<p>Could current students go over the meal plan choices? When the plan says you get about 12 meals a week, what do you do for your other meals that week? I see the Eagle Bucks are used both on and off campus…do you use them to eat on campus? What place takes that as opposed to your meal plan meals? Is there cooking in the dorms? How often do folks actually go off campus to eat? What if you don’t have a car? I see the metro stop close by, but is there other places that don’t require the metro? Thanks!!</p>
<p>1) Unlimited plan. I don’t recommend it because you can’t swipe in others, nor do you get $300 of eagle bucks. </p>
<p>2) 200. This is probably the default plan for freshmen. You will probably end up with a ton of extra swipes, but the cost per meal is much lower than the other plans. This is the safest option to start with first semester. </p>
<p>3) 150. Even people who eat in TDR a lot eventually move to this plan. </p>
<p>4) 75. I’m pretty sure this option isn’t available to freshmen. </p>
<p>First of all, eating three full meals meals (especially using a meal swipe) is not the reality for most college students. On the weekends TDR doesn’t open until 11am, so you only have the choice of brunch and/or dinner. Many grab a granola bar/ cereal/ oat meal from their room for breakfast. Others may have lunch off campus due to an off campus job or internship. And for dinner there is always carry out, delivery, and eating out. How much you eat out will depend on your friends and your budget. Of course some students make their own lunch/ dinner too. </p>
<p>Your meal swipes are valid at the tavern (fast food like), TDR, the cafeteria at Tenley campus, and box lunch/ early dinner. You also have the options listed here: [Office</a> of Campus Life](<a href=“http://www1.american.edu/ocl/housing/New_Site/Dining_Services/Where_to_Eat.htm]Office”>http://www1.american.edu/ocl/housing/New_Site/Dining_Services/Where_to_Eat.htm)</p>
<p>Every floor has its own stove and microwave. You will want to consider bringing/ sharing/ borrowing pots and pans, sponges, dish soap, utensils, dish towel, etc. because AU does not provide that. You may luck out that people will share what they brought, but there are no guarantees. If you want to bring a coffee pot/ electric tea kettle/ toaster, you will have to leave them in the kitchen unless they are unplugged in your room.</p>
<p>For groceries there is Whole Foods @ Tenleytown, Superfresh by the law school, and Safe Way down wisconson abit. You can walk to Safe Way, but it’s farther than the other two. You can take the shuttle to Tenley, and the law school shuttle to Superfresh. You can also take the metro to Giant. </p>
<p>Eaglebucks is accepted universally on campus… from the campus bookstore, to vending machines, to coffee shops. Eaglebucks are also accepted in a lot of places off campus. </p>
<p>Freshmen aren’t allowed to have cars so don’t worry about that. There is the free shuttle that runs from campus to the metro. There are also restaurants in Tenleytown.</p>