<p>ie why can't i just get the cheapest meal plans and use my debit for the rest?</p>
<p>i think u get $500 worth of dining dollars for only $300</p>
<p>There are 3 meal plans for freshman if you live in a dorm–1 of them is required
Cardinal- $2450- unlimited meals at the 2 dining halls
Gold- $2750- unlimited meals at the 2 dining halls + 500 dining dollars
Trojan- $3050- 3050 dining dollars to spend at campus center, dining hall, wherever it is accepted</p>
<p>The main problem lies within that you have to have a meal plan, thus the cheapest plan is $2450. If you follow your idea and use debit, it will cost you 2450+whatever you spend–which could add up to a lot if you eat out a lot.
As mt2011 mentioned, there is the gold plan, which is the cardinal plan with dining dollars. You get 500 dining dollars for extra 300 dollars.
If you never intend to eat at the dining hall, then it is probably better to get Trojan because, even though it is 500 dollars more, you don’t have to pay the base pay for the unlimited meals at the dining hall. It will probably be cheaper than 2450+ whatever you spend on debit. </p>
<p>There is really no benefit to dining dollars except that they are on your ID card so you don’t have to carry around an extra card. They are accepted most places on campus and a couple off campus, which can be limiting.
In terms of what plan/whether you get dining dollars or not, it will be based on your eating patterns/whether will you eat at the cafeterias.</p>
<p>If you lose your USC card, you can get your DDs back – can’t say the same with cash!</p>
<p>Dining dollars are $500 for $300 cash if I’m not mistaken and assuming you’d eat on campus or buy stuff at Trogro and Seeds somewhat regularly, there are savings to be had! If you don’t plan on eating anywhere besides dining halls on campus, then dining dollars become, indeed, worthless.</p>