Books
- Thread starter IcSyU
- Start date
I think the most I spent was $120ish. The last couple of semesters I couldn't put up with those prices so I started to buy online.
sounds about right for that type of book ... i found mine online for liek 130 used so saved myself a couple bucks ...
Buy the international versions and save yourself a few bucks. I bought 2 books that would have cost me over $300 new and $200 used. I bought the international versions for $110.
I remember dropping almost $250 on a biochem book that was brand new - there were no used copies available because the thing had just come out. Was not happy about that...I think my total for that semester was around $650. Ick
Books are the biggest rip off I have ever seen. I would sometimes return them in the plastic I bought them in and lose 75% of the value. I stopped bying them after my sophomore years, whats the point I didn't read them anyway.
find out what you need earlier and buy them used on ebay. Honestly, you can get $100 book for $20 pretty often and in great condition.
I've been tempted to try out Chegg.com.
You rent the books for a semester for considerably less cash.
You rent the books for a semester for considerably less cash.
I don't know if I bought a book at the book store my entire last two years of school. Online is the best way to go. The worst is the profs that feel the need to use new books every year or semester.
Civil Engineers, Construction Engineers and Architects (I think) need to buy the Steel Construction Manual which is retail around $300. When I bought it, we got a discount from the publisher because it was for students. However, people from industry found out and would buy their copies at the bookstore at student prices so the bookstore often ran out. I don't even think the bookstore sells them now, the students have to get it right from the publisher.
I know that we're trying to make the ISBN numbers public in the near future. It's going to be a big issue with the GSB this year, and I know President Geoffroy wants to get that done as well.
That would make finding books online MUCH easier.
That would make finding books online MUCH easier.
You mean the "Outsourced to India" version? :wink:
I bought one of those off an "E-bay-affiliated" site (I can't remember the name of it). It had a very thin paperboard cover and newsprint for pages. But I definitely saved a lot of coin on it :yes:
During college I bought books the 1st semester and last semester the 4 years in between; borrowed from others, worked with a :GEEK: or smoozed the cute gal in class.:wink: My grades did show it; would not recommend this. But boy did I have fun; I hate seeing the Iowa Student Loan payment each month, but the memories are priceless. 
I graduated in Civil Engineering in 2006. When I took that class you had to show a student ID or something to verfiy you were in the class, although I don't remember exactly what you had to do. I imagine this was to cut down on the problem you identified. It would be too bad for current students if they had to buy that book at full price now.
I know if I would've bought my books new from the bookstore this semester, I would have spent $1,016....bought 4 on Amazon and 2 from UBS (they have a stupid extra thing that comes with that I couldn't find online and need) and spent $516 all brand new.
