WOW!!! I just saw how much first semester books cost!!!

Chapis · Jun 28, 2010

mine will run about $600

jinsooked · Jun 28, 2010

o man... that is a lot of money!!!

i will be starting the first semester, and now i am SCARED!

i should go check right now :)

anyway, when i was in college this was how i purchased all my books!

1. never use college bookstore! ( you already know why)

2. get ISBN number and google them. sometimes Amazon isn't always the best place to purchase!

3. used books!! this is crucial, i had this weird habit of buying new books and planned onto keep it the rest of my life, but quitted after the very first semester of college!

well good luck with your first semester, and wish me luck too! :)

racquetmom · Jun 28, 2010

I was told first semester books will be around $1,000 so for the first time i decided I would order books from Amazon or half.com etc. I checked into both of them. Not sure why I decided on Amazon to read people's comments on the fundamentals book that is required. That is where I found people saying if you are required to buy the MyNursingLab (which I am) it doesn't come with the book and it ends up costing you more than going through your school. So, I called the school to see how much the book is through them and what comes with it and I find out it is bundled and includes a Med/Surg book and a my lab that isn't even on my list. So, that got me thinking okay if I ordered elsewhere I would not even have these other books and really be behind in money and what is needed. That is why I decided to just get it from the school that way I have everything they require and if there is a problem it will be easily corrected. I did buy some scrubs and a labcoat off craigslist and some supplemental books. I agree with the older edition probably not that far off but I personally want to be on the right page if they say turn to page whatever and not searching for it because I have a slightly different version. I think it is more preference. Also, someone else mentioned the books are used in Block II as well so that does help.

Saysfaa · Jun 28, 2010

Several people have said never go to the school's bookstore, it is always overpriced compared to online options. That is not so at my school. Quite often the difference is less than the cost of shipping.

HCollier · Jul 7, 2010

I spent $725 on my 1st quarter(3 months) and that was for 5 books, and then i spent another $720 for my 2nd quarter(3 months, currently in) and that was for 10 books. I like new books bc i dont like people that get highlighter crazy, i like a clean slate with no marks so i can mark the crap out of my books. Ill be selling most of my books to my sister whoe is 1 quarter behind me though.

snkristen3689 · Jul 7, 2010

amazon.com

half.com

barnesandnoble.com

i bought ALL MY BOOKS online and saved a lot of $$$$...my profs kept telling us to buy the books in a "bundle" our bookstore provided ( it cost 400-500 dollars)...go online it's way better. you will probably use most of these books for the next 2 years

amymina · Jul 7, 2010

An idea is to check different websites, which many others have mentioned. I'm not sure of the ones that have been mentioned, but I have used barnes and noble (they had 30% off all new textbooks last summer with free shipped!), ebay.com, half.com, and abebooks.com. Checked these out and compare before you buy, especially if you are able to pay out of pocket and don't have to go to the college bookstore. Another idea is using previous editions. The book by Brunner and Suddarth at the top I also own, and you can get it for $10 on some used websites if you are willing to get the 11th edition, which was just replaced less than a year ago. The only disadvantage is the page numbers don't perfectly match. But you do what you have to do.

snkristen3689 · Jul 15, 2010

if you use booksprice.com you can get a comparison of a book's price at different websites

CherryRed23 · Jul 15, 2010

I didn't take the time to read all the replies. Here is my 2 cents--I worried about buying older edition books. The medical field is changing everyday. I don't want to be even a few pages off from everyone else when it comes to my nursing program. I have a friend who just grauated and gave me what books she still had that were on my list. I get them from ebay, craigslist, and amazon. My first year first semester books are $1000...but for the rest of the PROGRAM they will only be $600--So $1600 total. By purchasing my books elsewhere and getting what I can from the friend (which isn't a lot because of newer editions) I'll spend less than half of that. Even my medical bag (which was $185) only cost me $60 by purchasing it all elsewhere and sometimes used. Hope that helps! Good luck!

Samantha79 · Jul 15, 2010

If I bought my books from the bookstore they would have been $1000+. I ordered mine online (little by little) from various sites and will end up spending $580 or so. www.cheapbooks.com gives a list of online sites that are currently selling the book and it's current price. I've bought from amazon, half.com, eBay, and Borders so far the past two months. I've bought new and used. I always make sure on the USED books that the description says no highlighting (that bugs me) and CD included if there is suppose to be one.