<p>My son didn’t think the food was bad…not great, but he eats in the Commons and the smaller cafe (took the 2 meal plan and points because he doesn’t wake up for breakfast.)
His freshman dorm (Holloway) is fine, there are pictures on the website, small but clean enough. He didn’t bunk and still had room since under the bed was usable. He tells me (I didn’t see them) they upper class dorms are better and he likes 2 of them. Has his fingers crossed he’ll get the one he wants next year but sophomores still dont’ have a lot of clout. The Theme Houses are the only rooms he hasn’t seen, but an option if you want to apply.
He was told his merit award was set and it seems they are giving them out this year too. I think, judging on the parent talk we got last fall, he wants to tone them down, not eliminate. They have always been known for giving a lot of aid but they also have a lot of upper-middle class and rich students (although you wouldn’t know by attitude) I think what was happening from what I could gleam from students of well-off parents, they were getting awards (some generous) and had money to pay because it was on grades. Maybe he wants to cut back on that and have them pay more since they can and leave more money for less affluent parents.</p>