Boston in winter?

Old Nov 16th, 2014, 08:58 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Boston in winter?

My daughter, a high school junior, is interested in visiting a few Boston colleges/universities before she applies. She has never been to Boston before. (I was just there this fall and think she will love the city.)
One of the best times for us to visit would be this January. She has a four-day weekend for MLK Day.
I'm sure Bostonians deal well with cold and snow, but is this a bad time, in general, to visit Boston? Or is it still as charming and pretty as in autumn - but a lot colder?

We are in the Chicago area, btw, so we are familiar with cold and snow.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but wanted to get others' opinions who visited there in winter, or live there...
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 09:13 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you are used to Chicago in the winter it should not be any surprise. Even a really lot of snow is cleared up fairly well within 24 hours after a storm. I do not find anything charming about winter - but that is a personal bias. The snow is quite pretty - from inside a warm building.

Since if she attends college in Boston area, she will be here during winter, I think it actually is quite a good time to visit. Anyone can love a city when it is mild and sunny.

Many colleges are still on winter break over MLK weekend - so I would check that out. But I can't think of any other reason not to visit in January.
gail is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 09:19 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks.
You know, I forgot about the long Christmas/January break some colleges have... Hmm. Will check into whether the schools we want to visit are actually in session then. Thanks for the reminder!
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 09:24 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you already know the answer - Weather-wise Boston will be like Chicago in January - cold, windy, with a good chance of snow/rain/sleet - thus you'll be dealing with the same types of outdoor conditions you do back in Chicago. So if you think Chicago in January is "still as charming and pretty as in autumn" then the same will hold true for Boston in January.

Personally, I don't think any city in the northeast is "pretty" in January (no leaves on the trees, a good chance there's snow and slush in the streets, gray skies) but that in itself wouldn't stop me from visiting if that was the only time I could visit. All the historical sites, shops, restaurants, etc. will still be there so in that respect you won't miss out on some of the city's "charm". Just keep in mind that you'll want to spend most of your time with either indoor activities or driving around in a warm car rather than taking long walks in some park or engaging in lots of outdoor activities.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 09:33 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, RoamsAround,

I actually moved from southern Indiana (where I grew up and attended university) to Chicago, after visiting the first time in early January, with several inches of snow on the ground. I loved it! And no, it wasn't "pretty" at all; but I loved that it was a big city, different than where I'd been all my life, and the start of something new in my life...

We are taking her to a couple of campuses here in Chicago - believe me, I'd love for her to decide to stay close by! - but I understand her desire for a different place, geographically. Culturally, Boston is somewhat different than Chicago, and the architecture and history is definitely different. It is also a much smaller city (and seems safer!)

Also looking at Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St.Paul. It's interesting she wants to stay in northern cities...
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 09:42 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sure, if the colleges are in session, nothing wrong with seeing Boston in the winter. Just don't get a car and try to drive there.

There are some great schools in Boston, obviously. Our DD went to Med School there, and our niece goes to Emerson College and likes it a lot.
Tabernash2 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 10:11 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most colleges round here start back just after MLK weekend.

Personally I don't think it's a great time to view colleges especially if they're not in session but needs must. I know how hard it is to fit in these visits junior/senior year.
sassy_cat is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 10:12 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No, we won't be driving! Anyway, I want her to learn to take public transit and get by without a car...
She's interested in a school called Suffolk. I see they are not in session in January, but classes are in session the week before Christmas. Hmm...
I'd like her to look at a couple of other schools too while we're there. I stayed, in Oct., in the neighborhood by NE and the Colleges of the Fenway. I'd prefer for her to attend a small LAC, but if she really likes what she sees at Suffolk and it seems like a decent school... I'll let her decide.
I like that Boston seems smaller and safer than Chicago.
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2014, 10:43 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not sure of your daughter's interests or grades - but Boston has a ton of great/good colleges and as long as you are going you may want to visit at least one that is a stretch as long as it has the majors she is interested in.

(Have read both your threads and ever heard of any of these schools.)

Our elder DD finished law school there earlier this year and LOVED living in Boston - tons of cultural activities (esp lecture etc at many of the schools) and also liked the fact that it wa a smaller city (but convinced her she will return to NYC eventually).
nytraveler is offline  
Old Nov 20th, 2014, 09:28 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From one born in Chicago, coming to Boston area from Missouri: I'd say a trip in wintry January might be a challenge. You never know..sometimes lots of snow and sometimes less. As to colleges, goodness there are indeed choices depending on a major. Many schools and many majors. Yes, there is a cultural emphasis with Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, Berklee, Leslie, Tufts, Emerson, U Mass, and Suffolk in the city center...wonder how she found that one.
Good luck in the search.
Ozarksbill is offline  
Old Nov 20th, 2014, 11:13 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm a Suffolk Law alum - it's reputation in Boston is mostly that of a commuter school that serves a diverse population. Its not an elite school but it provides an excellent pragmatic education. Its been changing its focus to include more dorms/apts for resident students, but most of its students will be local or from within New England. Its former president gained noteriety for being the highest paid university president in the entire country.

What does she want to major in?
bennnie is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 08:59 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your insight, bennie. She is undecided about her future major - but leans toward Spanish/History/Art History.... Definitely liberal arts.

She is more Midwestern than she thinks, , - which is why I think she'd like Minneapolis better, maybe - but she's well-traveled for a kid her age, and she is open-minded and adapts quickly and easily... She's easy-going and accepts and gets along well with people from different backgrounds. Her h.s., is very diverse, only 1/2 white . And she is white. Not religious.
One big stumbling block with Boston schools is the huge numbers of Catholic-Affiliated schools. We don't have problem with that, but she sorta bristles at the idea... I personally like the looks of a school called Emmanuel - but she thinks it sounds too "Catholic" and the male-female ratio is unbalanced.

As for Suffolk, I have issue with the fact that it seems more oriented toward business/finance than liberal arts (nothing wrong with that, just not where she's headed), and that it doesn't have a proper campus. She is a quiet kid - but not shy - who tends to be an introvert and I'd like to see her drawn out of her shell.
I'm also concerned about housing not being guaranteed for upper classmen, combined with the high cost of rents in Boston.
We are looking at schools like Suffolk and Emmanuel because she is a solid B+ student - I don't see her getting into places like Boston College or Tufts, etc, with some merit aid attached. We are looking for a place where she has a chance to get some merit aid, to diffuse costs... She is also somewhat "burned out" on school, in general, and I'm afraid a super competitive academic atmosphere in college will just cause her to drop out altogether. Or depress her.

We are also looking at a couple of schools in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

She's a junior still, but I wanted to have her visit a few schools this year, so she could have a better idea of what the schools/towns were like and she'd be better prepared to decide next fall, and let her have the option of applying early at her favorites, if need be... Or, maybe decide against those places altogether...
In the meantime, it gives us the opportunity to have a couple mother/daughter trips together before she moves out in Fall of 2016.
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 09:40 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interesting insights into your teen thinking about college, religion, leaning toward liberal arts. We've been through three children and three grandchildren. But I remember my own very undecided thoughts as a high school junior.

I do wonder why you are thinking of colleges so far away, like Boston, Philadelphia. I can't see that Boston area makes sense...and you are right it is different from the Middle West, definitely heavily Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, etc. And quite secular too. (But isn't this like Chicago?)

Born in Chicago I grew up in Springfield, met my wife at Drake Un. in Iowa, then grad school Yale...and lived Illinois, Missouri, Kansas as minister. So I am thinking of the many excellent liberal arts colleges in various Middle Western states.

Good luck in your investigations.
Ozarksbill is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 01:12 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you should make the trip, but I think she should look into Emerson if she has any interest in the arts.

Lots of famous performers went there so it is so hot school these days where it was a safety school back in the day but worth looking at.

I am also going to suggest -- I am a former college academic dean -- that if she is burned out, you might want to encourage her not to go right off to college. Many people start college, drop out, start again, etc, who would be a lot better off taking a year or two to do something else.

I am not advocating a year or two of sitting around texting her friends but finding something to do that will help her define herself and what's she wants to do.

The "gap year" is well established in the UK and perhaps ought to be here too. When I was a professor, my best students were people in their 20's who had come to or back to college when they had a compelling reason to be there.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 02:01 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Selecting a college is such a BIG decision today that it is good you are starting early and want to visit colleges this year. My grandson is a junior and they have started the process as well. They have visited my daughter and SIL's alma mater (just south of Boston but a small liberal arts college) and my grandson did like the college. However, sticker shock - over $50,000 a year to attend. We live about 1/2 hr. drive from the college so he could commute but then you miss out on all those important parts of college living. He is an excellent student, motivated, but very quiet and not into the social side of high school. He does a lot of volunteer work with our local YMCA and the special olympic events they have. He seems to enjoy that interaction and the participants love him.

If your daughter does not know what she wants to do yet, then perhaps you might suggest she attend a community college in your area and then transfer to the college of her choice for the last 2 years. This would be a tremendous financial savings.

As far as the safety aspect of Boston colleges, there is no such thing as being safe in our world anymore. Some of the Boston colleges have had student assaults, rapes, etc. It is just a matter of being aware of one's surroundings and especially the college students traveling alone at night. Happens all the time.

Good luck w/ your search. As noted, Suffolk is more of a commuter college. They have an excellent reputation. If she is unsure of what she may want to do w/ her life, then a smaller college might be the best solution.
Luv2travel15 is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 04:40 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ozarksbill, I am having her look at schools here in Chicago too, as well as in Minneapolis and Madison WI. We live in an urban area, albeit in the suburbs, and she has already said she will not attend college "in the middle of nowhere". And I know her - she is right, she will be happier and more comfortable in a suburb close to a city.
As for looking so far away - she wants to experience living somewhere else. Husband and I agree it would be good for her. Although, of course, she's certainly welcome to stick closer to home, . She gets decent grades, she's worked hard, and is mature enough to venture that far, in our opinion... Actually she wants to go an American school in Madrid, either Suffolk U or another one, but we are not comfortable with her leaving the country - by herself - when she is just 18. I'm actually certain she would be just fine, it's just us - we won't be fine! I have assured her that she can study abroad her sophomore or junior year.
My requirements are wherever she goes must be close to a major airport, and she has to be able to get by without a car.

Acksilander - I've considered the "gap year" - but I'm going to let her bring it up - unless she just gets really burned out. She would have to work, though, either here or somewhere else.
I've heard of Emerson, thanks- I'll have her look into it.

Luv2travel15 - She would not grow up as quickly if we kept her home with us to attend community college. We do have U of Illinois in Chicago on her list, though, just in case - but I'd require her to live on campus. It's time for her to leave home.
We also do have the money saved up for her to attend wherever she gets into. We would just like for her to have money left over for a master's degree in the future - because that seems to be needed, more often than not, eventually. She doesn't have much savings, so we've told her that her good grades could be her contribution in trying to obtain an academic scholarship. If not - we will consider something cheaper...

Thanks for all of your insights!
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 09:44 PM
  #17  
cw
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suffolk has a good history department. In fact, there is a free on-line course on the history of Boston offered this semester. Your daughter may want to take a look at it.

Catholic colleges in Boston are not religious in student life and academics. A lot of non-Catholics attend BC, for instance. Emmanuel is in the Fenway area next to Wheelock and Simmons so it is like one extended campus. It's in the city but not such as urban campus as Suffolk, BU, and Emerson.

I went to college just outside of Boston and two of my roommates were from Chicago and Minneapolis. They both loved Boston.

Good luck with your visit. As recent weather events have shown, there's no way to predict what will happen in January.
cw is offline  
Old Nov 23rd, 2014, 07:57 AM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, cw.
I know my daughter, and Boston is the kind of town she would love.

We may wait until it's warmer, though... Mainly because I've found that classes are not in session during MLK weekend.
We definitely plan to visit sometime this year, though.
BumbleB6 is offline  
Old Nov 23rd, 2014, 03:48 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 1 Post
Don't forget about Northeastern University. It has a wide variety of departments and programs including financial aid and work study. It is right near the transportation line, museums, and other colleges. As for safety, that is a main issue in all college areas for women walking alone but there are security programs in place so they need never have to be alone.

I understand young people wanting to use college to experience life away from home. Kids from here go to the Midwest all the time and most of them love it. They may not live there forever, but those college years were precious to them.

My son went to Suffolk Law and it is a commuter school, even as an undergraduate, tough as a newbie to Boston.

Good luck.
eznmomma is offline  
Old Nov 24th, 2014, 07:54 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suffolk would not be my first choice for liberal arts school in Boston, nor do I think they will provide much in merit aid. As a B student she might also look at Simmons. And as far as the male to female ratio at schools in Boston - I wouldn't worry about it. There is a significant abount of socializing between the schools in the Fenway area - Simmons, Wheelock, Emmanuel, Mass College of Pharmacy, Wentworth, Northeastern.

But if your daughter doesn't like Catholics, she might not like Boston - a heavily Catholic city.
bennnie is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -