<p>Is it usual or unusual for MIT freshmen in non-dining-hall dorms to be on a meal plan? It seems plausible that the convenience and food selection offered by a meal plan could outweigh the outrageously high cost, but I've heard that many students choose non-dining-hall dorms (at least in part) specifically because they wouldn't have to be on a dining plan.</p>
<p>Additionally, do freshmen in non-dining-hall dorms who are not on a meal plan typically cook their own meals, or buy food somewhere? Both of those options have their advantages but would seem to get tiring after awhile.</p>
<p>I think there are a fair amount of freshman from non-dining hall dorms who enroll first semester. But, I think after people spend their first IAP here and realize they’ll still eat if they don’t have a meal plan, lots of people don’t get one any more. If you want to try one out first semester you definitely won’t be the only one from a non-dining dorm.</p>
<p>Like you said, there are some advantages to dining (a big one being convenience). I think the main issue people have with the plans is that you have to buy so many meals. I think a lot more people would get more plans if you could get like 5-7 meals per week instead of 14-19.</p>
<p>A decent amount of freshmen in non-dining dorms get meal plans. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it though as the cost is quite high. Another thing to consider is that the hours of the dining halls are somewhat limited so if you have an unusual schedule the dining halls are less convenient. I’m a freshmen in a non-dining dorm not on a meal plan. For breakfast, I’m typically not very hungry so I usually just drink an Odwalla pre-packaged smoothie. I usually get lunch at a food truck or the student center. For dinner I either eat pre-packaged food or go out. Despite often eating out and not being particularly frugal, I still spend about as much for all my meals as the cost of the Basic 14 meal plan. If I cooked more or was more frugal I could easily spend much less.</p>
<p>When I was on the meal plan, each meal cost slightly more with my plan than they would’ve without my plan! I was on the smallest number of meals per week - you start saving more the bigger plan you buy - but really, you probably won’t use dining a whole lot. You can find cheaper food on campus, or make your own food from Star (I mix up with both). </p>
<p>If you really want to go to a dining hall, just paying the normal per-meal cost will probably get you more savings than buying the meal plan, unless you actually will go 19 times per week (you won’t).</p>