College meal plan or learn how to cook?

[Imported]

I'm dorming right now at UCI and they force you to get a meal plan (either 14 or 19 meals a week).. if I had the option of not getting the meal plan and cooking or eating out, I'd gladly do so..

Next year, I'm cooking.. can't waste those years of cooking class in high school for nothing.

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder

Originally posted by: Syringer
So next year at UCLA I have the choice of paying $1000 a quarter, x3 $3000 for the year :Q..and that's for the 14 meal a week plan, and..this is supposed to be nationally recognized food.

Or I can buy and make my own food through my kitchen.

Now, I can cook really basic stuff, and am willing to learn if need be..and would probably cut my food bill by a good dela if I do so. And..since the meal plan is only 14 meals a week, and given that I'll probably eat a lot more than that I'll end up making some of my own stuff anyway..

are you living on campus (dorms or on campus apartments?) or off campus?

Campus apts.

which campus apts, the ones off campus on Landfair or Midvale, wherever the hell they are.

If you're truly "on-campus" like in DeNeve, Sunset,Hedrick,Saxon,Hitch, etc. get the meal plan. Sure it's alot of money, but there's alot of socializing done in the cafeteria, and you would truly be the ONLY one not eating there. The food was decent last time I went into one which was a couple of years ago. It's not great, and you'll get bored of it, but it's not bad. It's actually difficult to eat 14 meals a week. Sat and Sunday they only serve 2, and with class and work I could get one or two in during week days.I don't know if you can now get meals down on campus with the plan, they had just started something like that when I was there.

 

[yellowperil]

If you're like me, with limited culinary skills and a whole lot of laziness, you should get the meal plan. I had it my first two years of college and those were the two best years of eating in my life (of course it also depends on the quality of the dining halls). Then my last two years I had no meal plan and no car so it was fast food all the time. Even now I eat way too much fast food even though the grocery store is just across the street. But if you've got the willpower to learn cooking definitely go for it.

 

[Encryptic]

Learn how to cook basic stuff and get a microwave as well. I imagine you'll probably save money in the long run and you'll have more options if you shop for yourself instead taking what the cafeteria gives you.

 

[psianime]

You will get sick of UCLA's food fast. Their menu rotates a lot so they repeat a lot of the same dishes.

If you are living in the dorm, don't cook. You won't and don't have the space to save all the ingrediants that you need and you need to concentrate on your school work. Once you are out of the dorms and into an apartment you are allowed to cook.

I tried to cook in the dorms but the cooking facilities sucked.

-psianime