<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I am an international student who will be attending HWS this fall. Since I've not visited the campus yet, I had some questions about HWS. I will start with dining services. How is the dining service at HWS? I've read many students complaining about their college's dining service. I know students always have something to complain and are never fully satisfied with the services provided. Still, HWS is one of the costliest colleges in the world and I really want to know what I will be paying for. Also, I'm really confused about the meal plan. Can someone help? </p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>73 views and no reply! :(</p>
<p>Try posting in the Parents Forum. You’ll get more answers there. :)</p>
<p>HWS has one main dining hall. It is food court style with a variety of choices (from breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, burgers, pizza, and hot entries) We had lunch there during the open house. It wasn’t horrible, nor 5 star dining, it was fine. They also have a little cafe for basics and snacks and drinks. They also have a pub on campus, but it was closed when we were there.</p>
<p>I believe freshman are required to purchase the one of the two top tier meal plans. Basically give you unlimited access to the dining facilities. The gold plan is anytime, and I believe the silver plan allows anytime between 11am to close. You also get guest passes, snack money etc. </p>
<p>Hope that answers some of your questions.</p>
<p>We visited Hobart last year. My son really like the school and is anxiously awaiting the decision letter… We ate in the dining hall and thought the food was good–not spectacular, but quite good, and much better than some of the other schools we visited. The hall itself was very nice and clean and the atmosphere was great–very, very few sitting alone and a lot of happy looking students. 
Sorry I don’t have more info on the food plan, but, if you haven’t seen it yet, maybe this link will be helpful: [Meal</a> Plans, Dining Services, Hobart and William Smith Colleges](<a href=“404”>404)
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for replying! </p>
<p>monstermama, thank you for the link! I discovered that the dining services provide students(who buy the gold plan) a birthday cake on their birthday!</p>
<p>Hobart15, I’m sorry I haven’t answered till now; I just didn’t have time, but I’m glad to see you’ve gotten some responses. Yes, generally college students complain about college food. I think the food is quite reasonable, considering they’re feeding most of 2000 students. No, it’s not Mom’s home cooking, but it’s fine. The current arrangement has three tiers of food plans. There’s a whole point system that seems pretty complex at first, but you get the hang of it and figure out how to manage it. The Gold is the most complete, generous and flexible and as you have discovered, you get a birthday cake! The two lower tiers have progressively more limited choices of times and kinds of food to eat. On the one hand, my son for the last two years has been on the Gold plan and at the end of last year had to work hard to use up his points (but he has enjoyed the birthday cake each time!). On the other hand, a girl friend of his doesn’t eat much and she doesn’t eat breakfast, so this year I believe she’s using the bottom tier arrangement. I hope this information helps.</p>
<p>Hi Carolyn, thanks for the response! I am still really confused about the “points”. Where(and how) to use the “point”? If you don’t mind, can you please explain the theory behind this complex looking point?</p>
<p>Hobart15, I have to confess I don’t really understand all the details of the dining service arrangements. My sophomore son is the expert in our family because he’s at HWS. I don’t think you really need to worry about the “points” and how to use them at this point; the three different tiers of the dining service have gradations in what they offer as choices to the students. Don’t worry; you will get enough to eat and the food is fine! If it works with your budget and you have a solid appetite, I would recommend starting off with the Gold level for your first year. Besides, you get a birthday cake!</p>
<p>Thanks Carolyn! I guess I should stop worrying about the meal plans. :)</p>
<p>This might sound little bit stupid. Can someone let me know about the bathrooms first year students (freshmen) get to use?</p>