So I understand all incoming freshmen have to dine on-campus and enroll in a meal plan.
I was looking on the website (http://www.diningservices.tulane.edu/plans/undergrad.html) and had a few questions:
I am just confused about the whole system! thank yoU!
When you purchase the Flex 275/275b of the freshmen meal plans you get unlimited swipes in Bruff (the dining hall). (The Flex 350 only gives you 15 swipes/week, I would not recommend that for a freshman). They count swipes, not the cost of the meal.
Wavebucks is money on your Splash card that you can you at other campus dining establishments- PJ’s coffee, McAlister Mart, the LBC etc. NOLA Bucks is money you can you at designated places in New Orleans near campus. I would strongly recommend one of the unlimited options for your first year.
Agreed about unlimited, which refers only to the number of times you can enter Bruff (swipes). As @dolphnlvr6 says, what you get once you are in Bruff is irrelevant. Just a salad or a 6 course meal, it is all the same. You will probably be tired of Bruff by the end of freshman year, but then you will be able to judge and balance the convenience of Bruff versus eating at the LBC or other on campus locations (including some pretty awesome food trucks apparently, although I think I read that at least one of the trucks is on the plan? Not sure how that works) and also off campus.
To be clear, Wavebucks and NOLAbucks are never unlimited. They are more like one of these prepaid cards you can get where you fuel the card with $X and use it until it needs refueling. It is a matter of convenience more than anything else, and I seem to remember something about a small savings by using those as opposed to cash or your own credit card. Not sure, others can clarify I imagine.