Reddit mentions of Goodthreads Men's Soft Cotton Washed Beanie, Solid Navy, one Size

OK... So footwear, socks & undies... all the important stuff... complete...

So what's next?

Well some students choose to go full-blown Nanook and get a heavy winter parka... which is OK, I suppose... it'll definitely keep you warm... But for many students, it can also be an unnecessary budget buster... which is where the aforementioned "layering" comes in...

Instead of buying a heavy winter parka, many students already have a lighter weight windbreaker style jacket that's at least water repellent, if not actually water proof... And that, combined with the ubiquitous hoodie sweatshirt can provide warmth that approximates that of a parka... (and windbreakers often come with a thin nylon "hood" that can add a little rain resistance to the cotton "hoodie", which provides insulation, but no rain resistance)

Remember, you have the flexibility of wearing the windbreaker and hoodies either separately or at the same time... and for added warmth, you can still wear a long sleeve shirt and/or a sweater or another sweatshirt and/or a T-shirt and your thermal tops underneath... How many layers you wear is entirely up to you, depending how cold it is and how windy/rainy it is...

Added warmth for head, neck & hands... Well a knit, stocking cap is always popular since it helps keep the ears warm... And you can wear it anytime, either with or without the hoodie... And a scarf can provide added protection... not just for the neck, but for lower half of your face... NOTE: Big, bulky knit may LOOK warm, but the wind will blow right through it... You want something that is a tight knit that blocks the wind & will help keep your face from getting chapped... An inexpensive pair of ski goggles with tinted lens is not an absolute necessity, but they can come in handy... They cold wind can make you teary-eyed which can make it difficult to see... And the sun reflecting off the snow can also be blindingly bright... So don't shell out the big bucks unless you actually snowmobile or ski... but a cheap pair of goggles definitely helps...

Similarly, an inexpensive pair of ski gloves will keep your hands warm... Once again, you don't need an expensive "good" pair unless you're a frequent downhill skier... But traditional knit gloves or mittens don't stop the wind very well, are NOT moisture resistant and aren't very warm.... Just like your feet: Happy hands are warm & dry!

So that's it... It took quite a bit to write it all down, but when you take it all in, there really isn't THAT much in "specialty" clothing to bust your budget... Especially considering that you're just a freshman and will probably be experiencing at least 4 winters in State College...

If I was going to add just one more thing to this list, it would be for a reasonably priced ski jacket (Men's or Women's) It doesn't have to be very fancy or expensive...and a hood is optional... but wind & rain resistance is imperitive... And compared to only having a lightweight windbreaker/hoodie combination, it provides you with a little more wardrobe flexibility as to how you "layer."

Well FINALLY... I'm DONE... So all-in-all there isn't that much to get... It's just that some years the weather is relatively mild and other years with winter comes early & lasts for what seems a lifetime... and nobody knows for sure what to expect... So it's best to have flexibility in your wardrobe and maximize your year-round utility with layers.

Good luck, and stay warm and DRY.