Venting about college text books...

[Stebes]

Now's the time all us college kids go back to school. I'm sure there are others on here... and I have a question for you guys. Does anyone know a good way to save money on college textbooks? Does anyone have experience with used books on amazon... how long is the shipping, etc?

I just checked my text book list for this upcoming semester (something I should have done a few weeks ago). Turns out my books cost a whopping $778.75. used.

what the F.

This is the hidden cost of a non-liberal arts degree. I was sheltered from the brunt of a full course-load worth of engineering textbooks last year due to silly writing classes, which simply require 2 or 3 $25 novels. Even then I spent $1000 on books, and over $100 on a used calculator. Now, with those liberal-arts classes out of the way, I have 4 engineering-specific classes. Four classes which each require $150-200 textbooks. Four classes which require the "latest" edition of a textbook, with the "latest" version of the included software... effectively eliminating any chance you will spend your money elsewhere, paying for a used (supposedly) outdated version of the book.

Nearly $800 for one semester of learning. $800 on top of an already incredibly inflated tuition bill. And good news for the publishers, next semester I get to do it all over again!

I'm pissed. Who wants to buy some domain names? Bail-me-out-of-college-induced-debt sale, coming soon.

 

[Burano]

I've read quite a bit lately about college text books being available online and competing with hard copies...

 

[weblord]

Yes, education is expensive but in the long term it would be priceless for you.

 

[whitebark]

I've done 10 plus years of college and university and if I was to add up my book costs - let's just say I could have enough for a new car!

Buying used helps a bit - check out local used book stores - you'd be surprised how many college/university texts end up there. Most schools also have boards where people post their used books for sale as well - always check those over as well!

And as weblord mentioned - what hurts now financially should pay itself back in spades.

 

[ojm]

Makes my $121 for four text books for my mechanical engineering course sound cheap. Although, these are just black and white binded books, produced by the university.

One of the subjects suggests a real text book that costs $150, but I don't see the need to buy it yet. Probably won't see the need at all.

 

[dezinerite]

You can always try to find past students selling their books (esp. if it's the same version as the one you want to buy). I never wrote on any of my books, so you might be able to find students who kept their books almost brand new. They'll most likely be willing to sell the books for a cheaper price.

 

[Stebes]

The problem with buying used books is always getting the right version. More importantly, almost all of my books are packaged with special software... either for studying or for completing homework assignments online. The books come with a one-time-use code for that software, and as far as I know you can't buy it separately. I'll have to look into it.

 

[whitebark]

The problem with buying used books is always getting the right version. More importantly, almost all of my books are packaged with special software... either for studying or for completing homework assignments online. The books come with a one-time-use code for that software, and as far as I know you can't buy it separately. I'll have to look into it.

Wow that publisher has it right - screw the student by locking them in! Instructors are partly to blame here as well - there are always lots of choices for them when it comes to course material so when they choose material like this they are partly to blame imo.

 

[lpstong]

I've read quite a bit lately about college text books being available online and competing with hard copies...

Yup and its called Open Education Resource. Which I have been working with CalPIRG.

We are also trying to get the President to sign part of the Higher Education Plan which would put the publishers in a postion and require them to let the Professors know how much each textbook will cost when order books for their classes. The majority of Professors either do not do a complete research of optional programs for affordable textbooks that will not hinder the curriculum of the class. And or the Publishers have a practice of not providing a cost list with the books list they provide for the professor(darn those greedy $$ hungry corporations).

Here is a blurb of what I am talking about. http://calpirg.org/issues/affordable-higher-education/affordable-textbooks
And yup I know the guy in the picture. It is Danny Katz who is the director of the CalPIRG. There are many PIRGs on many of the US 4 year Colleges, from California to New York.

Here is another link that those might be interested in.
www.maketextbooksaffordable.org.

 

[Chef Patrick]

dang....i am soooo glad i didn't go to college. plus i saved lunch money by dropping out of high school :]

 

[Bill]

dang....i am soooo glad i didn't go to college. plus i saved lunch money by dropping out of high school :]

Your parents must be very proud of you.

With joking aside, was there any reason for you to drop out?

-Bill

 

[GF]

dang....i am soooo glad i didn't go to college. plus i saved lunch money by dropping out of high school :]

Yeah, I paid a lot for all my books but with all I learned in college I now make a lot of money. :talk:

Kids, stay in school! :]

 

[Ixix]

it's a scam by the universities to extort student loan money from students....

think about it...

government gives student $X,XXX a semester...
college raise costs to get government money from student....

a decade later, the university's adding a dance hall in the MU, the university president's driving in a new Mercedes, the government's getting fat off interest payments, and the student is stuck with the bill and can't find a job.

it's a big scam imo... listen to somebody who's been there done that...

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE DO NOT GET A STUDENT LOAN....
SAVE UP FOR COLLEGE AND PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET

live like a pauper now....live like prince later on!

Now's the time all us college kids go back to school. I'm sure there are others on here... and I have a question for you guys. Does anyone know a good way to save money on college textbooks? Does anyone have experience with used books on amazon... how long is the shipping, etc?

I just checked my text book list for this upcoming semester (something I should have done a few weeks ago). Turns out my books cost a whopping $778.75. used.

what the F.

This is the hidden cost of a non-liberal arts degree. I was sheltered from the brunt of a full course-load worth of engineering textbooks last year due to silly writing classes, which simply require 2 or 3 $25 novels. Even then I spent $1000 on books, and over $100 on a used calculator. Now, with those liberal-arts classes out of the way, I have 4 engineering-specific classes. Four classes which each require $150-200 textbooks. Four classes which require the "latest" edition of a textbook, with the "latest" version of the included software... effectively eliminating any chance you will spend your money elsewhere, paying for a used (supposedly) outdated version of the book.

Nearly $800 for one semester of learning. $800 on top of an already incredibly inflated tuition bill. And good news for the publishers, next semester I get to do it all over again!

I'm pissed. Who wants to buy some domain names? Bail-me-out-of-college-induced-debt sale, coming soon.

 

[kev]

Ive completed 2 years of Uni and have spent about £100 on books and thats it.
Scottish people going to Scottish Universities study for free. In fact, the Scottish Government pay students to go to Uni with a bursary of up to £2,500 ($5000) per year plus bonuses depending on what grade you get in some cases. My cousin is starting this year and he is being paid £5000 ($10,000) per year to study Dentistry on a 6 year course.

Although, if your English/Welsh/Irish, you pay about £5,000 a year and if your from countries like America, you have to pay £10,000 a year :o

 

[Chef Patrick]

Your parents must be very proud of you.

With joking aside, was there any reason for you to drop out?

Besides getting in trouble all the time I was bored. Not that I am a genius but school bored me. The work seemed too easy.

My parents signed me out of school, allowed me to get my GED and then I joined the Air Force when at the age of 17. At only 17 I was sent to Korea for my first year, life experience for some is greater than a college education

Yeah, I paid a lot for all my books but with all I learned in college I now make a lot of money. :talk:

Kids, stay in school! :]

School is not for everyone GF. That answer can only come from the individual that goes. I am an entrepreneur, no school can teach me what I know or what I have done. My most recent business venture was a real estate investor, there are no schools for that. No class could have taught me how to buy and sell rougly 300 residential properties in less than four years.

 

[johname]

One thing that never changes is the rip off place called the campus book store

 

[kev]

One thing that never changes is the rip off place called the campus book store

:hehe:

the one place in the world where you can't use your student discount card!

 

[lpstong]

it's a scam by the universities to extort student loan money from students....

think about it...

government gives student $X,XXX a semester...
college raise costs to get government money from student....

Its because the Federal Government is moving what should be a public funding process to private. Hence, now an extortion due to no regulations. Some funding for public/private higher education needs to remain public. But we as students are entitled to speak out and be involved in our learning at such institutions. It is called the governance process under the Federal law Title V.

As far as textbooks, college loans and credit card predators from banking institutions, students can fight back. Many students can form coalitions and educate themselves and inform the Faculty/Professors as well as the bookstores and other students.

The bookstores will always charge a 25% to a 42% markup from the (SRP)Suggested Retail Price. We have to understand they are a business and also employ many students. Who we need to really need to lay blame and responsibilty on are the Publishers who do not provide pricing with their book lists they provide the Faculty/Professors. In addition we need to make sure that our faculty are exploring all their options. If you think about it, do they not ask us to explore all our options, research everything and question everything. Than should we not expect the same from them. Hold them accountable for educating us as students. We are paying them public and or private schools who are hiring these professors.

 

[Ixix]

it's more than just textbooks that universities hike prices on. Parking, classes, food.

I'm really glad those years are over....but if i had to do it again, i would have waited to go to school and raise the money out of pocket than get student loans...

Its because the Federal Government is moving what should be a public funding process to private. Hence, now an extortion due to no regulations. Some funding for public/private higher education needs to remain public. But we as students are entitled to speak out and be involved in our learning at such institutions. It is called the governance process under the Federal law Title V.

As far as textbooks, college loans and credit card predators from banking institutions, students can fight back. Many students can form coalitions and educate themselves and inform the Faculty/Professors as well as the bookstores and other students.

The bookstores will always charge a 25% to a 42% markup from the (SRP)Suggested Retail Price. We have to understand they are a business and also employ many students. Who we need to really need to lay blame and responsibilty on are the Publishers who do not provide pricing with their book lists they provide the Faculty/Professors. In addition we need to make sure that our faculty are exploring all their options. If you think about it, do they not ask us to explore all our options, research everything and question everything. Than should we not expect the same from them. Hold them accountable for educating us as students. We are paying them public and or private schools who are hiring these professors.

 

[Rudy]

I'm glad I'm at a liberal arts college. After shipping (I always avoid the student book store) I paid about $175 for four classes.