Choosing a college meal plan

[MaryAnnDVC]

Thanks for all the insight!

Regarding size of bed...yes, they are Twin X-Long. She and her roommate coordinated their colors (bright pink, orange, lime green, and blue), which look like the paint aisle in Home Depot exploded! Really cute and fun tho.

Regarding roommates who are friends beforehand...oh, yeah, I have my concerns, and I've talked to DD about it. Jen's a sweetheart, and besides the uncomfortable situation of ending up not liking her roommate, I'd hate for DD to lose her as a friend. I've got my fingers crossed that it works out. (Jen has talked about going home every weekend, and I think that's a good thing.)

My DS is a Freshman this year in Boston. He has the exact same room/type you describe with 2 in each room and a bathroom the 4 of them share.

After first semester they moved all the beds (4) into one room and the desks into another. They all get along so it's worked out rather well.

What a great idea! I love it!

Where is your DD going?

URI. She got a full Centennial Tuition Scholarship for 4 years...hard to resist. Wasn't her first choice when she applied, but we told her we'd do what we'd have to do to send her wherever she wanted to go (well, *I* told her that...DH is just thinking $$$ and going ), but she decided after several visits there and talking to people that this was it (and I have to say, I'm a little relieved about the $$$!); also, they have a program of study that she became interested in.

A few years ago, DD was swearing she was going to go to college in California...far away from home. Then, it was east coast. Then New England. Then, the same state. Then, when I mentioned something about "when she comes home on weekends" (I didn't mean EVERY weekend ), she said "Mom, I'm NOT coming home on weekends!" Then, she said when we were discussing meal plans "I figure I'll come home every other weekend." Now DD#2 (15) is starting with "I'm going to school in Calfornia!" LOL I think once the time comes, they realize they don't have to go across the country to gain their independence. And this way, they can bring their laundry home too.

Oh - definitely under-buy. Especially if they let you add $ to the plan later in the semester. You've heard of the "Freshman Fifteen"? (most freshmen gain 15 pounds the first year)

Oh, I've been warning her about that too! Especially since she works in a fast food restaurant is already on her way to gaining the "Fast Food Fifteen"! Her college is built on the side of the hill...you have to walk up hills to get to classes (I thought I was going to keel over)...and the joke is that you don't have to worry about the Freshmen 15 because you'll walk it off going to class...but I don't think so! Every so often, I remind her what a lovely workout facility they have.

Will they have a way to the store? By car or bus to do some shopping?

Both she and her roommate have cars, so yes, they won't be held hostage eating on campus. I think if anyone asks what she wants for graduation, I'm going to tell them restaurant gift cards!

The meal plans are:

any 10/week (Mon - Fri only) + 10 guest meals/semester (me )
any 15/week + 15 guest meals/semester
any 19/week + 19 guest meals/semester

The above meals EXPIRE at the end of each week.

44000+ points (same cost as 15/week)
64,000+ points

The points can be carried over to the Spring semester, but expire at the end of the Spring semester.

DH, the accountant, is going to have to analyze the points. Found online how many points get deducted for each meal (B, L, D), so we need to see what those points really mean.

With many plans, meals are a better value for your dollar. If points can be used to buy a dining hall meal (all you can eat) or specific snack bar-type items, the food at the snack bar is typically worse for you and you get less for the cost.

DH was concerned with her being able to use the points to buy snacks in the stores. But getting one of the board plans (so many meals per week) won't stop her from doing that! She'll just do it with cash.

As for the meal plan or points, I would discuss it with her roommates family because it would be nice for them if they had the same plan.

That's what I asked DD...what Jen is doing. And she's doing the 44,000+ points.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I actually considered going to URI. Yes, those hills were bad. Ended up at UNH. With the hills here I'm in better shape than I've been in years (yeah, even with the dining hall food)
As for meal plan, definitely see how many points will get you what. Here we have unlimited meal plans (so yes you can eat 6 meals in a day if you really wanted...i promise I eat 3 at the most), and can get dining dollars as well. The dining dollars can be used for snack stuff, and would be similar to points. I know I like the flexibility, because I don't always want the dining hall. If you can eat the majority of your meals in the dining hall (and figure that most days she won't make it there 3 times/day), and still have points left over for snacky stuff (any idea to find out how much the average stuff she might be buying would cost in points?), it would probably be good to go with points. Also is there a way you can reduce the amount of points second semester if she finds she carries over an abundance from first semester? You don't want to lose a ton at the end. I don't remember the ins and outs of dining at URI; are there food courts or anything like that that don't take the regular meals? That would increase the desirability of points

 

[Snowysmom]

The college my DS goes to makes the freshmen and sophomores choose from 2 plans- one is all you can eat for the semester and one is based on a number of meals. There is only $40 difference between the 2 so it is better to get the all you can eat. They both include credits for up to 6 or 8 meals at an on campus dining place and a certain number of credits for guest meals. This year DS could choose another meal plan that included more places other than the dining commons to eat. It is a bit less expensive plus there were more choices. Next year he will be in a new apartment style living dorm and will be offered an even different meal plan at about $300 less per semester. They assume the kids will cook some meals since they will have a full kitchen. The meal plan will include buying groceries at an on campus store but I assume that will be expensive! He may forgo the meal plan altogether next year and buy food to cook and put money on his college card to use at on campus quick food places. They make it way too confusing!

 

[goodeats]

I overchose because I pledged a sorority my freshman year, and you could eat at the sorority house for lunch and Monday night dinner. Also on the weekends people tended to go out instead of eating in the dining hall.

But I think for her first year it's better to overchoose. There are lots of healthy options in the dining hall (at least at mine there was), so I wouldn't say the meal plan is the cause of the Freshman 15. I think it's ordering pizza late at night while studying, too much soda, and partying (sorry mom, but it's true!). My school had the option that you could use your credits on campus too (the dorms were a hike), so that made them even more flexible.

 

[sharbear]

My S has a friend who's going to URI. I know, I'm going through the same thing. As soon as my S decides which college he's going to, we'll have to pick a meal plan. It's so confusing isn't it. Every tour guide has told us to pick the cheapest meal plan, they never eat as many meals as they have on their plan. I think that I'll go with a plan that has less meals and more money to spend at places around campus.

Now on to egg crates and XL sheets.

 

[Mary Anne]

My son's school dictates the # of meals freshmen MUST buy and it's the biggest plan.

I am so looking forward to the shopping though. I've told him the sky's the limit. He likes nice things and I want him to enjoy himself with everything brand new and coordinated.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Also is there a way you can reduce the amount of points second semester if she finds she carries over an abundance from first semester? You don't want to lose a ton at the end. I don't remember the ins and outs of dining at URI; are there food courts or anything like that that don't take the regular meals? That would increase the desirability of points

I think you can reduce the points the following semester, but I'm not sure. I got so crazy reading it, I printed it out for DH to look at. There are only two dining halls, and then other places to eat, but I don't think they take the board meal plans...just the points. It's looking more and more like the points are the way to go.

Linens 'n' Things for XL sheets. They even had the model dorm room decorated courtesy of LNT. We got sheets from this group...the multi-striped, the bright pink and extra pillowcases in the lime green and turquoise blue, with an orange comfortor :

Matching towels, too, at JCPenney.

We even got "dishes" at WalMart that match...they're plastic (like beachware) sets of the same colors as her sheets, to have on hand when they don't want to use paper plates. Sets of 4 plates, 4 bowls, and 4 cups were I think $1.97 each set! And it was a few dollars for a plastic "tub" for storage, and we saw what looked like the same thing at JC Penney for $25.

I also just bought one of these TableMate II tables for my mom (Bed, Bath & Beyond...I found it in one of their stores, but not another) and DD wants one for her dorm room too:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13973067

FYI about using Linens & Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond 20% off coupons...

They both accept EXPIRED coupons, and I think they both accept them up to 60 days after expiration. They accept each other's coupons. LNT would only accept 5 coupons (on 5 different items) in one visit. Once a "20% off the whole purchase" coupon expires, LNT will only accept it on ONE item. At BB&B, a salesperson told me that if I purchased something, and then got a coupon, I could go back and they'd adjust the price. You can sign up online for both to get special offers (including coupons).

 

[U2_rocks]

I don't know what the cafeterias are like, but we avoided ours when I was at college!

Seriously, I loved to eat out - I'd often and up at the mall or somewhere, and I'd want to eat there, but I'd feel obligated to go back before dinner ended because the dinner was already paid for. If you thing she will get out and about a lot, or has a low appetite at certain meals (e.g. all she eats for breakfast is a bowl of cereal that would be more convenient to eat in her room as she gets dressed), then get a meal that's either very flexible, or is less than what you think she'll need. Remember too that she'll get sick from time to time and won't want to go down to the caf.

Just some thoughts from an ex college student (gezz, it's been 18 years since I was on a meal plan!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I think it's a good idea to over-buy the first semester while your DD is figuring things out and settling into a pattern. yes, it's more expensive and you'll loose some money along the way, but then again, you know she won't starve and she'll be able to have some flexibility in eating as she adjusts to college and finds her rhythm.

I over-bought my first year, but at first I did eat 3 meals a day, 7 days a week in the cafeteria, and it was a major social gathering place for students at my school, so I often went to meals with new friends as a way to hang out and get to know new people. Over time as I settled in, I didn't need the same meal plan, so I went to one that gave me 14 meals a week via one of the cafeterias, plus 50 points per week to use in the campus grill. Points rolled over week to week, but were lost at the end of the semester. Meals did not roll over week to week. I also had a fridge, microwave, coffee pot, toaster and a hot pot in my dorm room, but I still used most of my 14 meals each week, even if I was just running in to grab a bagel or dessert!

 

[englishteacha]

I did the 19 meal a week plan, with $15 worth of points. My roomie did the maximum plan with maximum points, and NEVER ate all her meals. I eat 3 meals a day, so it worked out well for me, as they only served brunch and supper on weekends. I didn't have a car and my parents wouldn't let me to come home every weekend, so campus food was it. We had really good food though, and I made healthy choices. I didn't gain weight until after graduation (Yes, I lived in a dorm all 4 years) when I realized that I don't like cooking!

 

[mskani]

My nickname in college my freshman year was "Lunch Buddy" because I NEVER missed a meal! During the time that I went to U of I, you were either on the meal plan (20 meals/week) or not. I definitely got my money's worth!
I think that I was so fascinated with the sheer number of choices that I had and the fact that I didn't have to cook it OR wash any dishes!

A typical breakfast for me was eggs, bacon, bagel w/cream cheese, bowl of cereal, juice, fruit, pancake or waffles. I did gain over twenty pounds my first year of school. I ate a large lunch and dinner, also. Three times/week, my roommate and I would order pizza as a late evening snack.

 

[RadioNate]

I'd get a points plan. For us the dining hall also accepted points but you couldn't go to the other places if you only had the board/meal plan. And no one ate at the dining hall.

Most people ate at the deli or the union. I'd start with the bigger points plan, since it can carry over, then you can add more in the spring if you have too.