<p>I'm helping my D decide which meal plan to use next year and we had a couple of questions that we couldn't find thorough answers to. I realize this plan is new, but maybe someone can help. First of all, what constitutes a "bundled meal" or "meal exchange" at Benson Center (as opposed to the cash equivalency exchange, which is understandable), since you can trade a "pit" meal for one "bundled meal" at Benson. Also, what constitutes a "meal period"? We're trying to decide if it's worth the extra $345/semester to do this.</p>
<p>No. Definitely not. The "bundled meals" from Benson are not anywhere near their cash equivalency, plus you can't get more, the portions are not big enough in the Benson bundles. It feels like a cheat to me. </p>
<p>A meal period just means that between the breakfast hours, you can only swipe your card once, during lunch hours, once, and during dinner hours, once. They claimed it has something to do with the way the computer system works. I think it was to keep you from spending your unused meals on guests or friends who'd run out. They added the "guest meals" that get taken out of your meals, this is included in all plan levels now (although different numbers of guest meals are available depending on the plan), which is a big help.</p>
<p>My opinion would be to save the $345 and use that on the Deacon card as Deacon Dollars (for Benson or the stores on campus--I've found that sometimes I only have time to warm up something frozen that I had already bought and kept in my freezer). Alternatively (and cheaper), use it to buy frozen stuff or peanut butter and jelly from Wal-Mart and keep stocked up--sometimes going to campus food just isn't an option, there isn't always time for the Pit. Not to mention, sometimes you just get so sick of it that you can't eat another meal there.</p>
<p>People I know who got plans too big ended up using a meal for a bowl of cereal, or if that was still too time consuming, using it on the way to class for a $6.50 banana. I hope it was a good banana.</p>
<p>all in one is a rip off.</p>
<p>Thanks so much sable and borntorun. That really helps.</p>
<p>I think I remember reading something on the Old Gold and Black criticizing the new All-In-One plan too. It seems that public opinion is it sucks.</p>
<p>i agree with those not speaking highly of the all-in-one meal plan/s available. a lot of students, as far as i could tell, were interested in a meal plan in which meals could be used at benson, but the new all-in-one option doesn't go along with any of the <em>reasons</em> people wanted the meals to be able to used at benson, which mostly concern/ed the fact that rare is the student who finishes all of his or her meals because the pit is inconvenient on a number of levels. the most irritating aspect of the pit to me has always been the hours it is open. i'm usually hungry between 4 and 5 pm (the pit is closed at this time, and for a few hours before is limited to "light lunch") and then again late at night (the pit closes at either 9 or 9:30, i believe). then there's the fact that it takes too much time to eat there, and you aren't allowed to leave with food (once again i will tout the general awesomeness of mag room take out). plus there's always the general boredom you eventually get with eating the same food over and over again, although i will say that the pit is better in that respect than any other college cafeteria at which i've eaten. in general, i think, students end up with plenty of meals left on their plan AND having spent plenty of money at benson and on food at other on campus stores, not for lack of trying to use up and only the meal plan, but simply because of the inconveniences mentioned above. that said, a popular all-in-one plan would be the same plans as already exist, only ALSO able to be used at benson. instead, the all-in-one makes you pay more, when the original complaint was about a waste of money, anyway.</p>
<p>i completely agree with sable in saying to save your money, although i'd recommend that, if you trust your child's spending habits, you put the money in your daughter's bank account (if she has one). while deacon dollars were once a very good idea (before the current meal plan system came into effect), now every place on campus that takes deacon dollars also takes credit cards (except for the coffee shop), so again, i'd recommend putting that money not spent on a meal plan into your daughter's account and getting her a debit card. that way she can spend it on food off campus, use it in emergencies, etc.</p>
<p>So the Pit closes at 9:30, huh? No bueno. What eating place is open the latest on campus?</p>
<p>9:30 at the latest; i'm under the impression that it closes at 9, but i think you may be able to stay there until 9:30 if you come in earlier? i'm not sure about that, though i'm reasonably sure you can only get in until 9.</p>
<p>benson is supposed to be open until midnight, i think, but they basically start cleaning up at 10 or 11. bodega (a convenience store that has some food) closes at 10. the sundry (next to the pit) is open until midnight (if you want to buy food, including random things to cook in your microwave), and subway is open until 2 (although they run out of things--including bread--when it gets to be too late, especially on weekends). your best bet for late night food is usually subway, sadly; not exactly the healthiest choice.</p>