Cost of books first semester?

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Yikes. I'm starting nursing school in a few weeks. I just got our syllabus and list of "required reading." I already have 4-5 of the books.. the other 13 or so books are going to add up to almost $700 :bugeyes:

Um, I don't have $700! I do have some $ on my pell grant let after registration and I'm hoping that will be enough.

Is this a normal amount? Are "required" books really required? Also, is it going to be like this every semester??!

Specializes in Telemetry.

I am so fortunate my books are in my tuition. Kaplan supplies me with all my books but ofcourse! the tuition is 336/1 credit.

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my books were supposed to cost around $900-ish if i bought all new books from my school's bookstore, but i ordered them used on amazon.com & i think i ended up spending around $400-$500. wayyy cheaper!! just check to make sure that you have the right edition of the books that you'll need.

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Amazon, ebay, half.com....those web sites are the only way to go! I never buy anything at the school's bookstore. It's always way overpriced. I usually save at least 300+ dollars buying them online.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Derm, OB.

Bought in campus bookstore $1100, less than $600 on half.com. They save you money!:yeah:

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The first semester WOULD have cost me roughly $900 but with A TON of tooth pulling, I was able to get the ISBN numbers and bought 'em off half.com. Money saved? Over $450. I spent over two weeks searching for the right editions because my bookstore told me they didn't have ISBN #s (I happen to go to a satellite school which is 4 hours away from the "mother" campus). Now being as tho' I worked in a library when I was in high school, I knew that all books have ISBNs. I did have a problem with one text because I could not find an ISBN or picture but luckily one of my instructors was a dear and made a few calls and was able to get the ISBN. I also had a prof. who gave the ISBN # out 2 months before class started and when I thanked him, he stated "I was once in college and I know how outrageously priced these things are." He even carried a couple copies in his office to loan out for students that could not afford to buy them (:saint:).

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Specializes in CVICU, CPCU, Cath Lab/IR.

My schools requires 14 books total. 9 Required and the other five are recommended. This totals 697.00 plus tax. This does not include the lab kit or uniforms! I thought I would die when I saw this.

I don't know if we have to get the recommended or we can just wait until we need them to purchase them once a pell refund is made.

I think most of these are used for atleast the first two semester, because the list for the second semester there are only four books!

Good luck everyone!:up:

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My 1st semester instructors said that 1st and 5th semesters are the most expensive. We use many of the same books from 1st throughout school (in 3rd semester now.) I think I spent around $600 for books 1st semester. Ugh!!

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Specializes in dreams of the future.

ok, so what's the deal with bookstore income? How is that distributed through out a school I wonder. You would think the nursing dept or others would be understanding of students' (lack of) finances. At my school they are so tight lipped about the books. When I asked for more book specs. - because it was even suggested we could read ahead for the summer at the time of a registration pre-orientation sort of thing - I was later told by the dept that I would have to wait until they set the books out to be purchased to find out which versions we would be using. There are no summer nursing courses, and fall books are put out only 1 month ahead. So I find out next Monday. I'm glad I took a peek last semester and did remember the fundamentals book used, b/c I got a good deal on that one at least on amazon. Hopefully I'll get in right away Monday and get lucky to get used and have my Pell cover the rest (fingers crossed). :uhoh21:

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I peeked at the 3rd semester of our school and most of the books will be the same as what I have to buy for 1st semester.

We had a two hour orientation a few weeks back and were given a list of all required and recommended books. All required books I bought at half.com or ebay.com and saved a good deal. All recommended books I also bought there, but got earlier versions and saved at least 75%. The outline I have to buy at the bookstore.

All your reference books should be good for all your semesters. And unless you change size or leave an ink pen in your pocket when washing your uniforms, they have a good chance of lasting. If CPR is required, make sure you take it where its good for two years.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

I paid about $800 six years ago. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the list of required textbooks. Who knew you couldn't just cram all the knowledge necessary into one paperback book?

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I never buy a book from the campus bookstore or the off campus bookmart. I always get the ISBN and do a web search. I usually find them on comparison search engines, sometimes cheaper than Ebay or half.com. Also, check amazon.com's marketplace.

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:banghead: The frustration I have is that we are supposed to have our books, uniform, supplies when school starts. But your school doesn't disperse any financial aid monies until the first day of the term. They should be able to issue funds say 30 days prior to fall term. How frustrating !!!!!
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