It’s Hot Out There: How to Stay Cool in the Summer Heat

Hold on, now it's hot?! New York weather really doesn’t like to make up its mind. If you’re waiting to head to RIT in the summer, are already over there for the summer, or live in New York at all, you might be dealing with the terrible heat around this time of year. While worse in other states (sorry, for any of you living in a hot state!),  you’re definitely going to need proper attire for the heat when it comes around. 

What should I bring?

Even in Fall, it's going to be hot for some time. You’re going to want to keep this in mind! During Orientation, you’re going to be running about a lot, so this is definitely where you don’t want to have your winter apparel on. Make sure to bring shorts and short-sleeved shirts with you.

You also want to have a thin blanket instead of a thicker one, a fan (I usually bring along two fans), and a supply of water. Bringing water is going to be a good idea for the entire college year, but you’re especially going to want it during the warmer months before it starts getting cold. You should have your very own fridge in your dorm room, so grab some bottled water that fits in the fridge and refill when needed. One box can last the whole year if you keep refilling up the bottles and keeping them cold! Reusable water bottles work the same way, if you prefer those over repeatedly reusing the plastic ones.

How do I prepare during the summer?

Your summer attire can be brought over to RIT, of course. But if your main concern is staying cool right now while it is summertime, these tips should work… as long as you have New York weather, at least. I cannot assist you if you have rainfall every five months and the rest of the time it's always over 100 degrees. 

You want to make sure to have a fan at the very least; you want to be able to circulate cool air. Ice water is another great idea since you can keep your water nice and cold for longer. I usually get a glass of ice water for my desk and then sit near the fan (or turn the AC on if it's that bad and I have access to an AC). 

You might find that you often overheat at night. A light blanket is best for this reason! If you tend to overheat and/or have snuggly pets, I suggest either moving your friendly animal elsewhere or aiming a fan at the two of you. I mainly suggest the latter, as pets are very cute. Even if you don’t have a soft creature to hang out with, a fan aimed in your direction could be a great idea. Multiple settings are best so you can better control your temperature. 

While you can get away with jeans and a sweater, I usually keep a light sweater just for temperature control. AC is going to be on full blast in a lot of places! 

Don’t worry, you’ll be missing the summer once it gets super cold. For now, enjoy the warm weather plus all of the warm-weather activities you can get done before the winter weather comes full force!