Alright so today I’m spilling the beans on Fordham’s meal plans because honestly? Figuring this out was a whole mess. Like, everyone hypes up campus dining but nobody tells you the real deal until you’re stuck with a half-empty stomach and an emptier wallet.
Step One: Signing Up Like A Clueless Freshman
First day moving into Thebaud Hall, super hyped right? Went online to pick a meal plan thinking “how hard can it be?”. Saw Block 225 flashing on the screen – $2,800 per semester. Sounds legit for unlimited waffles or whatever. Clicked it faster than grabbing free dorm swag.
Then The Reality Hit Me
Got to the Marketplace cafeteria Monday morning ready to feast. Swiped my card… BEEP. Okay cool. Grabbed eggs, bacon, even snagged two yogurts. Lunchtime rolls around? Swipe again. Solid. But Wednesday night… tried grabbing a coffee mug cookie at 10 PM. Cashier guy goes “sorry mate, swipes reset weekly. You used 14 already.”
Wait. What? Opened the FordhamDine app. Tiny letters at the bottom: “Block plans = total meals per term, NOT daily access.” Felt like a total donkey. That “unlimited” feeling? Pure fiction.
- Plan cost breakdown? Hidden behind three website clicks
- Leftover swipes? Poof – gone next week
- Guest meals? Four per term. Four! My parents visited twice already!
Mid-Semester Panic Mode
October hits, swipes running low. Started doing math:
- Used 140 swipes in 8 weeks
- Only got 85 left for 7 weeks
- That’s barely two meals a day!
Had to beg friends: “Yo can you swipe me in for a banana?” Absolute madness. Ramen stash under the bed became emergency gold. Campus Starbucks? Blew more cash there in two weeks than all summer.
The Final Swipe Drama
Last week of term, swipes ZERO. Tried using “Dining Dollars” at Corry’s deli. Sandwich rang up $13.79 – screen flashes “balance $1.24 remaining.” Almost cried into my overpriced roast beef. Ended up mooching cereal from my RA.
Epic fail takeaway? That Block 225 plan? Doesn’t mean “eat when hungry.” Means “count every crumb.” Swear I’m downgrading to Commuter 50 next term. Or maybe just learn to cook pasta in a coffee maker.
