You did it! You are finally about to start another (or your first) academic term in college! With all other expenses taken care of, textbooks might be the last thing on your list. In high school, your books were most likely provided to you free of cost from your school and you were not allowed to write in them or damage them in any way, but college is a little different. You will now be responsible for not just one, but multiple books and resources per class each semester depending on what courses you are taking, and you are expected to cover costs of all these materials. There can be some panic when you first see the sticker price on some of the books you will need for class, especially when you consider buying the books new, but CAP has some tips to help you keep the cost down and be smart about your textbook use!
All the textbooks!
First: find out what books you will need.
Professors may post a syllabus in the course section of your portal, or may even email one to you in the weeks before class starts. You can also find the information from your campus bookstore online or in person.
If your class has multiple books you will need to purchase, you can email your professor to find out which books are mandatory and which are secondary sources. Sometimes you will only need a couple articles or chapters from a book, so you might consider finding those separately instead of buying a whole book.
CHEAPER TEXTBOOK OPTIONS
From most expensive to least
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Used books at your campus bookstore: at the end of the semester, people return/sell back their books (see “book buy-back” at the bottom of the page) which are then sold to students at a discounted cost. This means you can use books in classes that are the same edition or a previous edition, but do not cost full price. Your professor will let you know how late of an edition is necessary to be able to still keep up with the class readings.
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Local used book stores: college towns may have independent bookstores near campus that sell used versions of your textbooks (similar to your campus bookstore). There stores may also do book buy-back as well.
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Online: once you know the ISBN and/or name and edition of your textbook, check out some online sources for buying your books. Amazon , Half , Slug Books , and Abe Books are sites that CAP staff members had success using in college. Just make sure to check the shipping time and that you are ordering the correct version of your book!
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Renting: Renting a textbook is another option that has become increasingly popular on campus. Campus/local bookstores may offer this option (as well as online sites like Chegg ) so that students may purchase a book for a specified amount of time (semester/quarter) and then return it after use. This option is generally less expensive than buying a used book, but it also means there may be some restrictions to use and you will not be able to participate in a book buy-back.
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Ebooks: Some textbooks are available in digital format so that you can access your textbook from your computer, laptop, tablet, etc. These versions of textbooks can have cool features that make them more like a traditional textbook, where you can highlight text or add notes directly to the page. If you consider this option, make sure that your professor will allow you to have access to the ebook during class (if there are no electronics allowed in class, this might not be the right option for you). Check with your campus bookstore and online for buying ebooks.
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Library on reserve: Professors may have current or older editions of textbooks on reserve at the library for student use during the school year (for FREE!) You are generally not allowed to check out these textbooks and take them home, but if they are available, you can use the book for a few hours at a time in the library. This is a great option especially for supplementary textbooks where you will only be using a few articles/chapters from. Check with your professor before the semester starts if the textbooks for your class will be available in the library on reserve.
*A note on book buy-backs: Campus and local bookstores typically offer a book buy-back option at the end of each semester/quarter. This is an opportunity to sell your textbooks back to the bookstore for a fraction of what you originally paid (usually less than half). The book does not need to be purchased from that particular store originally, nor do you need an original receipt to prove how much you paid (check with your school). The amount you get back is determined by the bookstore based on need, edition, and other factors. If you bought your book and want a little extra cash at the end of the semester/quarter, this is a little perk you might appreciate!
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