Are textbooks this expensive????

Nursing Students NP Students

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How much are you all spending on textbooks? Is $400 over the top for just one semester? Am only trying to get required ones. I don't know if it's because I haven't been to school for a while, I am finding this figure overwhelming!

I'm just taking prereqs come January and the books new are almost 1k (A&P, Microbio, Intermediate Algebra and Nutrition). I haven't been in school since I graduated in the mid 90s. Back then $400 was high for one semester (was an English major and I routinely had to pay more than peers). Problem is one of the classes the book is not available anywhere else but the school bookstore. The others seem to be available cheaper, used or otherwise, but I have read reviews where people bought the books and then had to pay extra for access codes, etc. Anyone have experience here ... I'm just taking these classes at CC in FL. I don't mind paying the big money for A&P because I know it's used for A&P II, but the others, yikes!

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I agree textbooks are expensive. It helps to shop around like Amazon for the best deal.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

You may be able to borrow a few books from the school library to avoid buying them. I sat in the library and read one of the required textbooks over 4 days. Saved time and money.

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Joanna...that would be a good idea if it wasn't an online program. It reminds me of when I started my BSN with only 10 dollars in my account to cover my bus fare to school and food for two weeks until I got paid. This student in classes...I would call her an angel....never seen her before in my life happened to sit next to me in class when they were talking about text books. I told her I had no money to buy text books. She generously agreed to swipe her credit card and buy the books for me, and said I could pay her in installments.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

Coursesmart offers a lot of text book rentals for a 6mo time frame and it's an app that can be put on kindle and you desktop/laptop, read, highlight take notes and print sections if you need grab and go! MUCH cheaper! I also love Amazon and have frequently found brand new books for 15-50 less than bookstore prices!

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Specializes in ICU.

I spent $1100 last semester and I rented some of mine. They are extremely expensive. I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price. Renting only saved me $160 on 3 of the books I rented. I'm hoping they are less expensive this semester.

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I only spent 15 dollars for next semester. I buy previous editions.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

My first semester my books came to almost 1k. I brought all my books from the Bookstore because they came in a bundle. If you're trying to save then Amazon and Chegg are your best-friends. Also, a little trick I learned in my Pre-nursing classes Google if the book has an International Edition which you can usually have shipped to you. It's the exact same book, the cover may be a bit different, but as long as it's the same edition the page numbers and content is exactly the same at almost half the price!

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

The international version is a great money saver if you plan to keep the book but there is practically no resell value, just need to know your preferences/priorities.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, CT Step-down, Home Health.
The international version is a great money saver if you plan to keep the book but there is practically no resell value, just need to know your preferences/priorities.

Great point...one book I needed was $150. Found the international version on eBay for $40. No difference in the content. Although sometimes the pictures are in black and white.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I recently discovered e-textbooks. The Kindle version of a textbook can be cheaper than a used paper version, and some are even available for rental.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.
The international version is a great money saver if you plan to keep the book but there is practically no resell value, just need to know your preferences/priorities.

Question about the international versions, are the pages/chapters just like the US, have you had any problem finding your required reading assignements in there? not worried about re-sale but have seen them MUCH cheaper and wanted to know more about it. I was afraid it would be completely different than US version so afraid to purchase!~

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