<p>So yesterday I selected my dining plan for the 2014-15 school year and chose the platinum plan which consists of 14 dining credits/week and $300/quarter. Looking through past threads everyone’s been saying to get the freedom plan 8 dining credits/week and $600/quarter. When I was at soar my group guide told us that he regretted getting the freedom plan because he ran out of plus dollars 3 weeks before winter quarter ended and was living on a poptart for breakfast and his 1 dining credit for dinner. He said that the freedom plan is for students who like to snack around for breakfast/lunch and have 1 meal credit used for dinner; and with the platinum plan it’s for students who want meals instead of snacks. Do you think I made the right choice for selecting the platinum plan?</p>
<p>The “meals” can only be used at a few places and are actually dollar amounts that vary by which meal you use them at. So, if you eat a lot at meals, you may go over their value and use some of your plus dollars as well unless you go to Metro which is the only “all you can eat” place on campus". Plus dollars can be used at any eating place on campus which is nice, and this year they increased the amount you get with the various plans. Freedom Plan is the way to go for most people and most are scrambling to use the plus dollars up in June before they leave (Meals expire each week, plus dollars roll over until June)…campus market, village market, Starbucks, etc. You can change plans at certain times during the year only if you feel it isn’t working for you…check for the dates on the university website.</p>
<p>Freedom plan is the way to go. Just like any currency, just budget accordingly and you should be fine. It really is more food than anybody needs. </p>
<p>As stated above, there are only a few places to use meals at and by the time first term ends you’ll be sick of them for the most part. More plus dollars on the freedom plan allows for flexibility and less meal repetition, plus having a few extra dollars for ice cream with friends and etc is nice too. </p>
<p>Don’t worry though, there are time periods in which you can change your meal plan.</p>
<p>From Cal Poly Dining FAQ page: </p>
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<p>"Can I change my dining plan during the school year?</p>
<p>Students can request a change from one meal plan to another during the specified change periods ONLY. This process can be completed through the students’ Cal Poly portal during the specified enrollment periods. Listed below are the change periods:
2014/15 Academic Year</p>
<pre><code>Fall Quarter- Between September 16 - 25, 2014, with new Dining Plan starting no later than September 27, 2014.
Winter Quarter- Between December 8 - January 8, 2015, with new Dining Plan starting January 10, 2015.
Spring Quarter- Between March 9 - April 2, 2015, with new Dining Plan starting April 4, 2015."
</code></pre>
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<p>@r77r77 ok so if I change my dining plan to freedom on September 16th does that mean the plan will change immediately or on September 27th?</p>
<p>@bkall Yep that should be correct! Essentially you change dining plans between terms/quarters during the dates listed above. </p>