NMF scholarship question

bikedad · 11-01-2009, 09:35 AM

Guys, help me on this one. I know I read the answer somewhere but in the big stack on the living room table, it seems to have disappeared. Can a student with the NMF scholarship apply the on-campus housing money to off-campus housing in the later years? When D1 went through a few years ago, you could not. Though the on-campus honors housing is the best we've seen out of all of our schools, I can promise you, if you have girls anyway, they're gonna want to venture off campus by the time they're juniors, at least. S1 would have lived in a tent if it was close and convenient. He didn't care, but, alas, I'm not that lucky with D2

Thanks

Bikedad

navarre1 · 11-01-2009, 10:26 AM

This is from the the Alabama National Merit Scholars website..FAQ

After I have lived on-campus my first year and decide to live off-campus the next year, can I still receive my housing scholarship?

No, as the offer that was made was for on-campus housing only. If you decide to live off-campus, then you will not receive the housing scholarship.

jrt336 · 11-01-2009, 10:49 AM

How many sophomores, juniors, and seniors live off-campus?

SEA_tide · 11-01-2009, 02:24 PM

According to UA's profile, 30% of all undergraduates live on campus, while 89% of freshmen do (it is required unless living with parents/guardians in the Tuscaloosa area). We have plenty of sophomores and upperclassmen living on campus, many of whom are doing so because of a housing scholarship or because they are RA's. I don't know this exactly, but I don't believe the housing scholarship covers most, if any study abroad housing either. There are many off-campus options, which may or may not be cheaper depending on the student and the type of off-campus housing.

mom2collegekids · 11-01-2009, 05:47 PM

I think those who have housing scholarships - NMF and Academic Elite tend to stay on campus - unless their parents are willing to let them "give it up" and pay for off campus. I don't know of any who were willing to pay for off-campus, when they could have "on campus."

However, in recent years, UA hasn't had enough on campus, so they contracted with a super nice apt complex and some kids are there using their scholarship money. But, that may end soon.

I realize many kids do move off-campus - but the motive may be more of a desire for a private room (no more sharing). However, with honors housing, kids have their own rooms. (there are also similar private-room housing for non-honors students)

If a student has to pay for his housing, then it probably is cheaper to get an apt so as to have a private room. But, if a student has a housing scholarship and gets to have a private room, what's the big deal.

I think if it's really a big deal to have "more privacy," then pay the little extra and book an on-campus 1 room suite (or 2 room suite with a friend). At least then you can still use your housing scholly and save money.

For example...here are the rates for the honors suites (there are also some non-honors here, too)....

Riverside, Lakeside, Bryant, Ridgecrest (4 bedroom unit)..... $3,475.00 (scholly level)
Riverside, Lakeside, Bryant, Ridgecrest (2 bedroom unit)…. $3,800.00
Riverside, Lakeside, Bryant, Ridgecrest (1 bedroom unit)......$3,950.00

The housing scholarship pays for the 4 bedroom unit.

But, if you want the 2 bedroom or 1 bedroom unit, pay the extra money and get that...it's still cheaper than giving up the free housing and paying off campus.

My son has the free housing, but if he wanted to move off-campus, I would either say "no," or pay (or have him pay) for a private room upgrade.

Montegut · 11-01-2009, 09:26 PM

The one bedroom units you list, can you apply your scholarship money to those and pay the difference as a freshman, or are those only open to upperclassmen? And if you can only get that as an upperclassman, can you apply your scholly money to that?

Another question about housing. If you live in on campus housing, like these honors apartments listed above, do you still have to purchase a meal plan, no matter your class status, ie, sophomore, junior, senior?

Since many honors kids come in with so many credits, and can be classified as sophomores very early on, are they able to not purchase meal plans and just cook in the dorms?

mom2collegekids · 11-01-2009, 11:44 PM

Yes, as a freshman, you can apply the housing scholly towards a one-bedroom honors suite and pay the difference if there are any available. Remember, upperclassmen reserve rooms first during a limited period, then they're shut out.

All freshmen must buy a meal plan (Silver plan on up).

I am not sure if those upperclassmen in apartment housing must buy a meal plan. Anyone know? I'm guessing not.

Upperclassmen have some cheaper options available. If a kid would only occasionally eat "on-campus," he could buy the 50 meal plan. That would be about one meal every other day - which I don't think would be "too many" for someone living on campus. See below.

________________________________________________

Upperclass Meal Plans

Bama Unlimited - $1698 per semester
Unlimited meals

Bama Gold - $1526 per semester
220 meals per semester

Bama Silver - $1235 per semester
160 meals per semester

Bama Bronze - $768 per semester*
90 meals per semester

Bama 50 - $385 per semester*

__________________________________________________ _______

Meals can be eaten at any time of the day. Dining Halls are "all you can eat". Kids can request a "to go" box when they come in if they want to take their meal "to go."

Many kids use their dorm fridges and have cereal in the morning (or whatever) to minimize the need for the larger meal plans.

BTW...all returning UA students who want on-campus housing....there is a multi-step process that must be done by certain deadlines otherwise you won't get campus housing. (I don't know why it's "multi-step" - I wish it was "one-step"!)

MikeWozowski · 11-02-2009, 05:02 PM

mom - you are a fountain of info!!!

MikeWozowski · 11-02-2009, 05:04 PM

how many total meals would it be if a student ate every meal available (three meals a day whenever the dining hall is open)

idk even how many weeks are in a semester!

are dining halls closed for some meals (like sunday lunch and/or dinner)

SEA_tide · 11-02-2009, 05:24 PM

A semester at UA is about 16 weeks, with 3 meals a day everyday, that is 365 meals, 416 if you add in the late night meals served on school nights. The Bama Silver (160 meals a semester) amounts to two meals a day on weekdays and none on weekends, as mom2collegekids said, there is no specific time of day or specific day meals have to be used. Meals do roll over to from fall to spring if one does not downgrade their meal plan.

I seriously caution against buying the 220 or unlimited plans, just because of the numerous options besides the dining halls. The food court(s) and off-campus places do not take meal plans (though the food courts and some restaurants do take dining dollars) and there is a grocery store right off campus. While 10 meals a week is low compared to some other schools' meal plans, it is a lot of food.

mom2collegekids · 11-02-2009, 05:38 PM

Good question about how many meals would a kid eat if he ate 3 meals a day...

We've struggled with this question for 3 years now...LOL

This is our experience..

Girls eat less meals period (found this out from others)

Freshmen are "on campus" about a week before school starts (because of WOW), so they start "spending" meal plans at that point.

So....If freshmen arrive about Aug 14th for WOW - I think they are on campus for about 18 weeks (I hope I counted right).

However, there are going to be times when they probably won't be eating - labor day weekend, mini-fall break, T-giving break, etc.

Kids also like to occasionally eat "off-campus"- especially on a weekend evening. If they have a part-time job off-campus, they will likely eat off-campus more often.

Also, college kids typically sleep in on weekend mornings, so one dining hall opens at 7am while another doesn't open til 10:30 am.

Sunday lunch and dinner is at the Lakeside honor dining hall 10:30am-8:30pm/10pm-1am (the schedule is confusing to me..LOL..I don't know what's going on between 8:30pm and 10pm???).

I would start a freshman with the silver plan (160 meals a semester). Remember, a student also has Dining Dollars to use at the on-campus 3rd party dining venues. So, on a school day, a student could eat cereal in his dorm, 2 meals on dining plan, and one "snack grab" using Dining Dollars, and another snack from his "dorm stash".

Even if a freshman were to "run out of meals" towards the semester's end with silver plan, you'd still have the $300 difference from "gold plan" for the kid to buy food with.

There is a Publix grocery store that is practically on-campus. The Crimson Ride tram does go by there. So, kids typically pick up food for their "dorm stashes" there.

If a kid is in "super suites" housing, then he'll have a full fridge (with freezer) and a microwave in his kitchenette. A kid can make almost anything with that combo. LOL

Montegut · 11-02-2009, 06:24 PM

Thanks so much for meal plan and kitchen info. Have a very picky son. Will probably do most of his eating in his "apartment". Thanks also for the Publix info. That was my "meal plan" in college as well. Great prices back then, hopefully still comparatively low.

Is the freezer large enough to store bags of chicken nuggets?

You think I'm kidding? I'm not. Less fattening to eat the frozen than getting the fried stuff at Burger King. Also, don't get french fries with them.

Can we add dining dollars to the student's accounts?

I guess we need to start a new thread on this meal plan stuff. Wish I knew how to cut and paste.

MikeWozowski · 11-02-2009, 08:33 PM

picky son will still have to get a meal plan. even though the suites have kitchens, i don't think they are intended for "full" cooking.

i have a picky daughter (not the one that is a senior now. i find that she is not as picky with other people as she is when i am around to listen to her complain.

: )

i was doing some calculations and it looks like each meal is about 7.70. one of the bigger plans had meals as low as about 7. that is probably a bargain for boys. not so much for girls.

my DD doesn't really eat much breakfast. so she would probably be able to get by on 2 meals per day or less with some dorm snacks or cereal type things.

i know the grocery store is close by, but it didnt occur to me that the busses ran there.

do busses run other places around town where kids would want to go to grab a bite or run an errand??

mom2collegekids · 11-02-2009, 09:41 PM

Yes the freezer is big enough for frozen foods. The fridge is one of those 18 cu ft ones with the freezer on top (see pic here by scrolling down to the little pics) http://housing.ua.edu/ridgecrestsouth.cfm

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I hope that one of the UA kids could chime in about the trams and such.

I know that the Crimson Ride does go by Publix which is also on the campus "strip" where many eateries are...such as 5 Guys, Qdobe, Coldstone, some Mexican restaurant that I can't remember the name, and other places...

To get an idea of where I'm talking about, click on the link below and enlarge. Look above Bryant Denney Stadium, find W. 4th St, that's where Publix is and that area has the above mentioned eateries.

Here are the routes and stops... http://crimsonride.ua.edu/images/map...press_1-08.pdf

There is also some kind of "entertainment buses" that go into town for weekend stuff, but not familiar with that.

SEA_tide · 11-03-2009, 01:56 AM

Montegut, how did you know I had a large bag of chicken nuggets in my dorm freezer? (lol)
No, you cannot add dining dollars to an account, but you can add Bama cash (which works at more places, including Publix and dorm laundry rooms). To make it more confusing, dining dollars can be cashed out or turned into Bama cash at the end of the year.

Us students do like eating off-campus when we want a change from of Bama Dining (Aramark)'s food. The strip has many places to eat, and Publix. Pizza and sandwich delivery are real popular too. Your kids may end up going with friends to the Waffle Houses or Cracker Barrel sometimes too. Tuscaloosa and Northport have every kind of fast food franchise imaginable, just most are not very close to the University.

Mike, it's surprising what one can cook, most dorms do have full community kitchens and barbecues. As long as I wasn't making a 6-course French dinner, I can make almost anything in the community kitchen. I believe it is only one or all of the Riverside dorms that only have a convection oven rather than a conventional one. That said, there are people that swear by meal plans. I tend to snack a lot and usually spend less than $7.70 on a meal, so the larger meal plans don't suit me that well.

As for another way of getting food, go to UA-sponsored events (clubs, lectures, cultural events, etc.), there is often free food at these events.

Mom2collegekids, I have no idea about this entertainment tram you mention. I know of only one time this year when UA provided buses to a non-campus event. If you are referring to the 348-RIDE van service, that's a nighttime service that will take you anywhere within the general University area. I haven't gotten the chance to use it as I'm usually on campus between 10PM and 7AM when it runs.

Tuscaloosa does have the Tuscaloosa Trolley, but it runs from 5AM-6PM M-F and not on holidays. I've taken it to Wal-Mart/Sam's Club and it is doable, but takes about 45 minutes each way. The website is Tuscaloosa Transit Authority . It was the original Crimson Ride, but is now strictly public transit. Students usually find a friend to take them places rather than navigate this system. There is a Rite Aid and Arby's just off campus, along with a Redbox movie rental machine. It is possible to walk to Target and the mall, if one doesn't mind walking a mile from the nearest Crimson Ride stop. As for on-campus transit, the Crimson Ride doesn't operate on a fixed schedule, which means that the spacing between buses is not constant. Many times it is quicker to walk or get off a couple stops early and walk to your destination. When it rains or you are just tired, the Crimson Ride is a great asset.

As for entertainment, there is a movie theater just out of town and lots of local music in bars on the strip and downtown. Remember that Alabama requires people to be 19 for entry to the latter, which makes things difficult for many freshmen.