@NHuffer very nice comprehensive post! You are right about the extra expenses that you ‘pay-as-you-go’. My son pays for his books, supplies, entertainment, clothes, travel etc from his summer jobs and work-study job, so these are not factored into our monthly payment plan.
He was in Thurston freshman year, one of the least expensive options (and the only one on Foggy Bottom in that price range), so any dorm in sophomore year was quite a jump in cost. But, in sophomore year, having the kitchens in the dorm rooms is a money saver in that buying groceries with colonial cash and cooking for yourself is always cheaper than eating take out with your colonial cash.
@LovelyAshley good luck, I hope everything works out for you. My son loves G-Dub and going to school in DC has been a great experience for him.