<p>They’re redoing the meal plans for next year (which a lot of the upperclassmen aren’t thrilled about…) but apparently the cheapest plan for freshmen is now $1525 per semester, which is 225 meals/semester (~14 meals a week) plus $150 food dollars which can be used in Benson, Subway, and Starbucks. I had 14 meals as a freshman which was plenty for me, but I had a car and would go off campus and get stuff from the grocery store to eat, so you’re still spending a little money to feed yourself those days. So you might be able to shave about $800 off the board cost.</p>
<p>You can’t do much about the room cost, but you can save a lot by not buying your books from the bookstore (the biggest ripoff there is). It’s a little hard to do it your first semester unless you don’t mind being without your books for the first week or so - yall won’t register until about 3 days before classes start, but you could always borrow a friend’s book if needed. I spend maybe $250 at most per semester buying my books online and that’s only because I usually have a bunch of science books to buy.</p>
<p>I believe you can also appeal the aid package they gave you, because that does seem like a lot of loan money. If they refuse to move on the loans they give you…honestly, UNC is not a terrible school. I love Wake, but I’m not sure that that burden of loans makes it worth it, especially if you’re looking at pricey grad schools later on.</p>