Meal plans & the point system

My brother attends Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Until this year students had to pay specific prices for food. For example, a trip to the salad bar would cost x-amount and a hamburger and fries would cost y-amount. Not many schools are like this anymore. Most use a meal-system where a meal is whatever you get in the dining hall, no matter how large or small. I can see the pros and cons of both methods. 

The pricing system ensures that one who eats a small amount is not paying the same as someone who eats three plates full of food at every meal. My brother doesn't understand why I should be paying the same amount for food as, say, a football player. The meal system lessens any anxiety people get from seeing a price on a meal. And let me tell you, it can get expensive. On a college visit to Augie I overheard a guy say he paid $7 for his meal, and it was a normal-sized meal, too. The meal system also creates more of a routine. We know how many times we have to eat in the Mensa (or with a meal transfer) and how many times an outside meal is needed. If you're on the pricing system, the number of meals you can afford can vary (I can't remember if it's measured per week or per semester). The former system mentioned requires a lot more control. Workers have to dole out certain portions and many other products are in packaging. And seconds? Those are quite rare. 

I personally prefer the meal system because I don't have to worry about seeing a price tag on every meal I have. I have major buying anxiety, so I would eat less if there was a dollar amount associated with my bowl of cereal. It allows more freedom and variety in eating, too. And we all know that creativity in the Mensa will end up becoming necessary after a while. 

Now to move on to the point system. I like having that extra money, so I can go grab a latte at the Konditerei, a quesadilla at the Den, or a smoothie at the Zesty Orange! There's so many options! There are some changes that I wish would come about, though. The points do roll over for the semester, but it concerns me that unused points just disappear at the end of the academic year. I paid for them, I should be able to reap the benefit by having it added to next year's balance, or, if I was graduating, reimbursed to me in some way. I am on the Pick 15 meal plan, so over the course of the year I have $250 in points to spend. I think so far I've spent about $5 of that (Remember: buying anxiety). I also wish that points could be used toward things other than food. If I run out of my $30 of printing money, why can't points be used toward that? Or I could buy something from the Wartburg store with my abundance of points. 

I really haven't bought any meals outside of the Mensa yet, which is very strange because I have been eating three meals a day and then some. I think the reason I haven't been using my points elsewhere is because I have a loving mother who likes to send me oodles of food in the mail, so I don't have to use my points at other places. 

Having a combination of meals and points is a rad idea, and I'm glad Wartburg uses it. However, there are some changes that could be made that I think a lot of students might like as well.