<p>The B/K Scholarship includes the basic dining plan. When DS visited, his roommate said that the basic plan is actually too much. We were thinking of upgrading for $200.00 more just in case. I'm sure appetities differ from one person to the next. I notice the basic plan only has 50 Terp Bucks and from what I can tell these are used for eating at other establishments like the Chick-fil-a or McDonalds, etc. Is 50 Terp Bucks equivalent to $50.00 a semester? What is the conversion if not? Any suggestions from current UMD students on meal plans?</p>
<p>I was wondering that as well. How many terp bucks do current students say they use? I"m trying to decide between 250 and 350.</p>
<p>What exactly is the name of the basic dining plan covered by the BK scholarship? I’ve seen several different names for the different plans.</p>
<p>I think that the dining plan that you’re talking about is the Resident Dining Plan: Red. You only get $50 terp bucks (and this is equal to $50 regular dollars, but I’m not sure about being able to eat at the franchises in Stamp though). It depends on who you talk to. I actually like this plan because half way through the semester, you get an extra $100 added to your dining hall account and you don’t have to deal with annoying focus dates anymore.</p>
<p>It’s good to know the Terp Bucks are equivalent to dollars. I did go back and read where Terp Bucks can be used and although they can be used at most places in the Stamp, the fast food places do not accept them; Taco Bell, Chick-fil-a, McDonalds, etc. DS can use his debit card for cases like this I guess. Still not sure whether to upgrade or not. Any more input? </p>
<p>DS’s roommate when he went for the interview said that there are many times that you will skip meals because of wanting to sleep late or eating items not on the plan and paying out of pocket, so it really ends up being too much food. Wrestling with upgrading and being safe than sorry, or just adding to the plan if needed, causing unnecessary stress for DS worrying about the balance getting low if that is the case.</p>
<p>Unless he’s a significantly BIG eater, he’ll probably be just fine with the Red plan. He needs to make sure he’s friends with several of the girls on his floor. They’ll probably have way too much left when it comes to focus dates, and they’ll feed him, trust me!!!</p>
<p>The Resident Dining Plan ($1150 in dining (resident) points, $250 in terp bucks) tends to be the most popular dining plan. Since dining points can only be used at the North Campus and South Campus diners, I found the extra points that come with the Resident Dining Plan Red to be too much. Also, fewer terp bucks = fewer options, especially if you spend most of your day away from one of the two diners. The extra terp bucks that come with the Resident Dining Plan Plus will give you more money to spend at the snack places and small shops throughout the campus.</p>
<p>If you think you may not be able to meet the focus dates, you can always opt out of them at the beginning of each semester, but on the condition that you do not spend more than $40 in dining points near the end of the semester. (Trust me, the register at the diner won’t let you spend more than that in the last 2-3 weeks). Also, many students tend to use any extra points they have at Adele’s, the sit-down restaurant inside Stamp. The restaurant will accept dining points at dinnertime.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant to say that I’d recommend the same one that milkncooki3s did, not the Red plan…</p>
<p>Just to clarify a point milkncooki13s made–you can’t opt out of focus dates until after your freshman year.</p>
<p>My recommendation is to get the cheapest dining plan possible and then put the remainder on Terrapin Express or a debit card to get maximum flexibility.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the advice and information. So Focus Dates are used as a way to budget spending. It sounds like the best option is to keep the dining plan that comes with the B/K, then transfer funds to his debit card.</p>
<p>I was reading about the take-out option. Do many students do this?</p>
<p>After the “new” wears off, yes. It really depends on your friends and what they do…D and her buddies learned all the best places from which to order by internet and have it delivered to her dorm 
2nd year, she’s in an apartment, on no dining plan. Works out much better for her, and makes me less frustrated for her to have such large sums still there as focus dates neared…</p>
<p>Yes, I read about the internet ordering. It sounds really cool and something that my son would definitely like t do!! So basically, if there are points or dollars left in the account at the focus date, then you lose them?</p>
<p>that’s right. However, those with leftover points either go with friends and eat a nice meal at Adele’s, they buy food for others on their floor who are out of money, and the lounges are usually full of cookies, cakes, and other desserts!</p>
<p>I can definitely see DS doing that too if points are going to be lost.</p>
<p>DS never eats breakfast, so he always has money left over. During finals he took all of his friends to Adeles. He still had so many left over, that they went to the dining hall and loaded up with crap to take back to the dorm. I think he said he had 6 trays.</p>
<p>I do like the fact that at anytime the student can see their balance.</p>
<p>Also, there are always student groups outside the diners near focus dates asking people to buy food for homeless shelters with extra points.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s great…I didn’t know that about the homeless shelters!</p>
<p>I spoke with the financial aid office regarding the dining plan offered as part of the B/K award. I thought I would post here that the B/K pays for the standard plan (the name changes often they said). It’s not the least expensive Red plan or the most expensive Plus plan, but the one in the middle. We had to select one when we confirmed enrollment/housing. I selected the Red by mistake, but if you change your mind on the meal plan, it can be corrected at orientation with no problem.</p>
<p>Don’t get any upgrades. If you run out, just pay cash or credit card. I don’t feel like explaining why, but you haveto trust me on this one.</p>