Should you buy new or used books for your program?

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Hi everyone,

I will enter my general nursing program @ California State University, Chico, California this Fall! super excited.

n I would like to ask for some advice about buying books throughout the programs. Since I got into the program, obviously I had had some experiences with buy new or used books for college before. I often got good deals and passed several class with used books only or even without book sometimes. Now for entering the program, I suppose it should be different right? I'm thinking I should buy all new books because I would use them a lot and might save them even after school for career reference. (n boy, I'm talking about a huge expense over here!)

So could anyone share their experiences? Do u buy all new or used books? Or if you buy new books only for major texts (usually those cost the most too!). Maybe some don't even buy the minor texts :uhoh3: ? Am I over-thinking it and later on just dump all of my texts after school?! :jester:

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You may reference back to books, but why buy new just so you can reference back to them? I don't get it.

I've bought many "used" books on amazon marketplace that look brand new and personally I just don't care what they look like.

As long as I can read them and all of the pages aren't falling out, then they are good for me!

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Used all the way. I was not thrilled to hear that we were getting a new version of a textbook this year because it meant only buying new. I lucked out and found a "used" book for less than list price. It was new--spine wasn't even cracked.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I will be using only used books. Most of them look like they are brand new, but I saved a lot of money.

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I will always try to find used books. The classes are expensive enough and i am gonna try saving money whereever i can. Just make sure that the used book have everything the new ones required by the school. My first book has to come with a study guide...looked around online, found it and saved $40.

www.textbooks.com has great deals.

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I used to get all new books and then I wised up. This time I got all my books on Amazon for Fall. Most used some new (usually when it's a better deal then us or comes with a CD). I just make sure that it's the right edition and has minimal marks/wear and tear. I have saved myself almost $500 :)

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That depends...I am a fan of buying used books as well as selling on half.com and Amazon marketplace.

If the new price is close enough to the used price, I'll just buy it new. However, if there is a huge jump in price, then I'll buy used. When I buy used, however, I try to get it as much "like new" as possible. I don't like buying books that are all marked up with other people's highlighting/underlining. This never bothered me until nursing school and now I like my books as "clean" as possible. Whatever I do, though, I don't buy from the bookstore. Even the new books on Amazon are cheaper than bookstore books.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Used.

Just make sure it is non highlighted when possible

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My school only takes books back that are in very good condition, so I've never had a problem using their used books. It's cheaper, so why not?

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All the books I need are packages and when I look at the used on amazong or half they always say they don't have the cd or study guide ect so I just buy new copies. I am still getting them online though and for all new books it's only about 450 which I consider great! My books have NEVER been that cheap.

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Specializes in Peds; Cardiac, NICU, PACU.

I want to buy used books if possible. I have found some used ones on Textbooks.com: Cheap Textbooks & Used College Textbooks. Buy Textbooks, Sell Textbooks or Rent Textbooks.. My school offers a discount if you buy some books in a bundle and even when I look on amazon it was actually cheaper to buy from my school. Amazon was 233.85 for the books and my school sold them for 220. So I will be getting the bundle from the school but the other books I will get online new or used.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Also never hurts to approach the classes above you to see if they dont want their books. I unload some of mine that way.

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