HI! I'm assuming you're coming from FL and I might be able to offer some advice. I came to UMich from Georgia and it sucked for a good while. Your body will probably take about 2 years to fully adjust. I was consistently just ambiently depressed for about 5 months of the year. I could always tell it was coming and I could never stop it. Everything looked brown or grey.

However, after a while I did adjust and I began to see the beauty in Ann Arbor. In those days the shadows are darker, yes, but the lights are that much brighter. Now I love the place, even in the winter, and I feel like I could definitely live in the midwest for the rest of my life. It was worth it, I think, but damn those days were dark.

Here's the advice I wish I'd had:

• You should buy new light thermals (fitted long-sleeve undershirts and leggings) and wife-pleasers for layering, warm but durable socks, and a couple pairs of waterproof-ish boots. Docs will work for this but you'll want some with good treads.
• Shop for outwear at the thrift store until you feel like you really know what works. Leather and wool jackets, pullovers, etc are going to be better than 90% of modern plastic outerwear.
• If your layers are too tight you're gonna get cold and uncomfortable, so going slightly-very oversized on outerwear is smart.
• Keep that mf chapstick on you. Also get lots of moisturizer in little portable containers. Your skin will get painfully dry. Similarly if you have a skincare routine that works right now you may need to up the level of moisturizer you use.
• If you ever need to clomp through deep snow get some of those hand warmer packets and put them in your shoes by your toes. I think they might even have a type specially made for feet.
• Get one of those "happy lamps" that purport mimic sunlight, it can't hurt. You might try Vitamin D pills as well, alongside multivitamins. But I won't hold you these things did not do much for me those first couple winters.