What did you pay for your college class books? [Archive]

Jorddyn

08-31-2009, 11:39 AM

My daughter went to University and I am getting swamped with more and more bills. It is frigging endless.

Today was 700 dollars for 12 books.

When I was heavy into my major, I was spending about $500/semester, 10 years ago.

Yes, it sucks.

Fallen

08-31-2009, 11:40 AM

I spent about 450? on three classes'(?) worth of books.

StrayRogue

08-31-2009, 11:40 AM

Our Uni's did book sales at the start of every year. Students from the previous years would sell their books for about 50% their normal costs.

Kitsun

08-31-2009, 11:42 AM

Book prices are so obnoxious. You almost feel lucky when one textbook is only $80 used.

Lilabell

08-31-2009, 11:44 AM

Book prices are so obnoxious. You almost feel lucky when one textbook is only $80 used.

QFT

diethx

08-31-2009, 11:48 AM

My daughter went to University and I am getting swamped with more and more bills. It is frigging endless.

Today was 700 dollars for 12 books.

My first semester nursing books cost $800, and I didn't even buy them all. Try eBay or half.com, or amazon. Much better than buying from the bookstore at the school - those are a rip off most of the time (but you should always check to see if they have used and it's cheaper than online).

I've noticed that science texts and accounting/management texts are the absolute worst.

Celephais

08-31-2009, 11:51 AM

It's also worth looking into sharing books if you have a friend going to the same classes. Sure it's better to have your own/"don't skimp on education" but... I had a few really good friends in the same program as me and living in the same dorm, splitting the cost was helpful. (First semester she should have all her own till she has some good friends in her program).

diethx

08-31-2009, 11:52 AM

I dunno about where you live but here they also have book renting programs. Like $30 or $40 per semester for a book that would normally cost $100 or $150, I think.

Donquix

08-31-2009, 12:47 PM

5 classes i paid

20 (collection of pritned handouts in a manilla folder...)
20 (book written by profs at school, printed and spiral bound by the bookstore)
40
40
70

190 total. The last three were all rented from http://www.chegg.com

If i would have bought them they would have cost like 75, 80, and 130 (used) from the bookstore, or around that much new from amazon.

Chegg rocks (promo code YOLK = free shipping)

iJin

08-31-2009, 01:11 PM

Thankfully I have all my school and books paid for as of now. Tuition, books, etc. But I'm sure that'll change when I transfer to UCR. :(

This semester though it was about 240 for 3 books, only because I already had the math book I needed for this semester. Otherwise it would of been 400+. Fucking math books, those bitches are the most expensive.

TheEschaton

08-31-2009, 01:19 PM

When I was a biology major, I'd regularly be dropping 100 a book, on average.

Keller

08-31-2009, 01:23 PM

Who has time to read in college?

Too many drugs to try, chicks to bang (dudes in Drew's case), and . . . I guess that's it.

diethx

08-31-2009, 01:24 PM

Who has time to read in college?

Too many drugs to try, chicks to bang (dudes in Drew's case), and . . . I guess that's it.

Those of us who tried all those drugs in high school, noob.

LMingrone

08-31-2009, 01:25 PM

I just never bought my books. Library had most of em, and the internet had the rest for free. Resourcefulness....more important than anything you'll learn at university.

iJin

08-31-2009, 01:26 PM

Not if you need those books on the spot in class, or when you have to rush 2 other students to get those textbooks that are in reserve in the library, or when you have to do questions out of the book.

LMingrone

08-31-2009, 01:28 PM

diethx

08-31-2009, 01:29 PM

INTERNET. All my classes had WiFi.

You do realize that not every textbook has all their information posted online, right?

I bet you're one of the kids that thought wikipedia was a great substitute, lol.

08-31-2009, 01:30 PM

900 for 7 books; 5 of which are used. Two of the books I can use next semester, too, though, so...win?

iJin

08-31-2009, 01:31 PM

I bet you're one of the kids that thought wikipedia was a great substitute, lol.

lol.

Hips

08-31-2009, 01:33 PM

Thankfully, most History books are only about $30-60 (used). The few semesters that I had to take science and math were fucking ridiculous... $150 for a USED book?! Ugh.

CrystalTears

08-31-2009, 01:34 PM

I bet you're one of the kids that thought wikipedia was a great substitute, lol.LOL! You're such a beeyotch. :D

On that note, one of my classes forbids us to use Wikipedia as a source. We'll get an automatic zero for the assignment if we do.

diethx

08-31-2009, 01:39 PM

LOL! You're such a beeyotch. :D

On that note, one of my classes forbids us to use Wikipedia as a source. We'll get an automatic zero for the assignment if we do.

Hehe. Yeah most classes that i've taken won't let you use it either. Especially science and psychology classes - legit online journals, etc., only.

I paid $115 including shipping for a biology text for this semester that costs $180 at the bookstore on campus, and I get to use it for two semesters, hooray. And I paid $105 for a used cartography text that's only like half an inch thick, if that, including the hardcover binding. That made me pretty nauseous.

BriarFox

08-31-2009, 01:43 PM

I try to keep costs for my (English) students' books down. I managed to do $25 once, but for anthologies it's always more expensive. It's been about $60-75 the last two quarters.

iJin

08-31-2009, 01:44 PM

I try to keep costs for my (English) students books down. I managed to do $25 once, but for anthologies it's always more expensive. It's been about $60-75 the last two quarters.

We definitely appreciate when professors do this. Or when they keep it down to just one book. :D

LMingrone

08-31-2009, 01:45 PM

You do realize that not every textbook has all their information posted online, right?

I bet you're one of the kids that thought wikipedia was a great substitute, lol.

Oh God no. But I found all my books online...some through shady sources, but I had them.

Sean of the Thread

08-31-2009, 02:58 PM

It's been like 15 years but they're expensive as shit even back then. Sometimes I would buy the last years or earlier edition and hope shit would fall together. That and I'm a good note taker and would often record the lectures anyways.

That and I shared books with my ex and others when possible.

I don't think there is a need to bring out new fucking editions for the same course every year or other year either and some professors agree and tell you prior to the course to go ahead and buy whatever edition you can your hands on.

That and a lot of the courses the professors would hand out a cd with a powerpoint etc of all the material they would be going over during lecture which helped.

The Ponzzz

08-31-2009, 03:01 PM

If I could/can spend less than $300 a semester on used books, I'm trilled. $700 for 12 books, you should feel like you got some deals there. If you're averaging less than $100 a book, you did good.

Donquix

08-31-2009, 03:34 PM

If I could/can spend less than $300 a semester on used books, I'm trilled. $700 for 12 books, you should feel like you got some deals there. If you're averaging less than $100 a book, you did good.

Telling you guys, Chegg is awesome. Cheaper up front cost than buying on amazon, comes out to be about the same price as buying and reselling the book the next semester, if they don't have the book they buy it new and send it to you (my stats book actually showed up direct, brand new, from amazon shipped to me)

The return shipping when you're done with the books is prepaid, just drop them off at a UPS store (don't have to fight the crowds at your local bookstore selling them back, or screw with craigslist/ebay)

and...they plant a tree for every book you rent/sell to them. My book practices are carbon neutral, bitches.

Warriorbird

08-31-2009, 03:57 PM

9 years ago my record semester was $1200. More recently I've discovered Ebay and Amazon.

Kitsun

08-31-2009, 04:00 PM

Just got a used book off Amazon for $16 shipped. New it's like 150. Not much of a decision point there.

4a6c1

08-31-2009, 04:28 PM

Warriorbird

08-31-2009, 04:29 PM

Utilize your god... the free market. Hit up Amazon or Ebay.

4a6c1

08-31-2009, 04:30 PM

Haha. Well done.

BriarFox

08-31-2009, 04:33 PM

College text prices are out of control. I'm not even telling what I spend per semester. I could be paying my car off... Can we get some of that socialized government in our schools making things affordable for normal people plz?

Actually, starting next year, universities have to be HEOA (Higher Education Opportunities Act) compliant, which in part means that they have to inform students of the price of the textbooks for a class before the students register for the class. That makes things difficult for universities, who might assign an instructor a few days before the class *starts*. Good for students, though.

Latrinsorm

08-31-2009, 04:37 PM

I just never bought my books. Library had most of em, and the internet had the rest for free. Resourcefulness....more important than anything you'll learn at university.Speaking of, don't be that guy that checks the only copy of the books out of the library for the whole semester. Insufferable.
Actually, starting next year, universities have to be HEOA (Higher Education Opportunities Act) compliant, which in part means that they have to inform students of the price of the textbooks for a class before the students register for the class. That makes things difficult for universities, who might assign an instructor a few days before the class *starts*. Good for students, though.Likewise, I worked in a university bookstore for awhile. We regularly received book orders after classes started, I have no idea how that's going to work.

iJin

08-31-2009, 04:44 PM

Yeah, you have no idea how many people register for classes at the last minute. Meaning they have to go to the classes for that day and beg the professor to add them into their roster.

I worked for the counseling center and the dean for my college, and it's amazing how people put off the really important things right at the last minute. Me and my co-workers would just shake our heads when people asked for the last day to register for classes, and we would repeatedly tell them it's better for you to do it early. Not many of them listen!

4a6c1

08-31-2009, 06:06 PM

That makes things difficult for universities, who might assign an instructor a few days before the class *starts*.

I LOATHE this. Taking the type of classes I'm taking is like knowingly ordering a happy meal laced with food poisioning. I have 2 possible professors. One is a hardline antisocial PETA activist who is famous for riding peoples asses for things like... not memorizing the annual veterinary pharmacology edition. The other one seems normal if a bit heavily medicated (happysunshinerainbowsYAY)!

Too bad I never find out which until the first day...

TheEschaton

08-31-2009, 06:12 PM

INTERNET. All my classes had WiFi.

I went to school well before you, apparently, before they had such things.

Stretch

08-31-2009, 08:05 PM

I probably shelled out between $4k and $5k for books in college.

Tell your daughter to stop being a freeloader and get a job.

Tsa`ah

08-31-2009, 10:34 PM

I just never bought my books. Library had most of em, and the internet had the rest for free. Resourcefulness....more important than anything you'll learn at university.

I was able to save about a grand doing this ... with the exception of the internet, because outside of gemstone and porn, the internet didn't have much going for it from 92-96.

The trick to gaming the library is know your course path and classes, reserve the books as soon as you're able to ... and don't be afraid to photo copy. This only works if you're decisive.

Also check to see if the prof requires you to buy his/her book and weigh that against the need for that particular class. I did the math juggle for three years, avoiding classes that required a prof's book. Two other courses as well, but I can't remember which.

Outside of that it was donating blood plasma and taking any odd job I could find between class and work hours.

I can understand your desire to help your kid through college, but if you're taking on most of the expense ... you're doing your kid a disservice. My parents made sure I wouldn't starve and didn't stink, that was about it.

Drew2

09-01-2009, 12:12 AM

Who has time to read in college?

Too many drugs to try, chicks to bang (dudes in Drew's case), and . . . I guess that's it.

It's touching to know that even though I only post like once a month anymore, I'm still thought of. <3

On topic, I paid $130 for my Accounting book (used) and $65 for the "workbook". My best friend is taking Art Appreciation with me and he bought the book for that so I just jack his. <3

TheEschaton

09-01-2009, 01:02 AM

You jack his what?

Celephais

09-01-2009, 01:14 AM

It's touching to know that even though I only post like once a month anymore, I'm still thought of. <3
Actually that was refering to Drew1...

Bobmuhthol

09-01-2009, 01:31 AM

$121, $109, $36, $175, $77, $107, and I picked up another for $20 from someone who had just finished the class. $645 altogether, 6 classes.

Fallen

09-01-2009, 09:24 AM

I just paid 160 bucks for *1* fucking book.

4a6c1

09-01-2009, 09:49 AM

Eat the rich.

:-/

LMingrone

09-01-2009, 09:50 AM

I went to school well before you, apparently, before they had such things.

Well I went to school in 2000. My main professor helped inventing the internet as we know it, and the first graphic engines. It wasn't actually WiFi till I went back, but the guy had the whole class hooked up on plugin (mandatory) laptops.

Fact is, I paid for my own education, so I found ways to get books.

/odd fact. I lived in the same room as Shawn Fanning, a couple years after he started Napster.
//Sign your neg rep. Just so I know who hates me.

4a6c1

09-01-2009, 09:52 AM

!!!

You should sue for percentage.

Ker_Thwap

09-01-2009, 09:57 AM

At Boston University the school bookstore is Barnes and Noble. My daughter priced the books there for her first 5 courses at $1,500. She then ordered them all online, and and got the proper edition of 4 of the five books for a total of $200. One book was off by a single edition. Worst case she might need to replace the one book.

Granted, these are freshman course books. I remember paying a stupid price for one advanced course book that the professor then ignored.

Back when I was in college the only difference between editions was that a chapter or two were retitled or in a different order, with the exact same content. It was a simple matter of finding a classmate with the newer edition and making a few notes on the chapter titles.

Fallen

09-01-2009, 09:59 AM

I think I am going to start bargain hunting. These prices are ridiculous. One of my co-workers told me she paid 300 bucks for *1* of her biology books. That is just wrong.

LMingrone

09-01-2009, 10:00 AM

Boston also has those old ice cream trucks driving around selling old editions of books.

And search for "used text books" on Google. There's a shit ton of good deals out there.

Doughboy

09-01-2009, 10:50 AM

Tell your daughter to stop being a freeloader and get a job.

Win.

TheEschaton

09-01-2009, 01:06 PM

I was in college 99-03, in Boston, but we only had LAN connections in our classrooms and barely anyone had their own laptop.

-TheE-

diethx

09-01-2009, 01:23 PM

I think I am going to start bargain hunting. These prices are ridiculous. One of my co-workers told me she paid 300 bucks for *1* of her biology books. That is just wrong.

Are you serious? I've taken a bunch of bio courses, including plenty of upper level ones, and the most i've had to pay was like $175. Did she buy that shit brand new from the school bookstore? Jesus fucking christ.

Fallen

09-01-2009, 04:37 PM

Are you serious? I've taken a bunch of bio courses, including plenty of upper level ones, and the most i've had to pay was like $175. Did she buy that shit brand new from the school bookstore? Jesus fucking christ.

She did. Maryland colleges are serious business.