<p>When the college websites refer to room and board, does that include meals or is that separate? I was looking at one website where it has tuition $27,000, room and board $6,600 and I couldn't find a reference anywhere to meal plans. Anyone?</p>
<p>Board is meals. Plans can vary a little, of course.</p>
<p>Board is an old-fashioned term for food. :)</p>
<p>The meal plans at most college are a total joke, but usually they force Freshmen and Sophs to take them.</p>
<p>The board plans at colleges vary widely, from MIT's complete lack of requirement for a meal plan (and dorm billing that actually varies with the facilities) to those colleges that require <em>all</em> students who live in dorms to have a full meal plan.</p>
<p>Because meal plans can add a substantial amount of money to school costs (Reed, for example, charges $1840/semester for the cheapest meal plan), it may be worth it for some students to cook for themselves.</p>
<p>In addition, at some schools (maybe all I don't know) once you move off-campus you can't have a meal plan :D</p>
<p>I don't think I'd worry about meal plan as a criterion for selecting which schools a kid will apply to (unless special nutrition/religious food needs etc). But once she's serious about certain schools, you can usually get full details on meal plans on their website. How much flexibility in # meals purchased, how many dining halls/cafes etc. available, what's required. Then, factor in your kid's style. Mine, eg, is a "foodie" and loves the idea of variety available at all hours, no set # meals etc. Some like to cook their own, but beware: mootmom's S discovered that the kitchen on his floor leaves a lot to be desired in terms of cleanliness to the point where he can't even stand to go in there. With no meal plan, he's left in the lurch.</p>
<p>I've seen much variety, from colleges that have a few main dining rooms, to others that have various meal plans (1-3 meals a day). At S's school, the school card enables one to eat in local restuarants for reduced fees</p>