Books...Yowza

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I'm only taking the pre-reqs, but most of my previous classes at this school have been IT classes. I think for IT books on average I paid maybe $150 for 3 classes a semester. Checked all the book prices yesterday for my Bio, Microbiology, Soc and Psyc --- over $500!! Yeesh.

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...and that's on Half.com, cheapest I could find! =)

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Did you look on Amazon, too? Have you looked in to renting textooks? Bookrenter.com is one site.

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I'll tell you, I'm on the fence about renting books, only because in theory, if I buy a $120 book, it might still be worth $120 at the end of the semester, and I could get everything I paid back. With renting, when the money's paid, its paid, nothing to get back. I've definitely had times where I sold books for 100% of what I paid, but then there have been times that the book is no longer used after the current semester, and I haven't been able to sell it at all. Usually those were cheaper books to begin with though - I think I paid $9 for a Java book a few semesters back, and wasn't able to sell it, but it was only $9. I'm assuming w/these nursing books, if I pay $120-150, it'll probably still be worth near that at the end of the semester because its a 2010 or 2011 copyrighted book.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

A brand new $120 book is 99% of the time NEVER worth the same $120 in the end, even if it's the 2010-2011 edition. sure, you can find a friend to sell it to and offer that price but I guarantee they will find it either from someone else or somewhere else for less. I have gotten $20 AT MOST for most of the books I originally bought brand new and sold back to the bookstore. The most I made on a book from the bookstore was $60, but that was because the bookstore desperately needed them. I sell books to my peers now but I don't charge them more than $50 for them.

After buying all brand new books my first year, I learned to buy them used from Amazon or trade books with peers. All of the used books I have received have been practically brand new and in excellent condition. And the best part: they're a heck of a lot cheaper, too!

:twocents:

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Yea, never sell back to the bookstore though, they have to pay you less so they can make a profit from the next person who buys it. If you list them on Half.com, that person is buying directly from you, and there's no middleman taking a cut. I've definitely been able to get full price back from selling on Half.com - I never sell back to the bookstore.

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(Alright, half.com takes a cut, but its a few bucks vs like $40-50 less from the bookstore). I've had the bookstore wanting to give me $15 for something I sold on half.com for $60.

The point of this whole thing was just for me to acknowledge that nursing/science books, in general, are more expensive than other fields.

$194 for a book??? Is the text inlaid in some sort of color changing fonts, or what, lol? They must feel really confident these books are going to sell well, and are perfectly fine jacking up the price. I guess its because doctors are writing them and they are generally well-paid people, but I'd be fine if these teachers went with 2008 copyrighted books instead of 2011. I don't think those muscles changed places since 08 =)

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Amazon, Chegg, the Library, Craigslist,Textbooksrus,Half.com are your friends!!

Get used to it. Nursing textbooks are expensive as well and you need a bunch of em! My book list for my first semester of nursing school is over $800 and that does not include supplies and uniforms. About another $300-$400 - Doesn't include all the other extras like getting your BLS card (if you don't have it already), background check and drug screening & physical.

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Science & nursing texts are pretty expensive. I spent about 1K this semester for 4 nursing classes, even after buying them off amazon. That's not even including the required ATI package that cost about $400. The good news is we'll be using most of these texts throughout the program.

I've had professors during prerequisites that allowed or recommended older edition & international student edition texts. They are much cheaper & retain their resell value fairly well.

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I get your argument that you may break even re-selling books that you've bought. That being said, my experience (particularly with science texts), has been one of new editions coming out and getting stuck with a $120 doorstop.

I rent because:

- it's easy

- i never go back to textbooks after a class finishes, and they just collect dust in my house

- i feel like i'm saving the rainforest one acre at a time :)

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Specializes in N/A.

I purchase my books on Amazon or textbooks.com (I never pay shipping there) I've never paid full price, shop early for the cheaper deals. I used half.com one time for my Micro book and it took me 2 months to get my money back from the person who charged my card and never sent my book. I resell my books at Amazon.

For spring semester I have a academic scholarship which paid for my books from the school bookstore...only time I've ever gotten books there. (taking nutrition and ethics)

I don't rent because my theory is this.....you get nothing back for a rental. Over my time in school I've never not made back at least 75% of what I've paid....just lucky maybe.

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It's worth checking to see if they will let you use a previous edition. You can save a fortune!

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