Cost of books first semester?

BoSoxFan · Jul 25, 2008

i received my bill for the first semester yesterday. my book cost is $1008, but this is for the entire first year and includes my pda. of course, there is $150 technology fee, $150 test fee, and $375 lab fee. i picked up my uniforms this week and i believe they were about $150. i am also getting ready to order my stethoscope, another $150. thank goodness i get some tuition reimbursement back at the end of each semester. ouch!

txpatches · Jul 25, 2008

Hi! The books at my bookstore were right at $1000 and they were USED!! We were given the ISBN #s with our list so I decided to check out amazon.com. For the same list of books, it was about $450 for BRAND NEW books!! Go figure! I really don't understand! :banghead: Now my semester starts Aug. 25 and I still don't know if I even get any money!! They have had alot of turnover in the financial aid department and we are told to just keep looking online to see if money has been disbursed! You wanna hear something really funny?!?! My tution is due TODAY!:banghead: The semester doesn't start for another MONTH and they want to be paid TODAY! When we do get financial aid, it won't be refunded to us (for the classes we have already paid for) until the 12th class day! Does this sound strange or is it just me?

Oh well! I just smile and carry on! :saint:

lilag02 · Jul 25, 2008

I've yet to even apply to my nursing program, but I'm trying to get an idea of how much everything is going to cost. This thread got me to thinking about books, so I did a quick search on bn.com (Barnes and Noble), and just a head's up, many of the books (new!) are nearly half price for members who buy online. The membership is only $25 a year, and they also carry many of the review books and other recommendations that you won't find at your campus bookstore. Not sure if this will help anyone, but thought I'd throw it out there. Good luck to everyone starting this fall, I can't wait until I'm there too!

Laura

kat von b · Jul 25, 2008

we are required to buy 15 books and they told us it would be about $800 in the bookstore so i used my barnes and noble membership card and got all my books from them and only spent $500. i'm sure i could have saved more if i had bought them used but i'm on of those people that just has to have new. i still have yet to buy my scrubs and a kit that we need, i'm sure that will cost another couple hundred, luckily i've had a great stethoscope that i bought for $90 3 years ago.

good luck! with all the great advice in this thread you'll find a way that works best for you!

kcochrane · Jul 25, 2008

Hi! The books at my bookstore were right at $1000 and they were USED!! We were given the ISBN #s with our list so I decided to check out amazon.com. For the same list of books, it was about $450 for BRAND NEW books!! Go figure! I really don't understand! Now my semester starts Aug. 25 and I still don't know if I even get any money!! They have had alot of turnover in the financial aid department and we are told to just keep looking online to see if money has been disbursed! You wanna hear something really funny?!?! My tution is due TODAY!:banghead: The semester doesn't start for another MONTH and they want to be paid TODAY! When we do get financial aid, it won't be refunded to us (for the classes we have already paid for) until the 12th class day! Does this sound strange or is it just me?
Oh well! I just smile and carry on!

The disbursement delay isn't unusual. We don't get what money is left over after tuition/books until 6 weeks after school starts. They want to make sure you are going to class. We do get a voucher for the book store, which can be increased if you anticipate highter costs. I don't get how they require you to pay if they know you are getting financial aid. I would call and make sure you do indeed need to pay ahead of time. I still get a bill with a due date, but since I have financial aid to cover it, I don't need to pay first. Sometimes all you need is to have the financial aid office call the bursar's office.

GGT1 · Jul 25, 2008

The letter that I recieved from my school said books would cost around $900 for first semester. I looked on-line and purchased my books from Amazon and Alibiris and payed about $600- saved $300!!

On 2 of my books I bought the previous edition. I noticed that during my pre-reqs people were always doing that and I was a little nervous but I have looked at previous additions and they don't change much.

KarmaInMotion · Jul 25, 2008

Hi! The books at my bookstore were right at $1000 and they were USED!! We were given the ISBN #s with our list so I decided to check out amazon.com. For the same list of books, it was about $450 for BRAND NEW books!! Go figure! I really don't understand! Now my semester starts Aug. 25 and I still don't know if I even get any money!! They have had alot of turnover in the financial aid department and we are told to just keep looking online to see if money has been disbursed! You wanna hear something really funny?!?! My tution is due TODAY!:banghead: The semester doesn't start for another MONTH and they want to be paid TODAY! When we do get financial aid, it won't be refunded to us (for the classes we have already paid for) until the 12th class day! Does this sound strange or is it just me?
Oh well! I just smile and carry on!

Most of this is pretty normal for me as far as financial aid goes. Well, I never had an issue with knowing if or what aid I would get. I can see how upsetting that would be. But, I have always been sent notices of payment for classes being due. I think that is just an automatic notification thing done for all enrolled. Also at my school financial aid refunds aren't until after midterm. So this year I decided to get a fed loan to help cover the increasing cost and need of extra supplies. But since this is my first loan, they make us wait a month before we can even receive that (sigh). And I saw no notification of this delay until the end of the loan process. They're already getting us started on becoming problem solvers lol.

Linny_Lou10 · Jul 25, 2008

I've yet to even apply to my nursing program, but I'm trying to get an idea of how much everything is going to cost. This thread got me to thinking about books, so I did a quick search on bn.com (Barnes and Noble), and just a head's up, many of the books (new!) are nearly half price for members who buy online. The membership is only $25 a year, and they also carry many of the review books and other recommendations that you won't find at your campus bookstore. Not sure if this will help anyone, but thought I'd throw it out there. Good luck to everyone starting this fall, I can't wait until I'm there too!
Laura

I completely agree!! I paid a the small$25 dollar fee and my books that would have been $1,100 only cost $700. It's a great investment :up:

Spotty44 · Jul 26, 2008

We purchase all our books for the entire program up front at the beginning of the program, and it's a one time cost of $1400.00. I guess it will be good to get it all out of the way!

Tifftazia · Jul 26, 2008

My girlfriend just finished her 1st year at the school that I am about to start at and she told me to expect $1100+ for my books. Really I don't think it is that bad because that is all that I will have to pay for the entire 2 years of my program. Normally I spend nearly $400-500 a term on books, so for me its a savings.

hubcapgirl · Jul 26, 2008

I bought all of my books online; mostly Amazon and half.com. I paid about half of what it would have cost me at the bookstore. Our bookstore's website doesn't give IBSN numbers, but it lists the title, author and edition; that has been enough for me to get the right book every time. A lot of new stuff on Amazon.com qualifies for free shipping too. Sure it's slower, but it's free.

Okhotneek · Jul 26, 2008

Bad advice.
I would mow lawns or deliver pizzas.

Some people are already working 60 + hours a week and donating plasma to make it. If you don't have the cash and physically cannot work another job without being on speed.....how do you pay for books?