<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I have a question regarding the estimated cost for the 2012-2013 school year. I was accepted to Carleton ED, and when they mailed me the tentative financial aid letter, they included in the direct cost of attendance things like tuition, fees, and room and board. I just realized how expensive meal plans are in general, and if they're not included in the direct cost of attending (room and board), then paying for college just got a whole lot harder.</p>
<p>Please help me out: Are the meal plans included in room and board (and consequently in the direct cost)? Or are they considered to be 'indirect costs'? I know freshman are required to have the 20-meal plan for the first term, too. Thank you!</p>
<p>The “board” part of “room and board” is meals, so yes it is included in the room and board. :)</p>
<p>Also, both the dorm meal plans (20 and 12 meals) cost the same–the 12-meal plan just includes more “dining dollars” to spend at the snack bars.</p>
<p>Also, unlike a lot of schools, almost everything except books is included in the comprehensive fee at Carleton. Most everything you will do at or through Carleton is ‘free’ once you pay the fee. Free printing, free movies, free bus to the apple orchard, etc. I spent a little money on apples fall term and I bought a new messenger bag, a frisbee and some other bits and bobs. I used maybe $50 of spending money total per term so far.</p>
<p>Want to concur with griffin. Ds budgets himself $75 a month for spending money and has never come close to spending that. Aside from the occasional haircut, he spends next to nothing.</p>
<p>Agreed - the most I spend in a term (barring textbooks) is probably around $75.</p>
<p>You guys have no idea what a relief reading all your comments gave me. For some reason, I really hadn’t given much thought to what was included in room and board. All this information is really helpful, not just about my question but also about students’ monthly budgets. Thank you heaps!!</p>