<p>DD will be a freshman in Fall 2010. I would like to know which of the following 3 meal plans makes the most sense, both in terms of value and 'most likely to be used' by DD.
1) 200 meals and $700 Declining Balance/semester
2) 150 meals and $825 Declining Balance/semester
3) 100 meals and $800 Declining Balance/semester.</p>
<p>*Meals, if unused, do not transfer to the following semester. Declining Balance dollars, if unused, DO transfer from Fall to Spring.
*There are 113 days from September 1 to December 22, so at 2 meals/day (unlikely that DD will be up for Bfast), DD may eat 226 meals. So even Option 1) does not seem excessive, but is this correct?
*Are the differences too small for me to worry?</p>
<p>My opinion–take the smallest meal plan allowed. </p>
<p>My D has always taken the smallest meal plan allowed for her residence hall and nearly always has ended up with either meals leftover or has had to make a real effort to use them up. (Like by buying meals for friends on her account–which is allowed, BTW.)</p>
<p>Also D is much more likely to use her declining dollars than her allowed meals. Mostly because declining allows more flexibility about when and where she can purchase her meals. (For example, she can use her declining at the Starbucks on campus and at some off campus locations.)</p>
<p>We just finished filling out the meal plan form. I was under the impression that all freshman housing plans require students to choose a Group I meal plan (which is limited to the 200 Club plan and 150 Club plan). Is the 100 meal plan an option for freshman?</p>
<p>Meal plans allowed are dependent upon what residence hall the student is living in. </p>
<p>Resident Group 1 includes: Susan B. Anthony, Burton, Crosby, Gilbert, Hoeing, Lovejoy, Tiernan, Fairchild, Kendrick, Munro & Slater. </p>
<p>All the typical freshman dorms are in Group 1. Group 1 residents are required to take either the 200 or 150 club plan.</p>
<p>The 100 meal option is only available to students living in: Anderson, Wilder, Chambers, Gale, DeKiewiet, Valentine, the Maisonettes, Riverview Apartments, CLC, Drama House, or DU.</p>
<p>So unless your freshman has some special housing arrangement, the 100 club plan isn’t an option.</p>
<p>BTW, if your student runs short on declining dollars (for meals), you can always add more $$$ to their account at any time.</p>
<p>Based on the ‘take the smallest plan available’ consensus opinion, we will sign up for the 150 Club plan for Resident group 1.
Thank you for the feedback.</p>