Whether it’s because of their love for Foco cookies or Collis’s Life Changer smoothies, students prefer different meal plans. Since not everyone has time to cook or access a kitchen during the 10-week term, a thoughtfully-chosen meal plan can enhance students’ experience on campus.
According to Dartmouth Dining, all freshmen are required to be on the Ivy Unlimited meal plan, which offers $325 in dining dollars and unlimited swipes into the buffet-style Class of 1953 Commons, or Foco, during all meal periods except for Late Night. It also comes with three “guest swipes” that allow students to bring in friends or visitors.
Kevin Zheng ’29 said he prefers Foco to meet friends, and added that he has found Foco to be the “best value” so far.
“I like it so far, but I don’t have any other choice,” he said. “I usually go to Foco because compared to Collis, there’s an unlimited amount of food. At Foco, I can grab a few fruits as well.”
However, Zheng also noted the high prices on campus when compared to the amount of dining dollars the Unlimited provides.
“It’s crazy that one drink at Late Night costs around $6 [of] DBA,” he said. “I’m questioning whether this meal plan is worth it. I definitely want to try other meal options next year because I sense I will get sick of Foco soon.”
According to the Dartmouth Dining website, Ivy Unlimited is a preferred option for most students. Zheng said that he believes the unlimited option helps ease first-years’ transition to college.
“Personally, I think it’s a good idea that college requires Ivy Unlimited because freshmen students are just adjusting to the college environment and they shouldn’t worry about cooking,” he said. “With it, you can explore different dining options and cafes on campus. I don’t know where to spend my DBA, so I just get things from vending machines for snacks and stuff.”
After their first year, students can choose the meal plan that works best for them. In addition to the Ivy Unlimited, Dartmouth Dining offers the 80 Block Plus, which includes 80 swipes and $785 in dining dollars per term, the 115 Block Plus, which offers 115 swipes and $475 dining dollars per term, the Apartment plan, which includes 45 swipes and $975 dining dollars per term and the Off-Campus Plan, which includes 25 swipes and $425 dining dollars per term.
For some, staying on the Ivy Unlimited is worth the cost. Jonathan Crump ’28 chose to remain on the Ivy Unlimited because of Foco’s versatility.
“I decided not to switch from an Ivy Unlimited plan because when I study, I need some noise in the background so I can focus,” he said. “Sometimes the library can be too quiet for me, so I like to do my work at Foco.”
For Crump, Foco is not only for dining and studying, but also for socializing.
“Foco is a very popular social spot, and I like the convenience of being able to enter whenever I want to see my friends,” Crump said. “I found it helpful to coordinate meal times with my friends so we’re all available to hang out.”
Others, like Eloisa Roach ’28, who is on the 115 Block Plus, prefer the structure and financial savings of smaller plans.
“I feel obligated to use every swipe and am more aware of what I’m eating,” Roach said. “When I was on Ivy Unlimited, it felt like I was wasting money on something I wasn’t using enough.”
Roach also echoed Zheng’s concerns about pricing.
“I feel like meals are expensive,” Roach said. “The amount of DBA and meal swipes are overpriced. That’s why I go to Collis more than Foco. I might switch to 80 Block Plus, but I definitely don’t see myself going back to Ivy Unlimited.”
Angelyn Liu ’28, who chose the 80 Block Plus, expressed similar views.
“I chose it because it’s cheaper,” Liu said. “I started going less to DDS in general, so I make my own breakfast. I think last year when I was on Ivy Unlimited, I purposefully had to spend my meal swipes and DBA, but now I feel no obligation to. I also stopped going to Late Night.”
When asked if she regretted switching, Liu said she didn’t. Instead, she explained that she feels more responsible for each meal decision she makes.
“Meal plans in general aren’t very well-designed,” Liu said. “I’ll go to Foco when I need to socialize, and I think Foco is really good at facilitating an environment where you can talk and eat — and I like it.”
For students living in designated on-campus apartments, DDS’s apartment plan offers a more flexible option. Although he occasionally shops for groceries and cooks, Thor Lemke ’27 chose this plan because it costs less than making all of his own meals would.
“With how much cheaper the apartment meal plan is, I will be saving money overall, inclusive of grocery bills and buying kitchen supplies,” he said.
Furthermore, Lemke still has “an absurd amount of DBA from previous terms” to combat the fewer number of swipes he can use.
“Even trying to buy snacks daily will still [leave me with DBA] leftover at the end of the term, so I will have the DBA to get me into Foco through finals if I run out of swipes before then,” he said.
