<p>Justin,
I noticed that there are some new meal plans offered for Freshmen. Which one do you recommend?</p>
<p>mary s,</p>
<p>I'm sorry if I confused you with my interim housing post. Yes, South College houses approximately 110 first-year students (220 spaces total). However, unlike in previous years, South will not be used for January interim housing.</p>
<p>I just noticed the new meal plans for myself (see: Welcome</a> to Lafayette Dining Services). I would strongly advise against the 20 Meal plan, which all first-year students absolutely hate. If you don't use one of your 20 meals during a specific meal period, you lose access to that meal; quite unforgiving, no?</p>
<p>The two new options are interesting. The Carte Blanche unlimited plan probably costs a ton of $$$...I wish they'd list the cost of each plan! It's probably not worth it.</p>
<p>The 200 Block plan seems like your best bet. 13 meals/week is much more manageable; I'd only advise you to consider adding a couple hundred flex dollars to the plan once you get to campus by stopping at the Cashier's window in Markle. With flex dollars, you can eat at the three smaller cafes on campus (Gilbert's, Simon's, Skillman) in addition to the two buffet-style dining halls.</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>Hi, Justin. I'm curious to know why the L Dining site does not have prices next to its plans. Are they included in a comprehensive Room and Board bill?</p>
<p>Minky, (and anyone interested) </p>
<p>here are next year's first-year student meal plans as of now. As I expected, first-year-students will still be playing a crapload for their meal plan. </p>
<p>20 Meal: $4,675 for the whole year, $2,337.50 per semester. $100 Flex, meal equivalency(this is when you use your meal to purchase food or snacks in lower Farinon, the main dining hall. For example if you cooked dinner, you have a dinner left and because you don't want to waste it, you can use the equivalency to buy drinks/etc.), 20 meals a week (3 a day, except Sunday which has Brunch and dinner). You may only use the meals at their specified times, and as Justin has stated, if you don't use your meal, you lose it forever. </p>
<p>Carte Blanche: $4,976 for the whole year, $2,488 per semester. You get $250 flex, NO EQUIVALENCY, and you can get unlimited meals in both Farinon and Marquis restaurants, our buffet-style halls. This means you can have breakfast 5 times if you want to, lunch 5 times and so on. However, you can only eat at any time in Farinon, and will probably need to adhere to Marquis' regular hours. Not worth it IMO. Who the hell eats 2 dinners, anyway? Plus you lose equivalency, and it's ridiculously expensive. </p>
<p>200 Block: $4,576 for the whole year, $2,288 per semester. You get no flex, I don't know how this works but apparently, you can get multiple meals per meal period, and 2 meals/day or 13 meals/week. Again they don't list the specifics; this probably is the best, as it has flexibility. </p>
<p>There you go, whatever you get the minimum for any freshman is going to be $4,576 and you're probably going to be adding flex on top of that so it's not going to be cheap :( </p>
<p>I agree with Justin, 20 meal plan is absolute BS, 200 block probably is best. </p>
<p>And yes, it should be in the bill, but Justin knows better regarding that. lol</p>
<p>haru07,</p>
<p>You are something else. Thanks so much for putting that post together! </p>
<p>I think the 200 Block plan gives students 200 meals to use however/whenever during a given semester. It's as simple as that, and it allows for a great deal of flexibility.</p>
<p>BTW, I'm on duty tonight. I'll try stopping by around 10.</p>
<hr>
<p>Minky,</p>
<p>I just don't think Lafayette wants people to know how expensive meal plans are! In response to your question, yes, board costs will be listed in your comprehensive semester bill (which must be paid during the summer prior to the beginning of the semester).</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you both, Justin and haru07...I really appreciate the info.
-mary s</p>
<p>@mary s: no problem. you have every right to know how much you're paying!</p>
<p>gah justin, you missed me i was @ the gym.</p>
<p>hey
what do they mean by equivalency in the meal plans?</p>
<p>ryanshroff,</p>
<p>Good question! I'll try my best to explain this confusing concept as succinctly as possible.</p>
<p>At Lafayette, there are two main buffet-style dining halls (upper Farinon and Marquis), three smaller cafes (Gilbert's, Simon's, Skillman), and one "a la carte" option (Farinon Food Court). Equivalency is an option for purchasing meals at the Food Court.</p>
<p>You see, at the Food Court, students can't eat anything/everything they'd like. Each menu item at the different food stations has a unique price (just like at a McDonald's). Students are given a specified amount of money they can spend for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For dinner, that amount is currently $4.75. That $4.75 can be covered using a meal, but if you purchase more than that amount (it happens), the difference is covered using flex dollars.</p>
<p>Each day, the different food stations each set up one or two "meal equivalencies" -- complete meals that would normally cost more than the allotted meal amount if purchased separately, but which are being offered at the meal amount (again, $4.75 for dinner). A meal equivalency usually includes a main dish, some sort of side option, and a fountain beverage; offerings do change on a daily basis.</p>
<p>That's the easiest and clearest way for me to explain the concept of meal equivalency. Make any sense?</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>Ouch, Justin! Are they providing gold plated veggies or something? I didn't realize it was so pricy. Still, 13 meals a week isn't going to do it for my guys. They could eat 40. Looks like they'll need part-time jobs at Subway!</p>
<p>hey justin..</p>
<p>i m an international student. i need to book plane tickets. so any idea which date should i pick? will it be ok to have one or two days earlier? How can i come there? by taxi or is there any system of picking or sth?</p>
<p>mohak, has the International Student Association contacted you yet? If not, they should contact you soon about when to get here and stuff. </p>
<p>Next year (that is, the 2008-2009 school year), classes begin on Aug. 25 and is preceded by a 4-day Orientation, beginning on August 21. Before general orientation, there is also an international orientation, which I believe was 1 or 2 days. This year, classes started on Aug. 27 and general orientation was 4 days before that. </p>
<p>As for the date, you should be fine if you get here on August 20, though you have only one night before orientation. But it depends on what the ISA (international association) decides to do this year. One or two days earlier is no problem, in my opinion. </p>
<p>Usually, the ISA organizes a pickup for international students 1-2 days in advance of the International orientation, I was picked up in JFK Airport last August 20. The precise date as I noted above, should be sent to you provided that they are doing the same thing next year. Not sure bout the other airports--but if you don't plan on being picked up:</p>
<p>Assuming you are landing in JFK International Airport, from there, you can take a bus (do NOT take a taxi because it will cost you $250 or more), which is around $30. It's called TransBridge Lines, check </p>
<p>Trans-Bridge</a> Lines</p>
<p>There are only a few buses, so you may have to wait some time, if you are planning to come to Lafayette alone. However, due to luggage issues (the college is on a hill) and room key etc, I highly recommend that you arrange to be picked up at the airport. </p>
<p>If you can afford to wait before booking a plane ticket, you should do so until you get details from the college.</p>
<p>mohak,</p>
<p>Just to add to what haru07 said: you might consider contacting the International Students Association Advisor, Janine Block (<a href="mailto:blockj@lafayette.edu">blockj@lafayette.edu</a>), with those questions.</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>fencersmother,</p>
<p>Yes, your guys could become "sandwich artists." You know what they say...</p>
<p>Subway...EAT FRESH!</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>thanks guys</p>
<p>i never realised picking a meal plan would be so difficult (and expensive)</p>
<p>Ryan</p>
<p>Thnx alot for all the residence information in your earlier posts.</p>
<p>I couriered my deposit yesterday. How can i check if it's been received ?</p>
<p>thanks haru07 and justin. </p>
<p>Another thing. I sent my International certification of finances through mail (which is required for i20) . How can i know if they have received it or not and my i20 has been sent??</p>
<p>mohak...you cannot really check IMO, you could contact the admissions office and ask if they've received the certification of finances and/or if they have sent out your I-20. Either way, you WILL receive your I-20 in the mail before leaving, assuming your certification was filled in properly, so don't worry too much...</p>
<p>By the way, some students stay here over summer to do internships/research etc., in fact I'm going home in about a month, then coming back in late June to do EXCEL research with the CS department. I will therefore be here from then all the way to when classes begin, until December, without break. Which means you won't be alone or one of the very few people here if you get here early</p>
<p>ryanshroff,</p>
<p>I'd contact Admissions (<a href="mailto:admissions@lafayette.edu">admissions@lafayette.edu</a>) to see if your deposit was received.</p>
<hr>
<p>mohak,</p>
<p>For financial paperwork inquiries, contact the Office of Financial Aid (<a href="mailto:financialaid@lafayette.edu">financialaid@lafayette.edu</a>).</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>
<p>thanks alot :-)</p>