<p>The “everybody” and “nobody” declarations in this thread are not terribly helpful because every kid is different. My D stopped using her printer freshman year because the noise it made when not in use–periodically hiccuping and humming was annoying (that’s what she said) and she didn’t want to turn it off and wait for it to warm up when she needed it. Sounds odd to me, but she was perfectly happy using the computer lab in her dorm and never really had that much to print out anyway, since most of her written assignments were submitted online. Her dorm was equipped with cable, one suite member had brought a TV, and it was frequently used. Lots of “appointment” television to be discussed as soon as it aired–among the females, anyway. As for the meal plan, the first semester she barely made a dent in it because she wasn’t fond of eating in the single cafeteria, so we scaled back second semester, and by sophomore year had abandoned the meal plan altogether–she made some meals in her dorm and ate at some of the campus alternatives, and the cost was still less than the meal plan. I actually think it may only be guys and female athletes who take full advantage of meal plans. Her smartphone is as important to her as oxygen is to me–I don’t even own one, so don’t exactly get it, but I accept her view.</p>
<p>Bottom line, different stokes for different folks.</p>