What it’s like going to college on the East Coast -by a California girl

When I was applying to schools, I told my parents and my college advisor that I refused to go to any school that had cold weather. At that point in my life, I was dreaming about attending a UC school like UCSB or UCSD. I wanted to experience living my college years by the beach so badly. 

Well, by the end of the application process and when I was down to choosing between my top two schools (the University of Colorado Boulder and Boston University) I could not have been further from my original dream. To be honest, I got flat out rejected from every UC school I applied to. 

Before I write any further into this blog post, I want to establish that I am in love with attending school in Boston. After attending 1.25 semesters physically there, I know that I 100% made the right choice and that I ended up where I needed to be. 

So one may ask, what is it like to experience America’s other coast as a college student? Well, I’m glad you asked.

It’s cold, like bone-chilling cold, especially from January to March. Sometimes, it rains sideways because of the chilling wind that is so strong that it could knock you down. There are certain places around BU’s campus (like in between Rich Hall and the west campus dining hall) that create wind tunnels. If you have made it this far in your life without knowing or experiencing a wind tunnel, consider yourself lucky. 

When I moved into my freshman dorm in January,  (I took a gap semester) the temperature was in the single digits. When I started realizing what I actually got myself into regarding Boston’s weather situation, I internally panicked. I remember the first few weeks before I met some good friends that eventually ended up becoming my future sophomore year roommates, I considered transferring and applying to UCSB because I thought that being in the warmth would make my college experience better.

I was so wrong! I learned after my first semester at BU that it's not the weather that makes your college experience great, it's about the individuals you meet along the way and the quality of your education.

Ironically, a lot of people I immediately bonded with at BU were California or West Coast kids too. We actually first bonded over being so cold some nights when we were walking through Allston to the frat houses in our skimpy going out clothes. 

My closest friends at school are all from New York State. It was so fun getting to know them and as we started spending all of our free time together, I started picking up some of their “East Coast slang.” If you ever hear me say “It’s so brick out” that means I’m freezing. “I’m so tight right now” means something is really bugging me and I can’t stop using the adjective “hella” to emphasize whatever I’m trying to communicate. 

In high school in California, electronic music dominated our AUX cords. Music festivals were/ are our idea of fun. But on the East Coast, you will rarely hear EDM music being played at functions. I’ve come to learn that the East Coast college kids love rap. Sometimes when I try and introduce my college friends, who are originally from the East Coast, to any of my favorite electronic songs, they look at me so strangely and just don’t get it. I save those songs for my West Coast friends. 

Wherever you go to school, you’ll probably pick up new habits and tendencies, but it humors me to think about the little things I do now that are a result of my East Coast experience. 

If you are wondering about the social scene in Boston or at a school on the East Coast where the winters are cold, start imagining your average college party taking place in a basement. Since it's too cold for outdoor parties from November to March, the most fun Friday nights will be taking place under a house. This was such a new concept to me when I first got to BU because basements aren’t really a big thing in California. 

Whenever a warmish day (50° weather and up) comes along, and they do come, don't worry, everyone in the city is just in a happy and good mood. This past semester there was one Monday in February where it was in the high 50s/ low 60s and everyone was out and about doing homework outside by the BU beach. I was wearing a dress to class for the first time that semester and the nice weather gave my friends and me an excuse to darty on a Monday. When days like that do come along, and you haven’t seen the sun for a few days on end, they are sweeter and more enjoyable because you know what it's like for it to be cold and cloudy. 

Someone who goes to school somewhere where it's warm may argue that they are having a better experience because every day is like that one warm day in February. But I disagree because having nice weather all the time takes away one’s ability to really appreciate a nice day when they are given one. Also, before I attended school at BU, I would wear my ski jacket out at night when it was in the 60s. Now, I look back and laugh at myself for that because when it starts pushing 60° I want to be wearing the least amount of clothes possible. 

I feel like going to college on the East Coast after growing up in Southern California my whole life was one of the most challenging things I have gotten myself into. Although, I proudly like to think that because I moved across the country to experience something new, I am physically and mentally tougher and I don’t get as cold as easily! Also, being around people from the East Coast has given me an interesting perspective and I can’t wait to stay on this side of the country after college is over for a little while before I head back to California. 

Don’t be scared of the East Coast’s weather, you get used to it. 

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