hello... so fall is starting meaning freshmen are coming in.
now that this is the last semester of my bachelor’s degree, let me tell you a few things about college textbooks i have experience:
1. textbooks are almost always more expensive on campus. shop around online
2. you can compare prices on sites like bigwords.
3. ask the professor if you can use older versions (which are waaaay cheaper). i have asked and a lot of the times they are okay with it. sometimes they are not because the practice questions at the end of the chapter are different
4. international version from other countries are the same exact textbook, but in black and white and cheap paper quality. and they are. WAY cheaper. (like save $200 cheaper) and the practice questions on the textbook are the same. however they have no buyback value.
5. if you buy a hardback textbook, you can probably sell it back online at the end of the semester (buyback). however, it is usually cheaper to rent the textbook. in every instance for every semester i have saved more money by renting.
5.5 note: the closer to the start of the semester, the more expensive a rental. but the longer you rent the more expensive it is. make sure to turn in rentals on time to avoid the fee. take picture of the chapter you are reading during the last week if you must.
5.7 Okay i forgot about this one but had to include it... sometimes the school will list their own version of the textbook. Like, its just a regular ass textbook you could get for $75 used on Amazon, but they took out four chapters, rearranged the remaining chapters, put a brand new stock photo cover on it and charged like $370 for it. Ew. i have never,ever bought that. bitch, not even once. First of all, no buyback value. Because it is college specific it can only be used for that college and most likely just for that semester. so what you do is you buy the 75$ version. Then the mcgraw or whatever publisher website will have the list of which chapters are in which order and if you cant find it email your teacher because she probably has it.
6. if you are taking introductory courses to your major (so like. sophomore year) and you’re not getting much buyback value, just keep the textbook. ive had classes require the same textbook (ex: intro to accounting and accounting ii). this doesn’t happen usually after junior year or when taking general courses.
6.5 (also keep your notes for introductory courses, as some internships and jobs may require a test on the basics that you will most likely forget!!! and sometimes materials for courses overlap ex: business law 1 and business law 2. i threw away the notes when notes for both classes were practically the same. yikes. )
7. if you have to buy the current version, sometimes e-textbooks will be cheaper (ikr?!) sometimes they won’t. you’ll have to compare the different isbns on comparison sites.
8. Teachers will sometimes list both the e textbook version and the text version on the syllabus. You don’t have to buy both. Sounds obvious but there are at least three people that do this every class (& just check what you are buying before you buy it... sometimes the teachers even list the ISBN wrong).
9. when your teachers wants you to buy both the textbook and the connections access code for assignments, they will list the ISBN for the brand new textbook with the access code. do not buy that. you can buy the access code to get your assignment on its own, and sometimes that will include an e text version of the book. this will save you around $100. if it doesn’t include the e-text, you will still save money buy buying/renting/ used or buying the international version textbook and access code separately, rather than new textbook that comes with access code
10. used versions of textbooks will not have an access code, even if the seller says it will they are liars they don’t know shit they can’t check if for you if they do they will activate it and they ain’t giving u their email password for ur little code trust me bitch. if it does have it by some miracle and its not used, it probably won’t work for your course. okay. just now.
11. BUT. you can buy unused access codes from the amazon marketplace. those were people that bought the brand spakin new textbook that comes with the access code and then ended up never using the access code. The code will usually be listed for around 50% off. any less than that and I wouldn’t risk it. i’ve never been ripped off buying used access codes but it does happen often.
12. if your course is online and it uses connections to do they assignments, they give a two week free trial (good for those of us that get paid bi weekly or if you run out of money while buying textbook for your other classes first).
13. hmm...asdhfjasdfklahskl..... library genesis (free pdf....) asdhjfkalskdfh’j......its the best one just sayin...asjdfiakls;djfal
14. wait until starting the class to buy. this tip was given to me during scholarship meeting by the board. do this at your own risk. sometimes books sell out. sometimes you need the book during the first week (usually you don’t the teacher is usually lenient and gives two weeks to get the textbook after the class start). check stock first. but... i’ve had books that were only needed for one assignment that was barely worth any percentage of the grade. I’ve had books that were “required” but for practice questions that were never turned in. sometimes you will start the class and the professor will make amendments and say the book is optional. if that happens and you already bought the book go return it do not let it collect dust just pass go and collect $200
well crap i didn’t think i had this many tips welp here it is this is just for textbooks holy shit