<p>The MAIN reason both of my kids moved off campus was to get AWAY from the dining halls/meal plans. Both schools have excellent and very highly rated meal programs, but in the end, both of my kids wanted to have more control over what they ate, and they wanted to cook it themselves. If I had insisted on them staying on the meal plan, they both would have opted to stay in on-campus housing.</p>
<p>We prefer that DS continues to use the meal plan as well when he moves off-campus. Although some students at his current school complain about the quality of food in their dorm, he thinks it is not bad, when compared to what he had to eat in the cafeteria at his public high school. (When he made this comment not long ago, we felt a little bit guilty by feeding him such “bad” food for 12 years before he got to the college.)</p>
<p>The main reason why he and his friends try to sublet an off-campus apartment during the summer is that there is an AC there. In the summer, it is very humid/hot in the New England coast area and somehow there is no AC in the dorm.</p>
<p>He just had his first not-so-pleasant experience dealing with the utility company, all by himself. I think it is a good experience for him.</p>
<p>My son moved into a house today with three other guys. He said they had utilities but as of one pm yesterday he had no bed. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching the big move.</p>
<p>Today, DS moved into an apartment which he shares with two other guys who happen to be his suite mates the past year. I heard none of them plans to cook. One of them even suggested not to turn on the gas (Hmm… Is the water heater usually an electric one in the Northeast?), but the other two were against this idea.</p>
<p>None of them has a car. Luckily, the school’s cafeteria is located only one block away so they can be on school’s meal plan for the summer.</p>
<p>They seem to be happy (esp. about the air conditioner).</p>
<p>Our S asked us to give him as much as the least expensive meal plan cost & he would make up the difference with savings and campus jobs. He has never had a problem with it. We did the same for D when she was living in an on-campus apartment w/o a meal plan. They are both in LA.
To make it easier for us, we just give each kid a lump sum for the semester & they have always been able to stretch it and never asked for more.</p>
<p>I mis-spoke. Apparently they have no water or electricity. It’s supposed to be turned on tomorrow. I guess they are using their camping equipment tonight. Showers at the college gym? Classes start for summer session in the morning. Son sent me one of the best text’s I’ve ever received, “We’ve been cleaning the house all day.” :o</p>
<p>S is doing an internship in VA this summer. When he arrived on a Sunday evening, there was no answer to his calls to let him into the apartment he was renting, despite prior arrangements. No answer to calls to security for over an hour either. His suitcase was misdirected in Chicago, which had his phone charger packed in it & his phone was dying. He hung up after sharing all this info with me, since his phone was dying. I didn’t hear from him until 5 days later–everything was OK but he wanted me to do him a favor. </p>
<p>He’s still having issues with the landlord but at least had a place to stay, tho many things are broken and not as promised. 
We told him to let NASA know, since they recommended the landlord & housing. Rental is NOT cheap either! He says he’s documenting everything.</p>
<p><sigh></sigh></p>
<p>^ Himom!
what a bummer for your son ! I hope he is taking lots of PICTURES of the things that are broken to back up his documentation.</p>
<p>Yea, we did tell him to take photos & I hope he is. He should have learned, since he had landlord problems as a sophomore & this year as a junior as well. He’ll be an expert in it before long.</p>
<p>When I was in college a couple years ago my parents gave me $300/month to cover food. This was decided after I spent the summer living in the same city shopping for groceries and cooking on my own dime. I had been careful about my food shopping, but also wanted nutritious and filling food. It ended up working out well, but the way I shopped for food changed once I had roommates and we shopped together. Food got a little cheaper and I ate leftovers less often since we made it a point to eat together and split grocery bills and pantry staples.</p>
<p>^ Just learned from DS that the meal plan costs about $200/week. Either the food price has appreciated significantly since you was in college, or the meal plan at his school is not cheap. Considering this price ($28.5/day), no wonder DS said he ate much better in college than in high school.</p>
<p>Things have changed so much in the way meal plans are done at most colleges, Mcat2. When I went to college, there was one cafeteria, and virtually all of the freshmen ate there mainly because there weren’t many other convenient alternatives around and because most of us had little spending money. All we had was the meal plan. </p>
<p>When I returned to my alma mater, there are now several food courts on and off campus that are right there for students. The cafeteria is just about dead now. Since it can’t count on the number of students coming to eat at any given time, the cost of food is now the same as it would be for any food place. So meal plans at many colleges reflect that in their costs. Kids seem to have more money as well, particularly with campus cash, credit cards and atm cards. </p>
<p>This was a tough one for us as we have boys with huge appetites and the all you can eat cafeteria model would have been a good deal for them and us. I know my oldest did not eat well at college since he tends to frequent the same type of greasy spoons regularly. He did not have the discipline to seek nourishing balanced meals, going for the hot dogs, pizza, deli, burger, fries fare washed down with soda way too often.</p>
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<p>We should be thankful to DS’s suitemates in freshmen. Several of them influenced DS’s eating habit in a very positive way. He almost never eats burger, fries, hot dogs, fried chicken now, and eats pizza only once in a while when he happens to be in a party where only pizza is served. (He said it is difficult to avoid eating pizza in some parties.) He also refuses to drink soda. He only drinks water, milk, and sometimes unsweetened ice tea. His only weak point is he still drinks medium amount of coffee (without cream and sugar). Another weak point: he may not always have enough sleep (like 7 hours each night. It is not enough for him.)</p>
<p>He also becomes much more sociable in college, mostly due to his involvement with two clubs. We think the college influences him positively on many fronts. He also happens to be very lucky to have many good role models around him.</p>
<p>I heard from S today, “There is such a small fresh produce & fresh meat section (combined they are about 10 feet) at the markets here,” near where he is living for his summer internship. He’s realizing how lucky he was having so much available to him in LA compared to this rural location which is mainly accessible by car. He says most of the grocery stores are just FULL of processed foods and cold cuts so its tough to cook and he can understand why everyone gets to large and unhealthy.</p>
<p>It was amazing to hear him grumble about the limited produce because in our family, he eats the least produce among us, but obviously likes it to be available. :)</p>
<p>HImom, Here in PA, the only local produce available in season right now is lettuce and radishes, rhubarb and some salad material. However, in another month there will be farmers markets in every town and on roadside stands that will sell wonderful tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, etc. In addition, there are usually wonderful farmers markets that are not advertised much that will have great produce, meats and baked goods. </p>
<p>Here’s one that might perhaps be close enough to him: [Welcome</a> to Renningers Antiques &](<a href=“http://www.renningers.com/ktfarmers.htm]Welcome”>http://www.renningers.com/ktfarmers.htm) There are also many pick your own farms, where one can pick their own veggies. If he’s within a couple of hours of me, I can probably steer you/him to some markets.</p>
<p>Our DD plans to live off-campus next year with a group of girlfriends. We visited her recently, and saw where she plans to live. I was surprised by the poor condition of her back deck. I did not walk on the deck as we did not have interior access-but looking at it from underneath, the paint was peeling, and as a result the wood may be rotted. School is located in mid-west/snow/ice. As she has already signed the lease, is there anything that can be done to get that fixed prior to moving into the house? Should I be concerned?</p>
<p>Did she rent the house through a realty company or an individual? S2 and friends recently rented a house in their college town. It’s pretty old and dumpy but in a great location (easy walking distance) to the univ. </p>
<p>They rented from an individual (college prof) who agreed to pay for materials used in any home improvements. So far he has reimbursed us for paint, doorknobs/locks, a screen door and pesticide spray. </p>
<p>Contact the landlord/rental agency with your concerns. I doubt they would do anything about peeling paint but if the deck is truly rotten and a hazard, they might be willing to pay for repairs.</p>
<p>Peeling paint doesn’t mean the wood and structure are rotten but it’s worth an investigation. If there’s a structural integrity issue, which means a safety issue, then the landlord needs to fix it. If it’s just cosmetic, then the landlord isn’t obliged to improve it but often they will or alternatively, will at least pay for materials if the tenant is willing to do it themself (i.e. free labor for the landlord).</p>
<p>Someone should check on the extent of the damage before committing to the apartment and even if already committed, if it’s a safety issue and the landlord refuses to fix it, she should be able to get out of the lease.</p>
<p>PackMom/UCSD dad-thank you for your advise. I am not familiar with weather in the mid-west other than a few visits. I will talk w/DD about my concern with the decks.</p>