<p>Just trying to filter out the CU-lingo and understand the advantage/usefulness of a "floating meal." Also, given that plan 2 has 4 less meals a week(about $44 a week) and 5 less "floating meals,"(not sure of the value lost), does the extra $50(for the entire term) in dining dollars really make up what you lose in meals on dining plan 1? Or is it just a matter of avoiding waste as Columbia knows most students don't/won't eat 19 Columbia meals a week?</p>
<p>Mind you, I realise that my D will be partaking in the local cusine like most of the students do and she will have a personal fund for that.</p>
<p>One last thing: If eating a JJ's Place is considered a "meal," will access to the new Jamba Juice stand be included with said "meal?"</p>
<p>Most of the incoming freshmen - do they go in for Plan 1 or Plan 2? Both costs the same but plan 2 seems to have 5 floating meals lesser, 4 meals lesser every week but 50 dining dollars more for the entire term. So is plan 1 more logical for the incoming freshmen - till they explore the place, they can probably dine in JJ most of the time and also might be quite useful during peak winters.</p>
<p>also is 1 dining dollar = 1 dollar as such. meaning is the difference between the 2 plans in terms of dining dollars over the entire term equal to $50 or in other words does it translate only to approx $10 every month?</p>
<p>Incoming freshman. Upperclassmen almost exclusively advise that we get the second meal plan so I think most do that. Dining dollars last until you graduate. Someone else can fill in the rest…</p>
<p>Floating meals appear to be meals that are available whenever (other meals are by the week). So if you have 17 meals/week but you want an 18th you can use a floating meal.</p>
<p>@neiro6 “Floating meals appear to be meals that are available whenever (other meals are by the week). So if you have 17 meals/week but you want an 18th you can use a floating meal.”</p>
<p>That’s what we were thinking, but the logic of offering a PLAN 1 member more “floating meals,” seems backwards . . . shouldn’t the plan that offers less meals per week(Plan 2) be the plan that gets the 5 extra floating meals?</p>
<p>Also, We realize that the dining dollars rollover but what the chances that our D is not going to use up 125 dining dollars in a 12 week period? And yes, I am aware that we can add more but I’m just trying to gauge how many dining dollars the average Columbia student spends in a given term?</p>
<p>I guess it depends on your eating habits. I think I will prefer having more dining dollars over any type of meals because of my propensity to eat at weird hours, haha. Plan one is more for people who like to eat three solid meals a day rather than eat smaller meals and snacks? We’ll see… Hopefully an upperclassman wanders into this thread</p>
<p>I assume this is for two reasons: first, they think the two are roughly equal, and second, they don’t want people to just choose the cheaper option and go hungry/complain that rich kids get better food treatment.</p>
<p>Floating meals are generally intended for guests, and if you want to dine in the Faculty Hall. But if you run out of meals (unlikely) then i suppose FMs would be a nice backup</p>