An Out-of-Stater's Guide to Winter at Penn State
By: Jed Jallorina
Anyone who’s ever attended or visited Penn State knows it happens to be nestled in a region that has some of the most brutal winters in the country. One day you could be wearing short sleeves and the next morning your front door could be blocked by two feet of snow! To say the least, this surprises most out-of-staters (like myself). And I’m speaking from experience when I say, winter in Happy Valley is no laughing matter.
Penn State is home to nearly 25,000 out-of-state students, many of whom are from states like New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. And many of these students often tell me that they wish someone had warned them about just how crazy the winter season can get up here.
So without further ado, here is everything that I wish someone had warned me about winter at Penn State.
1. Pack Warm
As a freshman from Texas, I was very much caught off guard during my first winter in State College. People had told me it would be “cold”, sure, but if there’s one thing you need to remember, it’s this: no matter where in the country you’re from, winter in State College is different from winter in your hometown. Even my Pennsylvanian friends tell me that it’s unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. Maybe it’s the wind, the dry air, or the altitude – all these factors come together and create a very unpleasant experience for the unprepared.
Take a look at the clothes you’ve packed for your first year. Whatever it is, I guarantee you it’s not warm enough. I would fully recommend investing in a single, good puffer jacket, something that’s easy to put on and take off. Everything else (gloves, scarves) is at your discretion. I did fine without them. But you need the puffer jacket.
And don’t forget, you need to find a good pair of waterproof (not water-resistant) boots. This was one of my biggest mistakes. I got cheap, refused to buy snow boots, and ended up wearing out my good shoes in the rain and snow.
And one last thing. This might seem like overkill, but if you’re planning on going to a lot of football games (I sure did), then do yourself a favor and order a bunch of shake-to-activate handwarmers.
2. Live Close
Forcing yourself out of bed to walk twenty minutes through an active blizzard is probably not an ideal start to your day, but if you intend to go to Penn State, it’s a reality you have to accept.
Every freshman can choose between one of several on-campus dorms for their first year. And if you’re not quite yet acclimated to Happy Valley winter, then proximity to your classes should be a major factor in your decision. And this definitely depends on your major. Business majors will have most of their classes up north, and engineers and liberal arts majors will be primarily around the west campus.
In my case, I put down East Halls as my first choice, but I was tragically dropped into Pollock. At first, I was quite disappointed, but safe to say, when it got into the negative temperatures around February, I was very grateful to be living so close to campus. Not to mention, I lived right next to what was probably one of the best dining halls. In other words, living on campus can have its advantages.
Now, if you don’t mind the long walks through the blistering cold, then be my guest and pick whatever dorm you want. If that’s the route you’re choosing, then be ready for some character-building marches to your 9 AM classes through rain, sleet, and snow. Remember what I mentioned about snow boots?
3. Don’t Get Hooked on Caffeine
When it starts to get chilly out, a lot of students’ first instinct is to run to the closest Edge and buy themselves a hot drink. It seems like a good idea, at first: coffee gives you a much-needed boost of energy, keeps away the cold, and (allegedly) improves cognitive function. And in moderation, it’s just fine. But trust me: getting yourself addicted to coffee will backfire quickly.
Several of my classmates have told me that, after indulging throughout their first semester, they have found themselves literally addicted to caffeine. At one point, one of my close friends was spending over twenty dollars a day on coffee alone. Now, she says, she’s reached a point where she can’t get through her morning classes without her daily double shot.
I am no health expert, but there is no way that is good for you. Normally, people don’t become caffeine addicts until they’re forty, so my personal advice would be to wait until at least your late twenties before jerry-rigging your own cardiovascular system.
If you need something to get through the cold January mornings, I fully recommend investing in an electric kettle and buying those big packs of tea packets. Hot tea has all the same energy-boosting effects as coffee, it is far cheaper, and you won’t be cursing yourself twenty years down the line. It is also great for improving your focus and keeping the mind sharp, so if you ever find yourself with an 8 PM test at the Pollock Center, you can make yourself a hot cup without worrying about the crash afterward.
And did I mention it’s a lot cheaper?
4. Seasonal Depression
This is a big one. Around January, a lot of Penn Staters report increased feelings of loneliness, emptiness, and overall lack of motivation. There’s a lot of research going on with this, but personally, I believe the weather is a big factor.
Winter at Penn State has a way of sapping your energy and your mood with it. Classes start to pile up, you see your friends less and less often, and you start to miss club meetings. It’s a lot harder to drag yourself to socialize when it’s ten degrees out.
I cannot emphasize this enough, but it is very important that you stay involved in your clubs and activities, even when it gets cold. Consistent involvement in student orgs is the best way to fight back the seasonal depression; maintaining those connections is often what gets people through the winter.
Another thing that helps immensely is staying active. Exercise does wonders for the mind, helps you clear your head, and keeps you laser-focused. So keep on hitting the gym, no matter how cold it gets.
The thing is, everybody and their mom had the same idea as you, so the gyms get extremely packed around this time of year. Try to work around your schedule and go around midday (if possible), and avoid peak times. If you try to go mid-morning or late evening, prepare to be disappointed.
That’s everything I could think of. My last word of advice to my fellow out-of-staters would be to be adaptable. Things are going to be very, very different than what you’re used to, especially if you’re not from the East Coast. But you quickly learn that there are fun things to do in the snow, too – skiing, snowboarding, even ice fishing if you join the right club. Not to mention those late nights right after a fresh snow, riding a makeshift toboggan down the HUB lawn. If you’re like me and you’ve never seen snow before, then your first year will definitely be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
If you prepare adequately, winter at Penn State can be very enjoyable. And if you don’t, then you can always take a bit of advice from Coach Franklin and hit that transfer portal.
Stay warm, everybody!