<p>Which is better/more practical? Is EVK really that awful?</p>
<p>Everyone is telling me to get the Trojan, but I don't ewant to waste $500 at the end of the semester...</p>
<p>What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>Supplemental question: Could we use cash at these places? Oh, and for the Cardinal plan, how do people manage with only 10 meal a week?</p>
<p>Yes, you can use cash, but EVK and Parkside have higher cash prices than what they let meal plan people in on so it would be more expensive. The people who get the 10 meal/week are usually commuter students who aren't on campus as much as your average freshman.</p>
<p>I liked EVK a lot, but about 80% of my friends felt otherwise. Sunday brunch is awesome there.</p>
<p>If you eat a lot, get the Trojan so it saves you the hassle of renewing.</p>
<p>I'm personally getting the Trojan, just so I have more variety.</p>
<p>Oh, BTW, I know on the housing contract, there's a spot to choose what plan you want. What happens after I send it in?</p>
<p>If you get the Trojan plan, what do they debit your card if you eat at EVK?</p>
<p>They take away whatever the meal costs at EVK. IIRC, something like $9.50.</p>
<p>Is the Fast Pass option a better deal than the $510 dining dollars?</p>
<p>The 10 meals a week seems pretty light, even if she eats breakfast in her room most days, but the Trojan plan seems like overkill. We're thinking about doing the Cardinal Fast Pass and then putting a couple hundred dollars "discretionary" on her USC card to use at Carl's, La Salsa, etc. Has anyone else done this and did it work out OK?</p>
<p>I decided to go w/ the cardinal, and have my parents add discretionary if I need more money. This way, I won't be wasting ,money w/ the Trojan. As I will definitely be eating 10 meals a week at EVK (and will probably get tired of the food), that $510 plus whatever else my parents put in will probably be the perfect and cheaper alternative.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. We'd appreciate hearing other thoughts on the way to get the most for our money without going with the Trojan plan. :)</p>
<p>I like the discretionary - especially since I'm not on a meal plan.</p>
<p>But one note, if you end up paying for parkside or EVK with dining dollars or discresh the balance is going to drain lightning fast :) I wouldn't count on using those that those places.</p>
<p>Since I'm only on discresh (no meal plan) and I'm an engineering student I try and eat lunch at places like downstairs commons (la salsa, rice garden) or tutor hall cafe - unless you are going to eat a lot they'll be nicer on your discresh/dining dollars.</p>
<p>remember you also have $510 dining dollars to use in addition to your 10 meals/week for Cardinal and Gold plans. Most people consider me a big eater and I found it to be more than enough. I even had to quickly spend the last $30 in dining dollars on the last day during move-out.</p>
<p>About how much of my own money should I plan on spending on meals per semester? Cardinal and Gold only offer 10 meals/week, and $510 dining dollars can't possibly cover a semester's worth of food. I think.</p>
<p>I think it depends on what your eating habits are like, how much of the dining dollars you burn on regular meals.</p>
<p>Breakfast comes to mind as something that could toast your dining dollars and discresh quickly, if you don't plan for it. I wouldn't really know as I just have water or juice in the morning :) Does breakfast even count as a meal at parkside or EVK? I'd imagine it does, but I can't believe I don't know after 2 years :/</p>
<p>Trojan dining dollars are like cash. EVK and Parkside charge you the same, and you can use cash to buy food anywhere on campus.</p>
<p>Whether you have to use your own money on food in addition to your meal plan depends on how much you eat. I got Cardinal both semesters last year, and it was perfect. However, I did get lots of free food from events on campus; I had maybe two or three free meals a week.</p>
<p>10 meals a week was actually just right for me. If I had more than that, I probaby wouldn't have used them anyway. $510 dining dollars covered everything else, except for the two times I went to Upstairs Commons and friends (on Trojan plan) paid for me :)</p>
<p>I have very rarely ever heard of anyone using up their ten meals in a week. Don't worry about not having enough meals. I would highly suggest NOT having the fast pass option instead of dining dollars, because no one in their right mind wants to spend that much time in EVK or Parkside. The dining dollars are much more helpful. </p>
<p>In summary, NO fast track, and 10 meals a week are DEFINITELY enough.</p>
<p>I agree on the Fast track plan. I didn't meet ANY freshmen last year that opted for fast track.</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>Interesting, because I just got this email last week:</p>
<p>
[quote]
USG and URSC Work With TrojanHospitality to Change Meal Plans</p>
<p>Acknowledging years of dissatisfaction with USC meal plans, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and the University Student Residential Community (URSC) joined forces to improve hospitality services at USC. After months of research, the organizations presented an 80-page report to TrojanHospitality highlighting shortcomings in the current meal plan system and suggested improvements.</p>
<p>Recognizing the hard work and strong voice of both organizations and student need, TrojanHospitality Director John Thacker announced the following changes to take effect February 1, 2007:</p>
<pre><code>* Guest Meals: Cardinal and Gold Plan participants will have a block of five guest meals that they may use at any time during the semester.
Residential Advisor Meal Plans: RAs may now upgrade to any meal plan available in their residence location by paying the difference between their base plan and the selected upgrade.
Meal Access: All meal plan participants may use their meal swipes to dine in both Parkside and EVK during all meal periods (including dinner).
Rollover Meals: Unused weekly meals in the Cardinal and Gold Plan will rollover from week to week enabling usage of these meals in the following weeks. All unused meals will reset at the end of each semester.
Dining Dollars: Remove current time and location restrictions on all meal plan dining dollars enabling unrestricted access to additional locations (to take effect at a later date TBD)
Extended Hours: Tutor Hall now open at 7am; Cafe 84 Starbucks and Jamba Juice now open 9am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday; Main Street Commons and Seattles Best Coffee will be open until 8pm Monday-Thursday.
</code></pre>
<p>USG and URSC would like to thank every student who took our Meal Plan Survey, participated in an informational interview, and attended our Town Hall Meeting on Dining at USC. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the input and support of all the students involved.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wow, that's an interesting change. I wonder what meal plan options will be offered for 2007-2008. The meal plan being a rip-off is my S's main complaint. It sure eliminates the difference between Gold & Cardinal Meal Plans. Very interesting--will be very curious to see what info they provide about future meal options.</p>