<p>^okay, I’ll try to explain the meal plans. Assuming you are a freshman living in a regular dorm at USF-Tampa, you are required to purchase one of the 3 level I meal plans offered–the unlimited plan, the 15 meals/week plan, or the 160 meals/semester plan–they are each the same price of $1810/semester. If you are a freshman in a campus apartment that has a kitchen, you are required to purchase at least a level II meal plan that is $1155/semester.</p>
<p>If you like 3 squares a day and are around campus most of the time including weekends–get the unlimited–that’s what I always got. If you plan to go off campus most weekends, eat off campus frequently, or are a light eater, you might prefer the 15 meals/week plan. </p>
<p>Before your housing contract will be processed, you have to send in your meal plan contract. Attached is the info from dining services: </p>
<p>Too, on the dining services link, read the actual contract that is linked–it explains that you only have to put down a $50 deposit initially and you pay the balance when you get to campus with cash or with your financial awards in your Oasis account.</p>
<p>I’m moving down from Minnesota to Florida for the fall of 2010 (Go class of 1014! woo!) :)… anyways I haven’t visited USF but I hear it’s awesome. I’m going to be living in the Kosove apartments… any opinions about those apartments? I chose that because, like others have said, its a good deal and the rooms are bigger…right?.. can anyone post a pic of their room or apartment at kosove? That’d be so awesome… I have yet to tour the dorms and appts. yet </p>
<p>And any advice for me as a new Freshman at USF?</p>
<p>^^Kosove is convenient to everything. Bring a bathing suit and not your snowmobile suit from Minnesota! Study hard and have a good year at USF! GO BULLS!</p>
<p>haha bathing suit?! dude thats already packed haha i cant wait to get out of here… how many pools does USF have anyways? And nearby beaches? any? lol</p>
<p>I already applied for a room in the kosove apartments… but i hear how popular Juniper is… is it possible to change my application? Juniper looks sooo nice …and its new… I now wonder if its worth it to have an apartment with a kitchen I probably wont use since we’re all required to have meal plans.</p>
<p>There’s a 25 yd outdoor pool about a block from Kosove that’s open when it’s warm, and also there is a 25 yd indoor lap pool in the recreation center about 2 blocks from Kosove. There are some smaller pools scattered around campus.</p>
<p>The nearest really nice sandy beach with bikinis, sun and fun is Clearwater Beach which is west of campus about a 35-50 minute drive.</p>
<p>^^Sorry, didn’t know you were moving already. Kosove is fine, but you are right, it is kinda silly getting a kitchen when you have a meal plan. You’ll be fine whatever dorm you pick at USF.</p>
<p>There is a small pool next to JP over in the Magnolia area too. </p>
<p>Personally, I prefer the Pass-a-Grille area of St. Pete Beach, but that’s a ways further than Clearwater Beach… I want to say there is some kind of beach in the Tampa area on Tampa Bay, but I can pretty much guarantee it won’t be as nice as the gulf.</p>
<p>Of course studies are first priority at USF, but there is plenty to do recreation-wise near USF and throughout Florida. What’s kinda fun is renting a canoe and paddling on the Hillsborough River over by Fletcher Ave. , which is only about 1 or 2 miles east of campus–I’ve done that 3 or 4 times with friends. Or if you just want to get wet and cool off literally across the street from campus go to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island water parks (they are about a mile away–you can see the roller coasters and rides from some of the USF classrooms.) There’s a million things to do in Florida.</p>
<p>If you want to go to the Atlantic ocean where there are real waves and surf, hop on I-4 and drive about 2 1/2 - 3 hours east to Daytona. Or you can loop around the west shore of Tampa Bay on I-75 and go to the gulf beaches down by Sarasota and Bradenton.</p>
<p>thank you soo much lizard for the explanations of the meal plan. i eat the normal 3 meals a day but after that i kindof just snack around, so i might get the lowest or smaller one. but it’s kindof weird that they are all the same price per semester. i’m trying to get everything in so i my housing app can be processed as quickly as possible since juniper and poplar are so popular to everyone. there is so much to do!</p>
<p>Lizard is exactly right about the Hillsboro River. USF Riverside Park isn’t well known but truely a hidden gem, I’d strongly recommend visiting if you like the outdoors.</p>
<p>because i lived in florida about 5 years ago and i have florida prepaid so its cheaper plus its warmer im hella tired of the -40 degree weather here in MN during the winter months lol</p>
<p>@singapore
i haven’t heard anything, but i did check my status online and they have received some of by stuff. make sure u turn in everything like the meal plan, immunization forms (especially this), and forms if u want to live in the living communities and also all the stuff for Financial aid if ur applying for it. i believe that they can’t process ur housing until all of these are turned it. i just found this out this week about it. i still have stuff to turn in! </p>
<p>has anyone used the usf computer service that they offer? if so could u tell me how it works and if it is efficient. i just got a brochere from them about buying a laptop through their providers.</p>
<p>Daniel : LOL. thats interesting… well thats half the reaosn i chose florida… the weather in Singapore is pretty darn similar. (: </p>
<p>Blackrose : I’ve been checking my status every other day and nth has changed. I sent in all my stuff wayy back and they’ve acknowledged its receipt. I’m anxious as to why they’re taking so long!</p>
<p>oh really! that means that I really need to get all of these things in soon! Just graduated! I’m sooo excited! I’m that much closer to going to USF! :)</p>
<p>LOL. i’ve been waiting since feb for room assignments! but i guess thats just cos i decided early! well, i cant wait to get started! (: anw, where you from cantwait?</p>
<p>I imagine the weather in Singapore is quite a bit different. We have a real winter here whereas, if I understand correctly, the weather in Singapore is nearly the same year round since you’re so close to the equator… I’d really like to visit Singapore, it looks like a bigger and wealthier version of Miami with lower taxes.</p>
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plus its warmer 
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