<p>Hazmat- my D is a freshman who was suppose to go to Tulane her host school did not have room in the freshman dorms so put them in on campus apartments thus the requirement for meal plans. All freshman and soph are required to live on campus and have a meal plan.
Depends on the school. I think the jrs in the apartments don't have the meal plan.</p>
<p>wow, at Smith all students who live in regular campus houses have to pay the full meal plan of 19 meals per week and it costs about $4500 a year. I live in a co-op, so I only pay $800 a year (cheaper per week than it was when I lived on my own, since we buy in bulk) and supplement it occasionally with some snacks or dinners out. </p>
<p>I agree that $900 a semester is low...that's like $75 a week...if you were to purchase groceries that included meat and some processed food it would probably be at least $40 a week, and that wouldn't include staff to cook it, clean your dishes, etc.</p>
<p>my school has these plans:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Meal Plans:
Gold Plus ($1,530 Semester) - The Gold Plus Plan features an unlimited all-you-care-to eat plan. Additionally, the Gold Plus Plan comes with $125.00 of Flex Points and is the best value for your money.
Gold 19 ($1,280.50 Semester) - 19 all-you-care-to eat meals a week. The Gold 19 Plan meals are set in meal zones and come with $100 Flex Points!
Gold 14 ($1,280.50 Semester) - The Gold 14 Plan features 14 all-you-care-to eat meals a week. The Gold 14 Plan meals are set in meal zones and come with $165 Flex Points.</p>
<p>Block Meals:
Block Meals are not restricted to meal zones. Any number of meals can be used in a given meal zone, day or week.</p>
<p>Block 150 - $1330.00 + $250* per semester Flex Points; Average of 10 meals per week.
Block 120 - $1240.00 + $300* per semester Flex Points; Average of 8 meals per week.
Block 90 - $1115.00 + $350* per semester Flex Points; Average of 6 meals per week.
Block 60 - $900.00 + $375* per semester Flex Points; Average of 5 meals per week.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>freshmen are required to have a "gold" plan. "Flex points" are just dining dollar things, also accepted by local places, such as Dominoes (555 deal... yum). Non Freshmen can have any plan, or no plan.</p>
<p>I had to laugh when I saw this thread. This has been an issue with my (sophomore) S too. He always seems to be spending more money on food than we think is necessary. I think the food points are often spent at some of the more expensive options in town, and they are consumed more quickly than anticipated. (and probably spent for ordering pizza and chinese food for the dorm late at night, etc...)</p>
<p>When I spoke with him on Sunday I asked the normal motherly questions, "Are you eating and sleeping ok?". His response: "Mom, don't worry, there are two things that I do REALLY well, eat and sleep." I didn't bother to ask how the studying and classes were going. I'll save that for next week........................</p>
<p>YOu don't necessarily have to buy into a meal plan even in traditional dorms; it depends on the school. At Columbia, my S is in a tradional "warehouse" of a dorm, and is skipping the meal plan. I guess they feel that even w/o a kitchen, there are enough places for a kid to eat cheap in NYC! Additionally, in his case he seems to be cooking and eating often at his gf's, who is in a campus apt with a kitchen.</p>
<p>Is your son a FROSH or older? At my school only first year students are held to the compulsory meal plan.</p>
<p>Soph; I think he did have to buy it last year--we are saving a ton by skipping it this year!</p>
<p>chocolate, does his plan contain "meal blocks"? They are great for the all all-you-can-eat cafeterias. Somehow though, my son always has a few left over at the end of the week. He must either skip some meals, eat in his room or eat at commercial establishments. Even so, our choice of meal plans with various combinations of meal blocks and stored value dollars runs from about $1000 to $1800 per semester. $900 doesn't seem like it would go very far.</p>
<p>I was thinking about my D's lack of making it to the dining hall and it made me think of another thing to look into depending on your kid.
At my D's school they have 2 dining halls and a few on campus cafes (no food court) where you can use either your dining cash or meal plan. The cafe's aren't open on weekends. And the dining halls have very specific hours. For my D who is always stressed and in a rush she has a hard time managing getting to the dining hall when it is open.</p>
<p>The latest time for dining hall at my school is 8:30pm but other vendors who take campus funds provide service until 12:30am. I know how getting the schedule to jibe can be hard......one day a week this term I have class until 9:30pm and thus I must eat a late lunch or very early dinner. Of course what it really means is that I eat two dinners........one at 10:00pm or so. I can relate to your daughter's dilemma.</p>
<p>I just happened to check the web site for DD's school - dining programs - and was pretty surprised at how complete it is - always was but now even easier. </p>
<p>With the regular plans or plus plans - each meal is broken down by cost per meal - breadfast $2 - lunch $2.50 - dinner $3.50 - and can only use 1 meal charge per meal period. The commuter plans are just a bit more but still very reasonable. They can also use their 'meal' plan for late nite things and around different places on campus - either meal or bucs - so I still think all the plans are pretty reasonable.</p>
<p>Only draw back I see is the use it or loose it part - from sun - sat - but commuters do not have to contend with that - they use their meal plan at any time.</p>
<p>They also have Free Fridays in the D hall - bring a friend for lunch and they eat free - not a bad deal.</p>
<p>One thing I really do like tho is the ability to check the offerings on line when you want to - and/or to work with the D hall folks for special diets and stuff like that - they really do keep getting better and better.</p>
<p>I wanted to second the variation of requirements by school. My sister and I attended two different universities. Hers required that you purchase a meal plan if you lived on campus. (My mom said those were the two most expensive meals she ever purchased since my sister went to school in my hometown and kept coming to our house for meals.) After freshman year, she didn't live in on campus housing and so then was not required to purchase a plan. </p>
<p>My university did not require anyone to purchase a meal plan. I lived in a dorm my freshman year and didn't purchase one. We did have the debit system so my parents deposited money and I used it as needed if I ate in the dining hall or another on campus place. I was in a sorority though (everyone roll your eyes and digest your stereotypes) and so I had a meal plan purchased there and ate at our house. My room and board actually ended up a lot cheaper than my sister's.</p>