Dorming with a side of meal plans

If you're living on campus at Cal State Uni, you've already learnt all about the joined housing and dining fees.  If not, you're about to.  Since the two go hand in hand, you'll have to figure out the combination that best suits your eating habits.  Prices vary depending on the plan and whether or not you are a returning student and can be found on the University's website.  With three options to choose from, appetite size, class schedule and sleeping patterns should be put into consideration to save yourself money or prevent starvation during the semester.  So which plan works best for you?

Ten meals per week:

Too busy to eat?  That's one great reason for choosing this plan.  Becka Seggy, 20-year-old pre-kineseology exercise science major, is only permitted into the dining hall a maximum of 10 times each week, yet has no regrets.

"I'm comfortable with my meal plan.  I don't even use all my meals throughout the week."  Her tight schedule is a big part in her satisfactory plan choice.

"A lot of my classes are around meal times and it's a lot cheaper,"  Becka says.  By taking this option, she's saved herself a minimum of $210 or a maximum of $420 in food that she wouldn't even have the time to eat.  For some students like Becka, the smallest meal plan is more than enough.

Block plan:

If you have an unpredictable eating timetable, maybe this is the plan for you.  The block plan is an alteration of the block flexi-plus plan available in previous years and allows 260 meals per semester.  There is no weekly expiration date to use them and, therefore, less pressure on money wastage.  The earlier flexi-plus plan consisted of 160 meals and $100 Beach Club card credit to use at any campus participating food store or restaurant.  This option, although no longer available, seemed like a winner for Crystal Bernhard-Converse, 20-year-old biochemistry major, when making her decision.  Although, her experience with it has not been as productive as she thought.

Students relaxing at Starbucks Coffee
located at CSULB library
Photo by Ashleigh Mehmed

"I liked the idea of being able to go to Starbucks or Carl's Jr," she says.  However, Crystal barely makes it to the dining hall and doesn't want to base her activities around dining hours.

"During first semester, it was just because I was having dinner at friends' houses a lot.  This semester, I much rather sleeping in through breakfast and lunch time, my schedule completely conflicts with it," Crystal says.

"I would have rathered have the minimal meal plan and instead put a hundred bucks on the Beach card myself because now I realise there's no way I'd eat the full 160 meals." 

Nineteen meals per week:
Consisting of every single dining hall meal, this option is perfect for students who like to have their full three meals for the day, or in this case, two per weekend day.  Although the priciest option, you don't run the risk of going hungry - especially with the option of a sack lunch or box dinner to take away when you can't make it to the dining hall.  An exchange student, Namrata Pingle, 20-year-old journalism major, found this plan much more financially appealing than the others.

CSULB Residence dining hall, open to
students every day of the week, excepting Sunday.
Photo by Ashleigh Mehmed

"It's efficient, considering how much is provided - it's an all-you-can-eat buffet," she says.  Namrata did some research before making her final meal option, in order to be sure of her decision.
"I asked a girl who had come here previously and she recommended the 19 meal plan.  She said you think you'll be out on weekends but realistically, you'll be on campus."  This has followed through as good advice to Namrata, who has only missed a maximum of two meals in six weeks. 
"I don't regret it because life is so busy here when you're not a local and I don't think I'd be able to cook.  I think I'd compensate in a negative way."