Books are how much!!!!!

camkib · Aug 12, 2003

Keely,

that IS alot of money for just one course. I bought a couple of my non-nursing books yesterday--computers and literature and paid about $180.

ST_NURSE_MLD · Aug 12, 2003

We can rent "some" of our books ($15 per book) from the college bookstore.

camkib · Aug 12, 2003

Renting sounds cool...If we had a program like that I would have rented the books for prereqs. But then again...my books have come in handy quite a few times as references for papers and for reviewing information and such.

But the low cost of renting is very appealing.

PennyNickelDime_RN · Aug 12, 2003

I bought my books yesterday and they were around $350.00 for all of them. Five classes total. I didn't think that was too bad except I am on the quarter system so have to buy books three times a year instead of two :0.

Bevi · Aug 12, 2003

Originally posted by camkib
Renting sounds cool...If we had a program like that I would have rented the books for prereqs. But then again...my books have come in handy quite a few times as references for papers and for reviewing information and such.

But the low cost of renting is very appealing.

I agree it's appealing..... if only i could keep my pencil and highlighter off the pages in a book.....lol

Yep, i mark up my books.... So renting wouldn't be a good option for me...

And like Cam, i like to keep a reference library...

its HUGE now... but wow, there are so many times i've needed to look back for supplemental info....and been happy that i keep my books!

manna, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2003

I haven't even bought my books for this semester... and classes start in a week! Great.

(still trying to come up with the money... financial aid woes here too)

colleen10 · Aug 12, 2003

I can't stress enough to you guys what a racket the school bookstore system is.

If you can, get the ISBN number off of the book and try to purchase it online from a site like Half.com or eCampus.com or even directly from the publisher.

I have saved so much money just by purchasing all my nursing books online. My Nursing school was kind enough to give us a list of all the books, authors, editions and ISBN numbers months ago so that we could purchase them elsewhere if we wanted.

School starts in two weeks and out bookstore still has not put up the Fall Semester books on the shelves. They know they are way too expensive and want to keep students from purchasing the books elsewhere.

My drug calc. book for summer semester was $52.00 in the bookstore. I got one, brand new from Half.com for $34.00 and that included shipping costs and I got it within a week.

Books are expensive enough let alone the mark up the school bookstores put on them. I have used Barnes & Noble, Half.com and eCampus.com to purchase all of my books for 1st semester and I couldn't be happier with the prices, delivery and return policies for all sites.

Don't mean to sound like a commercial for online book sellers but if you have the option to purchase books online you should definately check it out. At the very least they get delivered right to your door and you don't have to lug them across campus when you buy them.

twarlik · Aug 12, 2003

Originally posted by colleen10
I can't stress enough to you guys what a racket the school bookstore system is.

Amen to that!

The school bookstores are horrible. I personally feel that they should be kicked off campuses and be made to compete with other, more moderately priced book sellers.

I'm not even getting my book list until and 21st and classes start the 25th. Very annoying that we are being given so little time to shop around for the best price.

It has been my impression that most schools are completely out of touch with their students. We were asked to spend close to $300 on uniforms and supplies without having the benefit of financial aid, then we're asked to spend around $700 on books. We are also told that each student needs to have their own transportation and that we will be responsible for any out of town travel that is required. We need health insurance (very expensive if you're over 25) and Liability Insurance. On top of all this, they recommend that we not work.

Are they for real?!?!?!

Bevi · Aug 12, 2003

Colleen.......

You're absolutely right...

I buy 99% of my texts thru half.com (a division, i believe, of ebay)....

Love-A-Nurse · Aug 12, 2003

the majority of my books were purchased during first semester of nursing school. i have one book to get for this semester and one for next [final] semester.

Keely-FutureRN · Aug 12, 2003

Geez. The campus bookstores are such a rip off. I took an anthropology class summer semester (social science credit) and paid $40 for the main text. When book buy backs came around I returned the book and got $5.50 back! I am definitely going to check out online prices next time. We didn't get our booklist until yesterday and school starts the 20th. Plus one of my lab books for chem. is called "Chem 1110 lab F03". Great. I think the teacher wrote it for this class so you can't buy it anywhere else...grr.

Keely

colleen10 · Aug 12, 2003

When I went to PSU for my first B.S. the bookstore there was a rip off too. I remember a great lesson I learned in my first and second semesters.

When it comes to Pre-req. and Co-req. classes like English, Math, Chem, Humanities, if you see books that are listed as "Recommended" for the class but are not the main book you would do well to wait til class begins and see if you really need that extra book(s) or not.

My first semesters I spent tons of money on extra books that were recommended but not necessary for the class. I don't even think any of my instructors mentioned/referred to these extra books in class lecture, exams, etc.

Also, for any newbie students out there. Ask some of the upper classman if there are any "off campus" bookstores. These are student book stores not directly affiliated with the school and are located off campus. They sell all the same books and get the same "course book list" as the school book store but they sell at lower prices. I have found that their "used" books are even cheaper than the used books at the school store.

Even my little CCAC has such one such store. Larger schools like PSU have many.