<p>oh and if your parents dont really care how much your meal plan costs (money isn’t an object) then just get trojan. you’ll be glad you did when you can eat anywhere you want on campus because you have a ton of dining dollars.</p>
<p>It’s true what swoopes says about the Trojan plan. A friend of my D, who just finished freshman year, had about $1000 worth left in the last couple of weeks. In the last week she was inviting all her friends for meals and coffees. On move out day she bought most of the Coffee Bean cookies and gave them away (thank you).
The family looked into donating the money, but unfortunately they couldn’t.</p>
<p>As for my D, she had the Cardinal plan her freshman year. It was fine and enough.</p>
<p>I had a question about meal plans.
I’ve been reading some of the other thread and the USC Hospitality Brochure.</p>
<p>1) It says that I can only get the Cardinal plan, but I would <em>love</em> it if I could have the Residential Fast Pass, so I can get at EVK or Parkside whenever I want to (I know… I’ll get sick of the food there, but I’m not very picky and I like to get a snack whenever). Is the Residential Fast Pass <em>not</em> for freshmen? </p>
<p>1a) Why can’t freshmen get another meal plan than Cardinal? Or… is there a way to get a different plan?</p>
<p>2) I’m confused about the whole “B, L, and D @ EVK and D @ Parkside” deal. Has that been eliminated or is it still in effect? If it is in effect, then what is the rule again for each plan =/</p>
<p>Sequoia,
That’s interesting to hear. From what I’m aware of in the past, Hospitality usually has a “dining dollar drive” where you buy nonperishable food items from places like trogro and place them in the bins outside the front doors, and USC will then donate those items to those in need.</p>
<p>PharmEngTenor,
- The FastPass is one of your options but I personally would recommend against it. There will be a lot of times when friends in your hall will say “screw EVK, let’s go to Wahoo’s tonight” and you’re going to hate yourself lol</p>
<p>1a) You can, swoopes2 outlined them nicely for you.</p>
<p>2) I believe that was eliminated my freshman year (way back in 2006). Either they reinstated that policy (which I HIGHLY doubt), or they just made a mistake and forgot to take that part out for the last 4 years (much more likely).</p>
<p>Ok, so if you have the cardinal plan you can only eat at EVK? what if you want to eat at Parkside or the cafe 84, Tro Gro or whatever that is.</p>
<p>pixeljig,
Sorry for the confusion–Cardinal plan can be used at either EVK or PKS for breakfast/lunch/dinner. No restrictions! You swipe your ID card here using those 10 meals per week.</p>
<p>Cafe 84, Trogro, the Lot, Popovich, RTH, Literatea, the new Student Center, etc all use dining dollars and not meals.</p>
<p>I think they have changed the plan. The brochure lists unlimited meals/swipes.</p>
<p>Would it make sense to get just the dinning dollars then, or is that not allowed for Freshman?</p>
<p>Please note that the plans are completely different this year from previous w/ regard to dining dollars. This is from the housing brochure that came with the acceptance packet. </p>
<p>Cardinal Plan / $2450 per semester (unlimited EVK/Parkside, NO Dining Dollars) (Minimum required plan for dorms).
Gold Plan / $2650 per semester (Cardinal plus $500 Dining Dollars, which reset at semester’s end)
Trojan Plan / $2950 per semester (Dining Dollars-based plan, can be used in EVK/Parkside, or other dining locations)</p>
<p>Community Apartment Plan / $575 per semester:
-50 meals per semester in EVK/Parkside
-$100 in Dining Dollars</p>
<p>Community 25 Plan / $300 per plan:
-25 meals per school year in EVK/Parkside
-$50 in Dining Dollars
-May be purchased or renewed at any time, and may be used throughout the school year.</p>
<p>Community 50 Plan / $575 per plan
-50 meals per school year in EVK/Parkside
-$100 in Dining Dollars
-May be purchased or renewed at any time, may be used throughout the school year.</p>
<p>oh whoops, that’s strange. thanks for the correction jazz/shreddermom</p>
<p>There will also be other places to eat at the new Ronald Tutor Student Center (former Commons), which will open late this summer.</p>
<p>No, Im pretty sure the cardinal plan has $510 dining dollars.</p>
<p>USC has changed its food plans. The cardinal plan no longer has ANY dining dollars for 2010-2011. Not sure why you’d venture to contradict the housing brochure and/or confuse people.</p>
<p>So I’m thinking that the Gold plan would be a good choice for incoming freshman since it includes $500 dining dollars but costs only $200 more than the Cardinal plan. It seems like everyone could use some dining dollars since they don’t always want to eat in the cafeterias.
Any advice or comments?</p>
<p>inspired, that’s what we’re thinking as well. The new Gold plan is basically $500 worth of dining dollars for $200.</p>
<p>Not sure which is correct, but the meal plan costs in the 2010-2011 “Living at USC” brochure is different than the USCard Services website. (Also, the USC Housing website still has the pdf brochure from 2009-2010.)
The USCard Services website where I believe you order your food service plan has the following info:</p>
<p>Gold Plan:</p>
<pre><code>* Provides unlimited meal swipes on any given meal plan day in both EVK & Parkside Restaurant.
- Provides $500 Dining Dollars per semester for use in USC Hospitality, University Park Campus, Retail and Residential Dining Venues.
- This plan includes 7 complimentary guest meals per semester.
- This plan resets on the last meal plan day of each semester. Unused balances are not refundable or transferable.
- Meal swipes may be used only by the plan holder and may not be shared or exchanged.
- Dining Dollars may be used without restrictions in the above noted locations.
</code></pre>
<p>Cost: $2,750.00 /semester</p>
<hr>
<p>Cardinal Plan:</p>
<pre><code>* Provides unlimited meal swipes on any given meal plan day in both EVK & Parkside Restaurant.
- This plan is the meal plan assigned to all applicable residents via the USC Housing contracting process should you choose to not elect an alternate plan with dining dollars.
- This plan includes 7 complimentary guest meals per semester.
- This plan resets on the last meal plan day of each semester. Unused balances are not refundable or transferable.
- Meals may be used only by the plan holder and may not be shared or exchanged.
</code></pre>
<p>Cost: $2,450.00 /semester</p>
<p>So there’s a 100 dollar price discrepancy on the Gold plan from what the hard brochure says and what the USCard website says. Hmmmmm.</p>
<p>Now the 2010-2011 brochure is up on the website, and the last two plans (Trojan and Gold) are each $100 more than quoted in the housing/food brochure that came with our kids’ acceptances. No fair!!!</p>
<p>Sorry, I read the wrong brochure. So for 2010-2011, we no longer have the 10 meals a week? It says that it provides unlimited meal swipes on any given meal plan day.</p>
<p>I recommend getting a meal plan with dining dollars. You will get tired of dining hall food very quickly.</p>