Editor’s note: This is the third in a three-part series on significant factors impacting Bearden students’ college choices. The first installment was on the construction of newer, nicer dorms, and the second was on how the traditional success of a school’s athletics department impacts student interest in a school.
From warm southern climates to snow-covered northeast winters, many Bearden graduates carefully weigh the impact of a school’s weather patterns before making their college decisions.
While many in the Class of 2025 have opted to stay in a similar southern climate to Knoxville, a handful of grads have decided to continue their education in colder climates.
Logan Franklin will be attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston. When choosing the school, he was looking for a good music program and a big city.
“If anything, the weather in Boston is a drawback as it regularly gets around 15 degrees,” he said.
Although he doesn’t enjoy the cold, Franklin is looking forward to summer in Boston, and getting a change of scenery from Knoxville.
Similarly, Carly Short will be attending the University of Utah, heading to the dry and snowy climate of Salt Lake City.
“I’m nervous to endure the winters there,” she said, but she is also excited about the outdoor activities that come with snow. “The best skiing and snowboarding locations are just 20 minutes from campus.”
Short is also excited to take up rock climbing and hiking in the warmer months.
Jackson Wolverton, who will be attending Dartmouth College in the fall, is excited to endure New Hampshire’s cold winters.
“I really like snow,” he said.
He enjoys colder weather and is excited to live in a city where winter plays a bigger role.
Other students chose warmth over snowy winters, intentionally applying to schools with warmer climates.
Garrett Kinson is spending a year studying abroad in Kyushu, Japan through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. He is a big fan of warmer weather and looked at schools like UTK and the University of Florida.
“I really enjoy Kyushu’s climate since it is much warmer than the rest of the country,” he said.
Some students wanted a similar climate to Knoxville.
Emily Tigner, who will be attending University of Alabama, appreciated the mild winters that would spare her from freezing temperatures.
“I am glad that it won’t be super cold in the winter,” she said, highlighting how important weather was in her college choice.
Weather also steered Carson Stivers toward Auburn.
“I enjoy this weather because I get to experience a little bit of every season,” she said. “I didn’t want to go somewhere north where it would be really cold.”
For Reese Dudych, she chose to stay in Knoxville, attending UTK.
“I love the summer and fall months,” she said.
She also enjoys the comforting climate of East Tennessee.
Senior Lyliana Lerma wanted something to be on the coast, and she ended up settling on the College of Charleston.
“I have always wanted to stay south,” Lerma said.
Weather is obviously not the main concern when choosing to spend the next four years, but it is an important factor that can determine one’s happiness at college.