Freshmen Meal Plan to become a bigger ripoff

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>For those who don't know, when you become a Freshmen at the University of Chicago, you must sign up for a Freshmen meal plan.</p>

<p>At BJ or Pierce Dining Halls, this means 154 meals per quarter and $500 Flex Dollars or 132 meals per quarter and $750 flex dollars, or 187 meals per quarter and $0 flex dollars (depending on your dorm, you are preassigned either the first or second; nobody is preassigned the last).</p>

<p>At Bartlett, you get $1100 in Barlett Points per quarter and $329 Flex Dollars. This is only available to Freshmen living in Max and Snell/Hitchcock.</p>

<p>Every meal plan costs the same: $3,816.</p>

<p>The fact is that, on a Pierce/BJ plan, it is nearly impossible to use all your meals. They give you way too many.</p>

<p>With a Barlett plan, they also give you a huge amount, but Bartlett is ala carte, and you can still spend it all on things like bottled water, fruit, or chips. The price of the Barlett plan, however, means that you are paying $3,816 for $3,629 worth of food. In reality, it is not that big a deal. Though next year, things are changing. The price of a Freshmen Meal Plan at Barlett is going up the standard roufhly 5% (so it will cost roughly $4,006). However, the amount of points you get is decreasing. Starting next year, freshmen will only get $900 per quarter. So, now, freshmen will be paying roughly $4,000(!) for $3,029 worth of food! Now that is RIDICULOUS! This plan has not been approved yet, and I urge incoming freshmen to voice their opinion to the school and Aramark (the catering company that is the main one responsible for this rip-off) and spread the word, because, honestly, most current students don't care, since it does not affect them.</p>

<p>Those getting Pierce/BJ plans are going to benefit, however, because they will be getting, IIRC, one less meal per week, but $60 in Barlett Points per quarter.</p>

2

<p>What's a flex dollar, exactly?</p>

<p>I knew Chicago would be tough...but I'm having trouble understanding the meal plans!</p>

3

<p>(insert "beating up this nerd for lunch money" joke here)</p>

<p>for crying out loud man, we're not going to go to chicago to enroll in dinnerplate-tectonics... the school isn't out to get you for your money, they were founded by rockefeller, so must of the lying to steal money was taken care of around the turn of the century.</p>

4

<p>oh you guys guess what?</p>

<p>you are all gonna get like majorly ripped off on your housing costs too...like totally</p>

<p>all freshman pay the same amount but singles are usually more expensive so everyone in doubles and tripples...you guys are gonna get omg SCREWED!</p>

5

<p>That is correct, the University of Chicago is not out to rip you guys off. After all, they are a non-profit orginization.</p>

<p>However, the dining halls are ran by a seperate company, Aramark, which is for-profit. And once you get here, you'll realize how much ripping off they do.</p>

<p>For their credit, however, the on-campus food at the UofC is pretty good.</p>

6

<p>"I knew Chicago would be tough...but I'm having trouble understanding the meal plans!"</p>

<p>LOL! You've made my day. Funniest comment I've read in a while.</p>

<p>Here's an idea: get a friend to sign up for a meal plan, comment on how she's been gaining weight lately; she'll start eating less and guess who gets to eat the leftovers?</p>

7

<p>So you can have my meals ok...</p>

8

<p>Can you use the meal plan off campus in nearby stores/restaurants?</p>