Freshman meal plans?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Lehigh University
1

<p>S begins as a freshman in the fall, and has a choice of meal plans. Narrowed down to two - 19 meals/week, or block of 225 for the semester. Have read older posts where many students prefer the block plan since they can cash in unused meals for cash equivalents at the food court. They also claim that the 19/week is too restrictive, since you lose the meals if you don't use them. However, if you multiply the 19 meals/week by approximately 16 weeks in the semester, the total is 304 meals, 79 more than the 225 block plan. I just looked at the calender briefly, but am I missing something obvious? The plans are priced the same, but it seems you are giving up a LOT of meals in return for flexibility. I can see sleeping in and missing an occasional breakfast, but do most students really miss more than 5 meals/week (79/16 weeks)?</p>

<p>Any thoughts or suggestions?</p>

2

<p>Definitely go with the 225 block. I had 14 meals a week my first semester and you can only use one meal at a time during designated “meal times.” So if you get lunch (not at the dining hall but elsewhere like a food court) and it costs more than one meal’s value of $4.35, then you must use dining dollars or extra money to pay for the rest. I got the block second semester. With 225, you never lose meals if you don’t use them and you can swipe more than one meal at a time which really is the best thing. Most people, boys and girls alike, have many, many meals left at the end of the semester and can buy food with it in bulk. I had 50 left the end of this semester.</p>