Choose a College Meal Plan - How to Get Just Desserts

Choosing a meal plan is an easy but important part of going to college. Your coursework will feed your brain, but you have to make sure your stomach is well-fed, too. Most colleges require incoming freshmen to select a meal plan prior to coming to campus, which can be tricky. If you're not sure how good the pizza at the student union is, how do you know whether or not you'd like to buy it?

The answer lays less with the food on campus and more with your personal eating habits. Although there are many variations of meal plans at schools across the county, they can be broken down into three basic categories.

Per meal plans are the most common. You choose a plan based on how many meals you think you will eat each week. Most per meal plans offer 10-meal, 15-meal or 21-meal options. This plan is ideal if you have a regular schedule. The downside is that a "meal" could be an entrée, side dish, dessert and beverage-or just an apple. This plan isn't practical if ever you wish to grab a quick snack on the go, as you'll burn through the number of meals you are allotted too quickly.

Set-number plans offer more flexibility than per meal plans. You select a plan that allows you to make a certain number of charges (instead of meals) to your account. This works best for those who eat multiple, smaller meals throughout the day, or if your class schedule is too hectic to allow you time to sit down and eat.

If you want the most flexibility, a debit plan is right for you. Before each semester, you deposit a sum of money to a account, and the cost of the meal or item you purchase is deducted from that account. This plan works no matter what your schedule is, and it also lets you splurge when you want to. The only catch is that it's hard to predict how much money you should deposit. In most cases, however, you or your parents can top up your account if you are running low.

No matter which plan you choose, be sure to read the fine print, especially regarding leftover meals or cash balances. Some schools roll over to the next semester any remaining meals or dollars, some give refunds and some, unfortunately, have a "use it or lose it" policy, meaning you have to spend down your balance by the end of a semester or-poof!-it's gone. You'll also want to check to see if you can change your meal plan every semester, in case your first choice doesn't turn out to be a good match for you.

What if the plan you choose and pay for doesn't quite cut it? To supplement your meal plan, most schools offer a charge account program. In most cases, you swipe your student I.D. card like a credit card, and purchases of food (or even books and other supplies) are charged to your bursar account. Also, some schools have on-campus convenience stores where you can stock up on staple items.

One final tip: Take advantage of admission, orientation or preview day programs where you can interact with current students of the school. They'll have the best input that can help you decide what type of plan to choose (and can tell you which dining hall on campus serves the best dessert).