It’s Cold Out There! What Do I Wear?

Are you used to living a warmer location? Maybe a state with more temperate climates? Welcome to Rochester. It rains, it's cold, and RIT has its very own wind tunnel that you’re going to have to walk through in order to get to class. No worries! Proper clothing can take away all the bite of the terrible weather and keep you nice and warm for the winter season. 

Make sure to have…

• An umbrella. It can sometimes start raining while you’re in class, so in order to avoid getting caught out in the rain I would recommend bringing an umbrella that fits into your bag. If you’re using one of the official RIT backpacks, one that fits into a side pocket will be your best friend. 
• A coat. Exactly what you would be expecting! I would not recommend bringing something especially thick, but warm enough so that you can make it to class even when the temperature is in the negatives. 
• Multiple sweaters. Long-sleeved shirts will do the same, although I would recommend something you can take on and off. Classrooms vary in temperatures, some of them only being a bit warmer than the great outdoors and some being shockingly hot! Zip-up or button sweaters are my recommendation, although you can make do with a more stylish long-sleeve outfit. 
• A pair of winter boots. It snows, and it can snow a lot. Ice is going to be your worst enemy when trying to make it to your 8am class. Bringing a set of boots designed for the ice and snow could be a lifesaver when it comes to making it to class slip-free. 
• Thick socks. Comfortable, cozy, work great with boots, and keep your feet warm when you’re in your room studying. There’s never any downside to fluffy socks or slippers!

You might also want to think about bringing…

• A fan. Whether clip-on or a small standing fan, this may seem like a shocking thing to need to bring to Rochester. Trust me, it's a necessity! Before the winter weather hits it can get quite warm inside, and a fan assists greatly with temperature control. I would recommend a small desk fan or a clip-on fan that can go right where you need it and can be easily stored for when the weather gets colder.
• Two sets of blankets. Similarly to the reasoning for a fan, you might just want to have a lighter blanket for summer and a thicker one for winter! Plus, you can have a blanket on your desk chair in order to be comfortable while working on your hundredth coding assignment. 
• A hat. The wind is strong around here. If you have a coat with a hood, expect that hood to be easily flung off by the wind- unless you have a way to button it closed, of course. If you want to keep your ears from freezing and are expecting your coat hood to fly off your head, a tightly fitting hat could be a great idea. 

Go forth and stay warm. Don’t let the cold to get to you this year!