books - digital, print, new, used??

IndyElmer · May 21, 2012

If possible, talk to people ahead of you. I have a friend who has already completed 2 terms of a 4 terms program (with very good grades!) and 80% of her books are one-edition-older, not just used, but actually one-edition-older too. She has talked with people who completed the program ahead of her and was able to find out which books she NEEDED the CURRENT edition (those she bought used, but current edition) and which she could save even more by buying a used copy of one edition older. She's also been able to get a few books from the library for the 8 weeks that she needed it. (The instructors *always* told her class that they "needed" the current edition, but she has gone with what experienced students recommended.)

I've spoken with people one term ahead of me and some of my books I am 99% confident that one edition older is going to be OK (for example, my concept mapping text and my physical exam & assessment text) and others I know I need the current edition (for example, my drug guide and my care plan book). The savings can be huge. Using my PE/assessment book as an example, the new, bookstore price was $109, the new online price was $89, the used online price was $57 and my used, one-edition-older copy was $9. However, it's no savings if you're using incorrect information from outdated drug guides, care plans, etc.

In talking with people one term ahead of me, I've had people tell me "buy all the current editions on your syllabus" and then a couple sentences later "I never used my books because everything was covered in lecture and often it was easier to clarify things by looking at websites like medscape, etc. rather than pulling out a book." Interesting disconnect -- buy current, but I never used mine??

If I could afford it, I would be willing to consider digital books, particularly if I was going to have to be on campus for 8 hours a day, needing to take advantage of time between classes. It would be so much easier/lighter than dragging all of my books with me. However, I've talked to several people who do not bring their books with them at all because their classes are tightly grouped so that they have entire afternoons off from class and can just head home to where they left all those heavy books. I also know some major techies who are in love with their digital books that let them "highlight" and "take notes" right IN the book. I guess the advantages of digital depends on your situation.

CDEWannaBe · May 21, 2012

I'm a student but I also work at a community college.

Textbooks are a racket. The publishing companies change a slight amount of information and call it a new addition so that at the end of the semester the version you bought is worthless and won't be bought back by the bookstore.

Rent from Chegg.com. Their prices are good and at the end of the semester you get a prepaid shipping label to return the book via the post office or UPS. If it's a book you want to keep after the class ends, look for them used at the bookstore or amazon. If you buy used, avoid any "international" version textbooks. Some international texts don't have the same information as the official version and because they're not authorized by the publishing companies they can't be sold back to a bookstore if you decide not to keep them when the class finishes.

Also look up your professors on RateMyProfessor.com. Every professor has to select a textbook to go with their course, but some don't use them. I recently took Physiology and the professor created powerpoints with the information that was much more concise and useful than the giant (and expensive) textbook. Thankfully a past student noted on RateMyProfessor that the teacher didn't use the textbook, so I didn't waste time or money getting it.

If you're strapped for money, it's always worth asking at the academic division office (ie: Liberal Arts office, Math & Science office) if they have an extra copy of the text you could borrow for the semester. The publishing companies usually give extra copies to the academic departments and if you're nice to the secretary they may be willing to help you if they have an extra copy.

Brookelin · May 21, 2012

I'm having the same issue. My husband is supporting me right now while I do school full time and we have three kids...I don't have money to blow on stinkin overpriced books. It seems like such a racketeering scheme. My bookstore NEVER has any used books available to buy and the books they require for the classes are the community colleges own "special edition" of the text. That makes it hard to find a used version elsewhere and I'm afraid to buy an equivalent version because I don't know if it will be the same. Then there is the serial numbers they give you so that you can log into the publishers website and use their study aids - some of the teachers want you to use this which wouldn't be possible if I buy used (only good once). I feel like I'm forced to pay rediculous amounts of money for books! I just spent $108 on a book for PSY240 and when I got it IT WASN'T EVEN BOUND! Why am I paying $108 for a stack of loose papers?

As you can see this has been a bone of contention for me lately. I'll stop ranting now. If anyone has suggestions, PLEASE share - I'm gonna go broke over these stupid books!

IndyElmer · May 21, 2012

Brookelin -- what's the return policy on those "special edition" books? Might you be able to buy a copy to compare to a "standard" edition at your local Barnes & Noble to see what's so "special" about it? If it's not looking really "special" to you, you could return the "special" edition and feel more confident buying used "standard" editions online.

Because my campus bookstore is a Barnes and Noble "campus edition," the nearest regular Barnes & Noble seems to have single copies of all of our textbooks. I was able to take in my one-edition-older assessment text for a look-see that made me feel a lot more comfortable with my decision to buy one edition older. Perhaps a look-see comparison of the "special" vs. "standard" editions of your texts would give you a similar peace of mind.

I hear ya on the semi-evilness of the online access stuff. So far, none of my instructors have required us to have/purchase access (whew!). Those to which I did have the access, I've not been terribly impressed by the online supplements. They often seem to focus on keywords and the "simpler" concepts that my instructors seldom seem to test over, even in pre-req courses!

Good luck finding an alternative!!

Vernitagreen1 · May 21, 2012

I have purchased most of my textbooks on ebay. Ebay has saved me quite a bit of dough. :)

umbdude, MSN, APRN · May 22, 2012

I personally cannot tolerate digital books...so I always buy used one. But it's even hard to get affordable used text books! Totally depressing. I plan on buying "International Editions". They are much cheaper and are the same (except they're usually softcover). There're number of students from my chemistry class who used international edition and they said it's the same for about half the price. Supposedly it's "illegal" to sell international editions in the US, but there're still sites where you can find them.

cscb2003 · May 23, 2012

I would talk to your program advisor...tell her your situation and she will more than likely be able to give suggestions or advice on where to find the books you need. I know at my school, they have a large selection of text books that you can use for the semester for free. They don't exactly 'advertise' it, so not too many people know about it. Worth a shot. Best of luck to you!!