<p>Can anyone shed some light on University of South Florida's mandatory meal plans for new freshmen? They say that the 15-meal/wk plan is the most popular, but can anyone say from experience if students really end up eating 15 meals each week, PLUS spending the extra $325 dining dollars? And since you HAVE to take the same plan for the spring semester, and you forfeit any unused meals and dining dollars, what's the real story? Is it worth it? Is there a better, more realistic plan? Thanks.</p>
<p>Not at USF, but at D’s school, freshman have to take a 14 a week meal plan, and get about $300 extra. D uses the extra for coffee in the morning, and usually has lunch and dinner in the dining hall. Often a meal or two left over for the week, but meals are pretty significant social opportunities, particularly for freshmen. </p>
<p>As a soph, she’s dropping down to a plan that averages 10 meals a week, but she’ll have some modest cooking facilities in her suite.</p>
<p>Her feedback was that the 14 meals a week plan was fine for most of the girls, but that quite a few of the boys preferred the all-you-can-eat plan and still hit Taco Bell late at night.</p>