<p>In my estimated costs for the year, it lists housing/food as around $8800. The monthly cost of my living situation (on campus, but not dorms) should be around $4500 ($500 for 9 months) if it's correct information. I am not on a meal plan.</p>
<p>My question is, can I assume that my actual cost will be closer to $4500 for housing, or is $4300 in extra fees normal and $8800 is closer to what I should expect?</p>
<p>Basically, I want to know where that $4300 is coming from.</p>
<p>The $4300 is probably the meal plan.</p>
<p>In most cases, if u live on on campus housing, you must have some semblance of a meal plan. You should estimate closer to the 8k mark</p>
<p>Check to see if you have any Residential Life Association Fees. My campus has some but you can choose to opt out, you just can’t go on the field trips housing puts on, which I didn’t care about anyway.</p>
<p>I’m really hoping it’s the meal plan, because since I’m living in the on-campus apartments, rather than the dorms, meal plans are optional. If that’s the case, that’s $4300 I don’t need to worry about.</p>
<p>You don’t plan to eat? Students can get by at less cost, yet if you’ve never grocery shopped and paid the bill before, the cost of food and how quickly it adds up can be surprising.</p>
<p>I’ve grocery shopped before, and I have money saved for that purpose, which, if I’ve done my math right, should be way cheaper than $4000. I mean, even if for some reason I spend 200 a month on groceries, that’s still not $2000 for 9 months.</p>
<p>No, you can’t assume a cheaper rate. I think your costs depends on your university. You need to check with your “Residential Life” office since they are the only ones who can tell you where the $4300 is coming from. </p>
<p>At my daughter’s university, they are required to have a minimum meal plan even if they live in on-campus housing (not including dorms). Additionally, they have a room deposit. Do you plan on only eating cold meals? The cost of pans, utensils, spices adds up. Food is expensive, have you ever shopped for full meals? Do you have to drive to get to your grocery store-add the cost of gas to your meals. </p>
<p>If the university has given you a cost factor, then you need to ask your university what the breakdown is and not assume that a website online can give you that information. You’re trying to rationalize a cheaper rate by avoiding your university. Go to the source and ask. That’s why they are there.</p>
<p>All colleges are required to develop an annual “Cost of Attendance” (COA) which is used to calculate students’ financial need. At an instituion that is primarily residential, the room and board component of the COA is usually the sum of the average dorm cost, plus the average cost of a dining plan. </p>
<p>This has no bearing on your actual costs. You will pay whatever you agree to pay based on your housing choice and whether you utilize a campus meal plan. Don’t be fooled by that COA figure …</p>