<p>My financial aid was revised and I'm left almost screwed over. My aid doesn't cover my tuition cost and I'm a bit worried about that.
Enrolled as a full-time student, including housing, book allowance and a meal plan, what would be the estimate cost of attendance? I was told by the financial aid office that it will possibly be less so I was wondering if a current student can fill me in on the exact cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students? I will be in the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. Thank you.</p>
<p>The financial aid website is probably pretty correct to the price: [Financial</a> Aid](<a href=“http://bingfa.binghamton.edu/Costs_Undergraduate.htm]Financial”>http://bingfa.binghamton.edu/Costs_Undergraduate.htm)</p>
<p>Generally though I find that books may be a lot less expensive if you buy used books, especially if you buy them online at a really reduced price. Room and Board will also vary depending on where you are living. This site ([Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Rates](<a href=“Residential Life | Binghamton University”>Residential Life | Binghamton University)) talks about what each living arrangement and meal plan options are in terms of cost.</p>
<p>What meal plan do people usually go for? some of them said 17 meals per week, 19 meals, etc. But if you eat 3 times a day isn’t that 21 meals per week?</p>
<p>At my former school, I knew very few people who actually ate three times a day. The only ones I knew who did would wake up really early, work out, get breakfast, then classes, then lunch, and eventually dinner, or they would have something like cereal or stolen dining hall fruit in the morning. Generally, though, people aren’t up before their first class, will get lunch when they have a break, and then have a meal in the evening. On the weekends, you might get three, but that’s allowed for in 17 or 19. Also, you’ll likely have meals in your dorm, either ordering out or preparing things like soup when you’re too busy to go out and actively get a meal. Most of my friends both at my former school and my boyfriend’s school do 14 meals, and it’s more than adequate.</p>
<p>Transfer - The mealcards work like a debit card. Each item is worth a certain amount of money and you buy what you want, when you want. So it really isn’t meals per week as that is more the avg you will probably spend during the week. Meal Plan C is the default meal plan but you can change that if you want. You can also refill your mealplan card both online or in person at the mealplan office so you will never really run out of money for the semester.</p>
<p>the way the binghamton meal plans work is different than a lot of other schools. [Binghamton</a> Dining Services - Resident Meal Plans](<a href=“http://www.budining.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=67]Binghamton”>8181801威尼斯(vip认证)-百度百科) and see links contained there. </p>
<p>they charge $X for the plan – they then deduct from that the amount they deem necessary to cover their overhead. the amount left is the amount you have to spend for the semester. everything in the dining halls is priced pretty cheaply (if you pay with the card – prices are higher if you pay cash) because they have already collected their overhead up front.</p>
<p>you have a choice of plans, but the only difference is the amount of money – since the same amount is deducted for overhead, the difference in prices is just the difference in the amount you will have available to spend. if you run out of money it is VERY easy to add money (dollar for dollar). if you have left over, the money carries over to the next semester IF you remain on a meal plan. so you can go with the default plan the first semester and see how that works – if you have a lot left over, choose a cheaper plan the next semester. if you have to add - you can either go with a more expensive plan the next semester, or again just add as you need to.</p>
<p>since the dining halls are based on “pay as you go” not per meal, you can go into the dining halls as often as you want in a day – to eat a meal, or grab a snack – you pay for what you’re taking.</p>
<p>there are also other dining locations - eg food court – where you can get food, but you will pay “retail” price there.</p>
<p>Thanks guys- I’m usually the kind of person who eats three times a day, or two meals with a small breakfast since I get wicked hungry after a morning workout.</p>
<p>I find it easier to buy a box of cereal and a half gallon of milk - cheaper AND then you don’t have to lug yourself out in the cold just to get breakfast to rush to class. But I grew up always eating breakfast before school, so I couldn’t go on an empty stomach… </p>
<p>Also - if possible, check the BU bookstore website like nowish, and use amazon and ebay to buy your textbooks. I think I spent LESS than $200 on my books for this semester AND I’m a science major (so even organic chemistry textbooks CAN be found for real bargains). It will save you more money than you realize.</p>
<p>I love breakfast… however since I’m living in CIW with no fridge I dunno how I’m gonna make milk happen.</p>
<p>transfer - You could always rent a fridge if transporting one is an issue, I strongly suggest getting one, at least to be able to have cold water bottles, and milk and the occasional leftovers (ie. if you have food left over from lunch that you’ll eat later). Or maybe your roommate could bring one!</p>
<p>Maybe. I have two available to me, I just dunno how much room we’ll have.</p>
<p>When will we find out our roommate?</p>
<p>After August 1</p>