<p>Could I have some advice regarding meal plans? There are so many choices that I don't know which sounds the best. I have already ruled out the ultimate access tier, but which of the other options are the best? Is it better to have more dining passes or dining dollars?</p>
<p>Also have do any of you have any experience with the freshman interest groups? The art exploration one sounded really great, as did the communications one. However I couldn't find much information about them online. Are they a lot of fun? Is it better to just live on a random floor?</p>
<p>Students might make some suggestions, but one thing to know is that you can always add money to your plan, but you will not get money back or carry it over to the next semester. My daughter went for the middle in a plan (I do not remember the specifics), and before the end of the semester she was at the end of her meal plan. We just added money to it. If you run out you can also pay with cash.</p>
<p>When choosing a meal plan, you should think carefully about your eating habits. Do you eat breakfast or not? Do you think you’ll be keeping convenience meals/snacks in your dorm? If you’re local, will you go home some weekends and therefore not be eating on campus? Also, think about where you’ll be living. If you’re in towers, you’ll obviously be more likely to go to Market Central, where you can use passes. If your class schedule makes it so that you have to be on campus during lunch or dinner hours, you may want to look into having more dining passes so you can eat in the Union or the Cathedral and so you aren’t just restricted to Market. These are all things to consider. If you want to be safe, Tier 2 is always a good choice because it’s right in the middle.</p>
<p>Freshman yr I purchased D - Tier 3 Plan C (75 meals +$715 DD meal passes came to $12.60 a Pass) at last years prices. Our plan was to use the passes for dinner and the DD for Lunch. She would have breakfast in dorm because that is what she preferred) or on the way to class at a cart or at Panera…it depends where you live. She lives at Forbes and walks past restaurants on the way to and from classes.
At the beginning of the year she did not follow the original plan with just using the passes for dinner but then as they went down in number she caught on to the system. She ran out of passes and started using DD…Meanwhile her friends who had over purchased swiped her in when they went to dinner together…I also bought her more DD and she had extra when she finished her 1st semester. Second semester she wanted the same plan and I believe it is working out great and if not DD is all I will need to add or she will use the credit card so we don’t lose more DD. If you buy too much you will not get to use it the next semester. Easier to add later.</p>
<p>This is our first experience, but we figured on 10 swipes a week for a 17 week semester and this led us to choose Tier 1 C 175 swipes with $645 DD ($37 per week) to cover miscellaneous meals/snack/coffee. If this is too much we’ll adjust for the second term.</p>
<p>First semester my daughter had Tier 2 plan E (75 passes and $945 dining dollars). At the end of the semester she lost 18 passes…but we insisted that she use up the dining dollars buying things that we brought home (tuna, pretzels, frozen food). It was bad enough losing the passes, I didn’t want to lose the dining dollars too. </p>
<p>This semester she has Tier 3, plan D (50 passes and $945 dining dollars). It’s a much better plan for her. At least in the end there we won’t lose anything.</p>
<p>Next year she’ll be in apartment style dorms, so she’ll get the commuter plan.</p>
<p>I called Panther Central before the end of last term to inquire if we could donate the extra swipes and, at least for last semester, there was no program. It would be nice if there was a permanent program where those extra swipes could be donated to students in need - or members of the community.</p>
<p>rocknroll52 - is the meal plan for a male or female? It’s likely that 10 swipes a week is more than the student will use. My daughter was insistent that she needed more than the 75 swipes we purchased last semester. You would have thought we wanted to starve her! ;> Even though I was able to say at the end of the semester, “I told you so,” we still lost 18 swipes.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to take a plan with fewer swipes. You can always purchase more - but you don’t get your money back for unused ones.</p>
<p>Sorry RocknRoll52. Can not remember if I added 50 or 100 DD…I just remember that when I asked why she did not use them up towards the end of the semseter she said that all of the students when they realize that they have too many left start to stock up and there wasn’t anything left that she wanted.<br>
It seems the kids like higher DD’s less passes.</p>
<p>pittsmom- its for a D. She was planning to eat breakfast in her room most days. Thinking meal plan for lunch and dinner on average 5 days. Where do your students eat lunch typically if not Market Central?</p>
<p>I can’t remember where I read it, but someone, somewhere, worked out the cost of a pass (swipe) under each dining plan. It seemed that no matter what the plan, it was cheaper to use the pass only for dinners and to use dining dollars (or cash or credit card) for lunch. Each swipe came out to be like $10-$12 or more. There are so many food places around campus that my daughter can easily do lunch for $5 or so (Chick-Fil-A, Subway, yogurts and sandwiches in the student union, etc…). If she does breakfast in her room (she’s a cereal eater and will have a mini fridge to keep milk in), eats “out” for lunch, and uses passes for dinner, do you think that she should get 50 or 75 passes? I don’t want to have leftover passes at the end of the semester if they are non-transferable. Don’t mind spending money, but hate wasting it! Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter doesn’t eat lunch at Market. She’ll grab a bagel or get something at one of the places in the Cathedral. For dinner, sometimes she grazes on things she has in her room/fridge, $5 pizza or any other cheap eats - or she goes to Market. She is on track to use her 50 swipes this semester. 60 would actually be ideal, but 75 is too many - at least for her. Having more dining dollars than swipes seems to be preferable to most students. And you’re spot on Southmom about using swipes for dinner instead of grabbing a quick bite. Just looking at Tier 2 (75 passes & 945 dining dollars), the plan my daughter had last semester, each swipe was $12. You don’t want to use a swipe if you’re just getting a bagel and some milk!</p>
<p>My son doesn;t do Market Central for lunch. He prefers Cathedral Cafe. Also with leftover DD you can spend it on snacks etc. Leftover passes are just lost $$</p>
<p>My daughter will be a freshman next year. I was planning on getting her the 75 passes & 945 dining dollars. But based on your comments I am wondering if I should do the 50 passes & 930 dining dollars. Does anyone know how much they charge if you need to but additional dining dollars?</p>
<p>Robisongirl–You just add any amount of money (dining dollars). Also, I think students can have Panther Funds (dollar for dollar) that are accepted at lots of different places around campus. DD was in a campus apartment this year, so it was different for her.</p>
<p>From what my son says I believe that Panther Funds are different. They are basically debit $$ put on the PittCard - same as cash or any other debit card. Yes they can be used at quite a few places around campus but DS uses his regular debit card for that.</p>
<p>Honestly? You’re better off obtaining a prepaid card - like Visa - instead of putting money on Panther Funds. My dauther works at an eatery on Forbes and there were instances in which there were technical problems between the establishments and the Panther Funds. You can use a Visa card just about anywhere - you don’t have to worry if the establishment take Panther Funds.</p>
<p>My daughter does use a debit card that is attached to her bank account. She will be off campus next year in a private apartment (not university owned), so I think she will continue to use that method for payment. she does not have a credit card–pre-paid or otherwise.</p>