What's up, peeps? I'm thinking about applying to Ohio State, and the meal plan is a major deciding factor for me. How does it work there? Can I choose my own meals or something? I'd love to hear from someone who knows.
Sure thing! Ohio State University offers a number of meal plan options for both on-campus and off-campus students. When you sign up for a meal plan, you'll receive a number of BuckID dollars and Dining Dollars based on the plan you choose.BuckID dollars can be used at any on-campus dining facility, as well as at many off-campus locations in and around the Columbus area. Dining Dollars, on the other hand, can only be used at on-campus dining locations.
A few meal plans to consider include:
- Traditions: This full dining plan offers the best value and the most food! Includes unlimited visits each week to any of three convenient Traditions locations.
- Scarlet 14: This full dining plan appeals to students who may eat two meals per day or those who eat three meals a day during the week and choose other dining options on weekends. You will get 14 visits each week to any of three convenient Traditions locations and includes the Traditions-To-Go carry-out option.
- Gray 10: This partial dining plan appeals to students who may only eat 1 or 2 meals a day. You will get 10 visits each week to any of three convenient Traditions locations and includes the Traditions-To-Go carry-out option.
As for choosing your own meals, absolutely! At each meal, you can choose to dine at a traditional dining hall where you'll find a buffet-style selection of meals, or you can choose to eat at one of the many other on-campus dining locations like cafes and quick-service restaurants. For example, some locations offer menus ranging from sandwiches and salads to international cuisine.
A key thing to remember is to use your meal plan strategically because the BuckID and Dining Dollars do not roll over to the next academic year - so make sure to use them all up before the end of the spring semester.
I hope this clarifies things for you and best of luck with your college decision process!
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