If you have a 19 meal plan does one need to purchase extra Case Cash? Is it is some way more convenient than using cash on campus or establishments near campus? What am I missing? Thanks.
My son won’t be at Case, but at his college the major benefits of the “Advantage Dollars” are:
- discounts for using their “Advantage Dollars” at local establishments
- using his ID card instead of a credit card or cash - he has to have his ID on him, and it has a photo so if it was stolen, no one could use it but they could cash or a credit card
The only thing I warned him about, and these may apply to your child, is that if he has 19 meals, he has to use them all or lose them each week, so if he has several left, at least go and get something to drink and a snack. And the other thing was that the Advantage Dollars do expire - for his school, they expire the end of the spring semester.
One more thing is that you get a list of “university-associated” places of business, which helps him realize what is still technically in the university community and not “out of bounds” per se.
My son had the 19 meal plan last year and didn’t need any extra besides the case cash. most students only eal two meals on weekends because they sleep in, and at least on sunday (maybe Saturday too) the dining halls don’t even open until 10:30. He kept some instant oatmeal, cereal, and a few other things in his room in case he got hungry early, because he’s an early riser compared to some.
eta: and another tip on an unrelated subject, because I wish i would have known this last summer-if your son has a specific residential college he wants to be in, he should get on the housing signup the morning it opens. I left it all to my son to figure it out and he waited a few days. By then, his #1 and #2 choices were all filled.
Thanks. Very helpful.