Opting for a dining hall meal over the fast food options on campus is good for a variety of reasons. The best and most obvious is that you’ll be able to decide whether or not you like the food and what type of meal plan you’ll need. Do you like it to where you’ll be able to eat there three times a day? Or maybe just three times a week? Determining this early on can save you some money in the long run. Bailey Howard, a junior at Iowa State University, had to learn this the hard way. “I wish I would’ve taken the time to look into the cafeteria food beforehand, because I ended up only eating cereal every time I went there,” she says. “It was too late to switch my meal plan, so I had to wait until semester to change.” It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
While testing out the food, you can also talk to some of the students there. Talk to the people in line, at the drink station and those sitting down. Most of them will be welcoming and happy to talk to you, but that doesn’t mean you should march up to someone who has headphones in and is doing homework. Montgomery says that if you’re talking to a student, it’s better to ask the specific questions. Kyra Tyler, Director at College Coach, suggests some of the following: What would you like to see changed? Do you feel challenged? Are you able to connect with faculty easily? What's your favorite campus tradition? This is better than just asking someone if they like the school. However, this tactic requires talking to a variety of students, so you can take in different answers and opinions. It might be scary, but it will be well worth it!