<p>Unless BU’s meal plans nowadays are unusually high in terms of variety and quality of food, he’d be much better off eating out all of his meals to benefit on both counts. </p>
<p>When I was living in the Boston area, I recalled running a financial calculation with some younger friends comparing our college board costs with eating out every meal instead and the differences were surprisingly substantial on the costs alone…the greater variety and quality were bonuses. Was a great eye opener to me as I attended college in a rural Midwest town and eating out in Boston ain’t exactly cheap. </p>
<p>Greater savings, of course, would be had if one did their own shopping and meal preparation.</p>
<p>True, but at many schools…including BU of the early '00s, one was often better off forgoing the meal plan altogether and paying for the meals at those very establishments in cash. </p>
<p>The system is often rigged to benefit the ones running the meal plan and the university concerned.</p>
<p>It is 13 years past the year 2000. Even when my son went to BU, having points on a card to use at restaurants (that’s called “eating out”) was easier than carrying a debit card or cash. A dollar was,the SAME dollar whether in the form of points, or the form of cash. I’m NOT suggesting a full meal plan…I’m suggesting dining POINTS. As a student the only places he had time to go to were ones close to campus.</p>
<p>However, my kid loves to cook and took advantage of being able to cook, and pack lunches. Of course you can do this in on campus apartments as well as off campus. </p>
<p>Back to the OP…I still say…have your grad student live ON campus this year with the idea that it will give him the time to decide whether to remain on campus, or whether to move off…and if so where.</p>
<p>I think that living on campus at first is a good idea, but this idea of moving home a couple of years into a PhD…highly unlikely, IMHO</p>
<p>No it’s not. I’m a PhD candidate in my last year of a program; I have finished all of my coursework and am writing my dissertation. I only go up to campus maybe 1-2 times each week to meet with my advisor and take care of some stuff. If my parents lived an hour’s commuting distance of my university and I could live at home rent-free with them, I would do that in a single heartbeat.</p>
<p>OP, remember that “on-campus” housing for a grad student, especially one in a large city, is different than on-campus housing for undergrads. Likely he won’t be eligible for a meal plan like undergrads are. And on-campus housing is usually in apartment-style buildings. I live in a university owned building in Manhattan to attend Columbia, and it’s not the kind of place where you socialize and meet other grad students during meals or anything. They’re not dorms; they’re apartments, and they look exactly like off-campus apartments. There’s no dining hall or lounge area or anything like that. The only difference is they’re owned by the university so they’re subsidized relative to the usually very expensive area universities are in and getting in may be easier for grad students with no credit. For that reason, I also don’t think time to focus on school will vary much whether he lives on or off campus.</p>
<p>The other thing is that on-campus housing may be ridiculously difficult to get at BU. They sometimes are at universities in expensive areas, like mine. It may actually be easier - and in some cases, cheaper - to get an apartment off-campus.</p>
<p>If you’re going to get dining “points” to put on a card, then what’s the point? How is carrying a BU-only card any different or easier than carrying around a debit card you can use anywhere? I’m a PhD student and the only time I ate at the dining hall was when I worked for undergraduate res life. When I buy a coffee or a sandwich in the dining shops on campus, I just used cash or my debit card. I’m a busy full-time PhD student and I definitely have time to eat off-campus, as I think most graduate students do. Even still, in an urban area the closest restaurants are likely to be a mix of university run restaurants and independent restaurants. I live right behind campus and the closest places to eat for me are actually independent places.</p>
<p>DH lived in Alllston when he was an undergrad at MIT. DS lived in MIT grad housing for three years. He would have moved out if a friend had taken the initiative to find a place but he could not be bothered. It was not a great place and the roomies came and went but it was easy (close when he was teaching or had office hours) and not extravagant. (Also, he had a view of the Charles that he will probably never be able to afford as a grownup.) He likes to cook so a meal plan was never an issue. This past year he has moved to Somerville with his significant other. The apartment is much nicer but less convenient. It’s a trade-off. He has a fellowship and has only had to teach two semesters but still goes into his office most days.</p>
<p>julliet, some families would prefer to give points to their student to use for dining. It’s just a matter of preference…</p>
<p>Sure, you could carry a debit card around…but having a prepaid meal points card is a nice thing to have! And some students would appreciate that.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the advice. Thumper1, we looked at two studios. One was in a basement on Bay State Rd for $1500/mo. Nothing wrong with it, just small. The second was a bit larger for $1300/mo, but you could touch the T at the Fenway stop from the window. We went through the BU Rental Office, and they said there would be more units available to look at after May 31, which is the date students need to notify the office whether or not they will be vacating their units. DS has another appointment in 2 weeks. Hopefully, he will not be kicking himself for not grabbing the Bay State Rd unit.<br>
As for the meal plan, I believe it is offered for grad students, but, that is not on any critical path at the moment; he can deal with whatever. I will say though, after feeding him for the past 2 weeks, I swear, it may be cheaper for him to be on a meal plan; that boy can eat!!
Also, I realize that living at home in the out years is a long shot, a smart kid should consider it. Living in a nice home in the suburbs rent free with mom cooking, and finishing up with an extra 20K in his pocket could set someone up pretty well.</p>
<p>I met friends I still have in other fields (and lots of weird people) in a grad dorm. Then I moved in with a few of them in a dilapidated house. Useful to develop the social network. Being in close proximiity to the school meant that I could maintain a social life. I had a GF when I went up to school but that ended in a year or so. Then I went out with lots of young women – some grad students, some undergrad, a post-doc, … . That would have been hard if I’d been living far away or with parents. The T shuts down, if I recall, at 12:30. Too early both for work and for social life for a grad student.</p>
<p>My son found his apartment just after the May 31 deadline. He used an agent, who took a month’s rent from him despite the fact that my son found the place. (He is incredibly frugal so I’m guessing he saw no way around this.) He pays $1400 for a small, but not tiny, one bedroom.</p>