<p>My D is beginning her sophomore year and will be living with friends in a apt off campus. She doesn’t want to buy a meal plan and feels that it will be a waste of money. Is it really required and if so, is there any way around this?</p>
<p>If your D is living off campus I do not believe she is required to have a meal plan. She may want the smallest one though if she wants a meal with on campus friends or needs dinner before a late class or event.</p>
<p>The above is correct. The website section on meal plans says only that they are required for “resident” students freshman and sophomore year. Where did your D get the idea a meal plan was required for students living off campus?</p>
<p>Actually, I thought that I saw that it was required. Glad to hear that I was incorrect. </p>
<p>Okay, now that I know she doesn’t need a meal plan, how do most students/parents budget for groceries & meals? What is a typical range that a student would spend both cooking and eating out? I know there is a wide range depending on her spending and eating habits but I have no idea what is reasonable. </p>
<p>Are freshmen required to live on campus?</p>
<p>@pushydad – As a student I spend about $200 per month on groceries but it depends on what your student will buy, what they want to cook, etc… But I eat out quite often since I have lunch at work five days per week. </p>
<p>@ca1996 – I’m sure you have to otherwise you have to make up an excuse to Housing & Dining. Can’t find it anywhere on their website for some reason… </p>
<p>My D is a recent graduate who lived off campus for 2 years. We gave her $150/month for groceries. However, I know that she supplemented that with her own earnings for eating out. In retrospect, she says that she wished that she had a small meal plan for eating on campus occasionally. She ended up using friends’ extra meal swipes to eat at TDR when she was on campus. </p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I think that I will budget $175/month for groceries plus the smallest meal plan. That sounds about right. </p>
<p>Pushydad - that sounds good. You can always adjust after a few months.</p>