I just wanted to say, if you are careful, you can get new books much cheaper online. In fact even "used books" that I have ordered looked brand spanking new when I got them (with unopened CD's etc.). Also, usually they are delivered within 3-5 days.
I know this isn't exactly headline news. I know there have been posts about online textbook buying before, but I think it bears repeating. It really surprises me how few people actually do it.
Here is what I did:
Got the list of books containing the Name, Authors, Edition, year published and cost
Went to the college bookstore to get the ISBN numbers (no one at the college would give them over the phone -- big surprise)
Went online and searched for the books (you can even do this at AllNurses.com -- go to the top right of the screen and click on "books")
Found the cheapest new or used versions (including any shipping)
Ordered the books
Please, please, please give this a try. I saved a good $250 on my 1st semester nursing books. They were all pristine condition. Admittedly I did order them a month ago, so there was greater choice, but I bet there are still good deals.
I will be checking now to see what books the seconds semester requires and if my college will be changing editions. Then I have time to find screaming deals on them too.
Go forth and get a deal. Use the money you save for some cool gadgets for clinical or whatever.
I completely agree w/ u I have been buying books online since my first degree, & the bookstore is the biggest ripoff! Buy books early, off season u get the best price once school starts the prices tend to go up. I use the search engine www.fetchbook.info I usually only buy from amazon, ebay, & half, this engine gives u the lowest price. Also sell them online, thats IF u decide to sell I know this is nursing school. I always get what I paid for the book, & here is a tip, ship media mail ($4) the post office doesn't give u the option of this shipping method, u have to tell them thats what u want. Good Luck to every1!
Don't forget that you can save more money buying the previous edition text at Amazon marketplace. Sometimes, the previous edition is 1 year old and sometimes publishers release the same text twice in the same year. Ever wonder why the cohort behind you has a different textbook for that Patho class? They're getting the same info you did just some more glamorous charts and graphics.
try renting your books .... that is what i do now -- unless you want to keep the book for some reason, there is no real need to purchase them http://www.chegg.com/rent/
Renting is a good idea even with students. Depending on your semester setup you may be able to do this with peers. For example, if I am taking OB for the first 7 weeks and my friend is taking peds for the last 7 weeks of the semester, then we can just swap texts. No money needs to be exchanged if the cost about the same.
That's great if it works for you. We were told that we were not allowed to purchase our own books elsewhere. It was a package deal; when I went in to talk to financial aid, I already had located the books online, but was told it wasn't allowed!
Barnes & Noble has great prices, too. Lately B&N has been a better deal than Amazon. Especially if you join their member club (it's $25 a year). My books were still cheaper through them, even with paying for the membership, than what the school and Amazon were charging. Free shipping for orders over $25, too.
I normally buy used books when I can and save a lot of money. But I just went to my orientation for the program and they said we have to have the ebooks along with the text book and online codes, etc...basically if you buy the ebooks it's almost as much as buying the package with new books and ebooks combined. They are basically forcing us to spend more money and buy new books. I think it's bull...but I'll do it anyways since I don't want to be without something they require....
It really upsets me when I hear schools taking advantage of us by forcing students to buy books/equipment through a certain mechanism. I highly suggest that any prospective students starting in the spring and beyond take the time to ask current students "the real deal." Schools take advantage of newbies because they know we're scared of what we don't know. I went for it too. Like my uniform pants...horrendous fit for all of us really. I think they were 36.00. After paying that much I refused to pay another $20 to get them altered like many of my classmates. However, months later people started coming to clinical in "store bought," "unoffical pants." I felt so stupid. I wish someone had told me.
Please do what you feel comfortable with, but ask the right people if you care about what you do with your money.
I started buying my books online 1 1/2 semesters ago... WHAT A DEAL!! Half.com has become my best friend when it comes to buying new books. Sometimes I pay only 1/3 of what the campus bookstore is charging! For example, my first semester (Fundamentals) books were offered in a bundle by the campus bookstore for $700. Um, ew. Buying them separately, online through Half? $320. Money talks guys, and I saved so much compared to my classmates.
One downside though. The bundle the school offers includes the eBook editions of all the books in the bundle, which I unfortunately did miss out on. I made it through this semester fine without them, but with med-surg coming next semester I think I'm going to spring for it so I can easily search for info for careplans etc.
Anybody have any experiences with the ebooks? I'm hesitant about it because I'd be paying full price and I've been REALLY spoiled by buying online.
our school makes us get the online code too! it's so stupid the homework and announcements and even quizzes are online so you have to have the code and it is only good for one year so good luck trying to buy one off someone else. also you can't change the email address so that would just be confusing to buy off someone else! ugh and if you want to get the used book and just buy the code, it costs the SAME price! this was for two of my classes and for two of my other classes (i go to SFSU) we had to get the freaking SFSU custom edition. ***! i was only able to buy my text online for one class. I hate letting them take advantage of me but I don't see another choice. I do not qualify for financial aide so my parents have to pay everything out of pocket and it was nearly $500 for those books... ugh
I started buying my books online 1 1/2 semesters ago... WHAT A DEAL!! Half.com has become my best friend when it comes to buying new books. Sometimes I pay only 1/3 of what the campus bookstore is charging! For example, my first semester (Fundamentals) books were offered in a bundle by the campus bookstore for $700. Um, ew. Buying them separately, online through Half? $320. Money talks guys, and I saved so much compared to my classmates.
One downside though. The bundle the school offers includes the eBook editions of all the books in the bundle, which I unfortunately did miss out on. I made it through this semester fine without them, but with med-surg coming next semester I think I'm going to spring for it so I can easily search for info for careplans etc.
Anybody have any experiences with the ebooks? I'm hesitant about it because I'd be paying full price and I've been REALLY spoiled by buying online.
I really don't find ebooks that much more helpful. I'm in my second year of nursing school and I never bring my text books to class so an ebook will not "lighten my load." I guess it depends on how your instructors teach, but it serves me no purpose. I only use my texts at home. So I don't find ebooks very helpful. One of the textbook publishers that we use came to lecture on the benefits of ebooks and gave out FREE software for 3 texts that we were using. Although the features were nice, I've only explored the ebooks a few times. Once again, I didn't find them helpful because it didn't fir my style. I guess if you travel a lot (i.e. long bus, train commutes) where you choose to read on your way to and from school/work...but are you going to whip out your laptop on the subway? I guess a PDA (if available) would be great.
If you are thinking about using the technology during clinical when trying to choose nursing diagnoses, then buy a "clinical companion" which are fairly inexpensive. They are concise versions of entire texts that fit into your labcoat pocket. Many nursing texts and careplan books publish these. They are actual books that are smaller than textbooks. They are about $15-$25. Whew!! So many options.
Talk to your classmates, don't ask them if they like the ebooks because I'm sure they do, ASK if they really use it and why? Then go from there. I think some schools have their own technology culture. In my cohort of about 105 students only about 5 consistantly take notes on their laptop. Ask around!
I really don't find ebooks that much more helpful. I'm in my second year of nursing school and I never bring my text books to class so an ebook will not "lighten my load." I guess it depends on how your instructors teach, but it serves me no purpose. I only use my texts at home. So I don't find ebooks very helpful. One of the textbook publishers that we use came to lecture on the benefits of ebooks and gave out FREE software for 3 texts that we were using. Although the features were nice, I've only explored the ebooks a few times. Once again, I didn't find them helpful because it didn't fir my style. I guess if you travel a lot (i.e. long bus, train commutes) where you choose to read on your way to and from school/work...but are you going to whip out your laptop on the subway? I guess a PDA (if available) would be great.
If you are thinking about using the technology during clinical when trying to choose nursing diagnoses, then buy a "clinical companion" which are fairly inexpensive. They are concise versions of entire texts that fit into your labcoat pocket. Many nursing texts and careplan books publish these. They are actual books that are smaller than textbooks. They are about $15-$25. Whew!! So many options.
Talk to your classmates, don't ask them if they like the ebooks because I'm sure they do, ASK if they really use it and why? Then go from there. I think some schools have their own technology culture. In my cohort of about 105 students only about 5 consistantly take notes on their laptop. Ask around!
Wow, thanks for the great response! :yeah:I do take notes on my laptop, but I don't study straight out of the book like many of my classmates. And I've NEVER been able to read extensively on a computer screen, I'd rather have my huge, physical text with a highlighter in hand. The clinical companion handbooks sound like a great alternative, one that I didn't know of before. Thank you again!
I heard it said a few times on the post already but lets not foreget about book rentals especially for GECs. Last quarter i took a psych class that a brand new edition of a book that cost $175. usually i buy all my books on amazon but being as the book was SO new there weren't any cheepies. So i went to campusbookrentals.com got the book for about $50.00 with free shipping to and from. Knew i wouldn't use the book after the class, and saved a bunch of money!
Campusbookrentals.com will give you the option of buying your book if you find it beneficial..they also give about a 2 week grace period for returning the book after the due date and have varying prices for the length of time you need it.
Buying them separately, online through Half? $320. Money talks guys, and I saved so much compared to my classmates. 
wife&mommyRN
238 Posts
I completely agree w/ u I have been buying books online since my first degree, & the bookstore is the biggest ripoff! Buy books early, off season u get the best price once school starts the prices tend to go up. I use the search engine www.fetchbook.info I usually only buy from amazon, ebay, & half, this engine gives u the lowest price. Also sell them online, thats IF u decide to sell I know this is nursing school. I always get what I paid for the book, & here is a tip, ship media mail ($4) the post office doesn't give u the option of this shipping method, u have to tell them thats what u want. Good Luck to every1!