<p>I’m sure that’s true, but that’s what some of us are expressing regret about. It’s not the payment structure, it’s the whole system of providing meals that is either a factor in providing for social interaction or it isn’t. Eating in a food court, even if it were pre-paid, all-you-can-eat, or, worse, your choice of three food courts or a dozen local businesses who participate in the school’s “points” or “bux” plan–that is just not the residential college experience that some of us recall as a very, very important part of college.</p>
<p>I’m sure today’s generation of students have wonderful experiences that we didn’t have, though.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how I feel about the idea that points are better, either, I think that depends on the school. At my school if you opt for fewer meals and more dining dollars and blue bucks-- which I recently made the switch over to because I needed more options because of the allergy, that means fewer full, balanced meals and more subway, taco bell, wendys, pizza hut, and chicken fingers/pizza kind of fare from the little eateries some of the dorms have. Eating in the cafeteria or going to the grocery store myself is the only way I can get real produce or anything besides subway that isn’t deep fried. Unless you intend to go on the subway diet, at my school you’re going to struggle with most of your meals coming from the “points” system rather than traditional meals. So the nutritiousness of the options the “points” system wins at a given school is worth considering.</p>
<p>Our son’s school requires the full meal plan for all freshman. After completing that year, it became clear that our son was not eating any breakfasts and preferred to grab something in his room so he could sleep in. The food plan can get a bit repetitive and he and his friends often go together to local restaurants together. This year, he has a 10 meal plan, as to most of his friends, and they still socialize, going in groups to the local all-you-can-eat Indian buffet every other week, splitting subs and attending school events that often offer a meal or pizza. After being on a full meal plan for a while, the kids do develop a pattern and can best decide what to do in the second year.</p>
<p>Our college dining halls gave us a chance to socialize with people we didn’t already know well enough to make a plan to go to a restaurant with. </p>
<p>I’ve read that, at some schools, everyone has their group of friends established by the end of freshman year and it’s hard to meet people and make friends after that. I think this phenomenon may result, in part, from changes in residential life that do not promote interaction with people outside your established “group of friends.” </p>
<p>I suppose this is not an issue if your kid is one to establish a “group of friends” readily. But I’ve seen enough posts on the “College Life” forum (they bubble to the top on the “latest posts” page) about kids who are truly lonely and isolated at college to know that it isn’t that easy for everyone. I feel for the kid who sees the other guys on the floor heading off to the local Indian joint in a group. He doesn’t feel comfortable asking “Hey, can I come along?” but he might feel comfortable enough to put his tray down at their table in a college dining hall, because they are guys from his hall. (I know, there are no trays anymore…but there were in my day.) </p>
<p>Maybe I’m just projecting. But I would really not have enjoyed college if every meal was a choice between eating alone and “making plans” with others, instead of just bopping into the college dining hall and eating with whomever I recognized.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, I’m not sure I’d have met my husband if not for the college dining hall system!</p>
<p>I think that is one of my concerns about not using the dining hall as much as possible: the chance that the food choices will be less than nutritious. Eating in the dining hall as least gave some healthy options. I know that kids, given the choice, will mostly choose the fast food, so I’m trying to at least help circumscribe that a bit.</p>
<p>However, I know that I don’t have any control over what he eats and when, so he will make his own food choices anyway. Maybe by giving more options in dining hall there might be the slight chance he would get a vegetable now and then!</p>
<p>I think that depends not only on the environment but on the person, too. I live in a small community within my large campus. and most of us who eat in the cafeteria eat in the tiny tiny cafeteria next door where most everybody knows everybody else. But unless you’re the kind of person who makes friends with everyone they meet, you’re still going to eat alone and most people do. If you’re not someone who makes friends easily you’re not going to be able to just sit with whoever you recognize no matter what, I have not had that experience in my entire educational experience. From first grade up through college, in the small environment where everybody knows each other people have always been territorial over their tables and if you’re not a part of their group they dont want you sitting there hearing their conversation. I have had much better luck not eating alone in huge cafeterias where I can sit next to anyone and strike up a conversation and have it not seem intrusive since there is no expectation of clique-ing up there. So it really just depends on the person.</p>
<p>if the school has many nearby off-campus dining hangouts, then chances are your child will soon be eating several meals a week off campus.</p>
<p>When older S went to college, we first bought him the “all you can eat - as many times you want” plan…which was pricey. The school has 4 dining halls for this plan. The school also has many “retail” dining venues on campus that don’t take the meal plan (take money or Dining Dollars). Also, immediately off-campus are many retail dining venues.</p>
<p>Kids OFTEN eat off campus from Friday night to Sunday night if there are off-campus offerings. </p>
<p>Within a month, son was tired of eating everyday in Dining Halls and was soon eating many meals off-campus. So…the “all you can eat” plan was a WASTE of money for us.</p>
<p>Younger son started with a plan that was about 10-14 meals a week. That turned out to work out perfectly. Each child also has $300 per semester for Dining Dollars. </p>
<p>However, if the school is in a rural area with few other dining choices, then go with the bigger plan.</p>
<p>My daughter’s top choice has three different plans to chose from. I decided on the mid range. I want her to eat at school for the reasons that you state regarding nutrition. I know my D and I think she will want to eat off campus quite a bit. I do not want to pay for something that is going to go to waste. I figured she is only going to have a certain amount of spending money and I figured she will not want to spend all her limited funds on eating out when she can eat on campus for free. </p>
<p>The plans at her school have add on features to them where you can buy additional points. If you son’s school is like that consider starting at a lower level.</p>
<p>I agree with maximizing points and minimizing actual meals. We started off with the max meals and learned neither DD went to breakfast (just grabbed something from the room). Points can be used in the non-cafeteria options.</p>