Blog

Sure, Winter and Fall semester are similar; you're taking somewhere between 12 and 18 credits, and you're going to classes in similar buildings, but it's different. Simply put, it's cold outside, and there's no football to watch.

Perhaps you're a freshman who has never experienced a Michigan winter. Or maybe you spent every single weekend last fall watching football and you are about to find yourself with far more free time than usual.

Regardless of how the Fall semester went, Winter semester is very different at the University of Michigan. Here are a few pieces of advice to consider as we all prepare for the new year.

1. Get a warm winter coat

Let's get this one out of the way first. Sure, it snowed in November, so this shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody, but Michigan has long and cold winters.

If you dreaded walking from class to class every morning during the latter portion of your Fall semester, consider finding a warm winter coat. I used to wear a simple puffy jacket that barely went to my hips. That said, a college student spends more time outside than a high school student does during the winter time, so it's nice to have something a bit warmer.

You don't need anything extraordinarily expensive, but a nice parka will make a big difference throughout January, February, March, and, worst case, even April. You can always wear a bunch of layers, too. If shedding and putting back on four or five layers every time you go to a class is too much hassle, look for outerwear deals at overstock.com or one of Ann Arbor’s many vintage or thrift stores.

2. Make a list of fun ideas for the weekends

Remember when I said there's no football in the winter? Well, maybe you're not as obsessed with sports as I am; or perhaps you are, and you intend on watching basketball instead this coming semester. Regardless, over 100,000 Michigan fans attend every single football game throughout the fall, so for us 100,000-plus, we're about to have four extra hours of free time every Saturday.

My favorite way to deal with this is to make a list of fun things to do in the winter! Last year, my friends and I took The Ride (free with your M-Card) to go bowling and to see movies at Belmark Lanes and GQT Quality 16 (they are right next to each other). Then, when the State Theater reopened, we started to see more movies there (make sure you bring your M-Card to get student discounts!).

We also made a lot of visits downtown, whether we were messing with the typewriter at Literati Bookstore, skimming the records at Underground Sounds, or getting wintertime ice cream at Blank Slate Creamery. (There's nothing wrong with eating ice cream in the winter!)

Did I mention that your M-Card gives you many student discounts?

If you have a friend with a car, consider taking a weekend road trip. Or, if Chicago and Detroit are on your bucket list, Amtrak trains go east and west several times daily from the Ann Arbor station. If you’re looking for rideshare options, try ZipCar, which has a special student rate.

3. Explore new parts of campus

Anybody who has spent some time in the midwest during the winter knows that the default color of a midwestern winter sky is grey, not blue. Therefore, you want to enjoy every moment that the sun is shining outside. Take a winter walk through the Arb, North Campus, or downtown (as previously mentioned).

That said, if/when you’re trying to fill the rest of your time, explore campus! North Campus has a video game library, and Arts @ Michigan offers free events (plays, concerts, and other performances) to Michigan students with passes available in the dorms. There are also various museums on Central Campus with free admission to the public.