you think about why you are choosing to go to BS, what are the most important factors to you & your family?
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Well, if you’re talking about NE v CA weather, that is different. I’m not talking about the weather, but NE BS have a different culture v CA BS.
If weather is important to your quality of life, then it’s important.
You may want to consider the respective layouts of the schools under consideration. Favor a school where most of your classes and other activities are close to the student housing. In other words, a compact campus might be better for you than one that’s very spread out.
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I do think weather is an important thing to consider, especially if you already know that certain weather affects you negatively. We have recently heard stories of kids struggling to get through winters at a BS that has very cold, dark winters. Even more “normal” winters can be difficult for those not used to it.
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Most boarding schools commonly discussed here are in the northeast, and imo there isn’t enough regional variation to make, say, choosing a school in NJ favorable over choosing a school in NH (for instance, it’s currently 42º at Lawrenceville and 41º at Exeter).
On the other hand, if you’re also applying to west coast schools, then it may make up a big part of your decision.
I concur. As a lifelong NYer now living in the Boston area, I would not let weather be a factor in my decision amongst the New England schools, Lawrenceville included.
But like you said…if you’re also looking at the west coast, that’s a different animal.
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We lived in the Philadelphia area for many years. We currently live in the Boston area. Compared to Philly, the Fall/cold-weather starts (on average) about two weeks sooner in New England. And the Spring/warmer-wether starts about two weeks later. In New England the winter is about a month longer, compared to Philadelphia. When we lived in Philly we’d drive up to Maine over Columbus Day weekend, the leaves in Philly hadn’t even started to turn, as we drove north it got progressively more “fall”, by the time we got to Maine it was full on Fall.
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We live in AZ. Our son saw snow for the first time at BS. The cold made him appreciate home more, but he even stayed in the NE for college. Weather was not a metric that figured into his goals and what he wanted to accomplish. If you can achieve what you want to achieve in multiple places that have significantly different weather then, perhaps, weather might tip the scale. Otherwise, I advise that you purchase clothing appropriate to the climate* at the BS that fits you best and not give it a second thought.
*It is an odd BS phenomenon that, even under blizzard conditions, some students continue to wear shorts, hoodies, boat shoes, flip flops, etc. Per my comment on the other thread about the contents of ChoatieKid’s “High School Crap” box, perhaps I would have found his winterwear wadded up in a similarly labelled box had I searched more diligently. Not sure I’ve ever seen him in winter clothing. Don’t be my kid.
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Yup. And, if Canada Goose weren’t considered fashion by some, they too would be relegated to the back of the closet.
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I have never been in a dorm in a northern school that wasn’t HOT. My kid keeps his window open because it’s too hot otherwise.
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No one can answer this for you. If you really hate the cold it does get cold in New England. Not as cold as it used to though and it snows less as well.
If you really really hate the cold, and the dark, don’t come to BS in NE. If its just kind of a bummer for you then move it down in your priorities.
I really had not thought of this. I just looked up the weather in New England for the next week of revisits. I was shocked! I honestly had no idea it could still be in the 40’s in spring during the daytime, I was guessing mid-60’s. Guess I am packing a coat.
The education is still worth it, in my opinion, but I will be sending away a very shocked southern boy.
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Amen! My kid complains about the dorm’s winter thermostat being too high - kid grew up in a drafty house with a thermostat that only went up to 67.
It would be helpful if @dneksk clarified what is meant by “cold weathers”. There are people who consider 45 F cold, after all.
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I consider 45 to be a near death experience.
My southern kiddo wanted a quintessential NE boarding school experience, snow and all. Her first winter in Massachusetts was eye-opening. To say she is so excited for Spring on campus would be an understatement.
Weather was a factor in her choosing to apply and go North, but it wasn’t the most important factor. Now that she has experienced it for a year, I still think she would take the same road.
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Yes. Absolutely. Winter lasts a looooong time up North. It snowed last week. Spring Term is really a misnomer, it should be called Second Winter term until early May.
If your kid is passionate about a specific spring sport, then a NE boarding school might be tricky. Maybe check the requirements for spring activities to make sure that the school isn’t going to be making your kid go out and break the ice on the water before crew practice. If you’re allowed to choose performing arts, debate, robotics or something more ‘indoor’ then that might help.
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Re: thermostats. For some older dorms (which in many long standing BS is…“all the dorms”) the heating system is more of an “on/off” thing because even if a given temp has been reached the steam/hot water still circulates through the entire system.
My freshman year dorm in college also enjoyed clanging radiators. So fun. Windows open in the winter because it was stifling hot, and sound akin to someone hitting the radiator with either a coat hanger, or a hammer. All night long. Good times.
Re: temps…yeah. The revisit at PA last week was 34 degrees. The one this week will be 57 degrees. It’d be interesting to track yield against temperature on revisit days.
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