[googley]

I just read in the graduate newsletter that we are allocated $30/credit hour for textbooks. I have one four credit class (=$120 for financial aid for the textbooks) where the textbooks cost $400. WTH! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[Amazonmom]

I'm having memories of semesters with 1100 dollar textbook bills...

Are the books available online? Sometimes that saved me $$$.

[Travelinglady]

I know what you mean. I have two kids who are taking college courses. I decided that I wanted a certain textbook just for my own interest, and I had to pay over $100.00. Not a big deal? All I got was loose leaf pages! I even had to provide my own three-ring binder!

[googley]

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

I'm having memories of semesters with 1100 dollar textbook bills...

Are the books available online? Sometimes that saved me $$$.

Sadly this is from getting books cheaper on line. It is like the fin aid people have no idea how much text books actually cost and how many the profs make us buy.

[Amazonmom]

OMG that is ridiculous. Hopefully you can sell back some books at the end of the term and it will be a little less painful.

[AAAAA]

Textbooks is a game I do not understand. Each semester my daughter buys used books and spends about $500. A few months later she sells those very same used books and gets about $100.

The second semester last year, and so far the first semester this year she rents or uses ebooks at a cost of about $300 a semester. In our home state, in all state schools textbooks are rented out to the students for about $50 a semester. Unfortunately her college of choice is out of state.

Those consumables (ones you have to put in a binder yourself) are OUTRAGEOUS.

I'm not sure about your state but our financial aid covers books hours whatever,
so in the end if you need books / hours that's up to you or you just reapply for financial aid.Now if you went all out and took a loan out for school (Not Smart) then there you go $400 book was free with a 2.7 GPA. Now just for you a special deal> $400.
Why pay when all you have to do is be broke while going to school ? Vanity kills and don't pay the bills

Here you can sell back your books before your final and get 80-100% back.
Thats unless you used the great idea of a hi-liter insted of taking notes.

[googley]

Originally Posted by rscottbruton

Here you can sell back your books before your final and get 80-100% back.
Thats unless you used the great idea of a hi-liter insted of taking notes.

I have never gone to school anywhere that you can get 80-100% back for selling books in. And don't judge people for using loans to get through school. I happen to be in a graduate program and in graduate school almost everyone takes out loans to get through. I don't appreciate being called vain. You have no knowledge of what I'm studying or what I'm dealing with or what my GPA is. And that in my field there is no way to do work unless you go to graduate school.

If you don't have anything supportive to say, don't say anything at all!

[Amazonmom]

Did you think that was useful advice? Really? okay...

In undergrad we had a maximum amount of hours we were allowed to work per week. The focus was to be on school, not working. The financial aid was mindful of this though.

The graduate programs expressly forbid working outside of the Teaching assistantship you were given as a grad student. All grad students got adequate grants to cover expenses. Not high on the hog life at all. Considering the students needed to pay taxes on a big chunk of the money...

Hugs for you Googley. You deserve a break!

[AAAAA]

Just because I don't have 100K laying around the house does not mean my kids don't deserve an education! My daughter gets scholarships but oddly enough she needs to eat once in a while and a place to sleep so loans are the only option. We make too much money for her to get any grants. What is "not smart" about getting loans to pay for college? I would like to know a better investment than an education, I'll gladly pay the 2% interest.

I have never even heard of a place that will give you more than 30% of what you paid for your books.

[(JD)]

The cost of college textbooks has always been an issue, imo. I know it was when I attended, way back when. But back then, the idea of buying used textbooks was only done through the underground book store and the colleges warned about using them.

Obtaining loans to get through college is okay, but if you obtain "Student Loans" you will be paying through the nose and might never get them paid off, it's such a racket. (suzeorman.com)

But truly IDK anymore about how that all works and I judge no one (except that "student loans" are NOT smart.) When I went to college I had two preschoolers, a spouse who still expected me to keep home and food on the table, worked a full time sales position to help do that, and took 16-22 credit hours a semester and passed. I also attend church 3x a week, and was involved in Scouting.

With today's technology (like a library and research online, when I had to take time to go to the library and find books and hand write notes) and communication, I simply cannot understand why young college students can't manage to do more than attend class. I mean, I'd like to truly know scientifically why, because it sure doesn't appear that they are able, capable, to do more than that.

I'm just saying I don't understand the why not. Sorry if this is OT.

[Christina86]

Hello!

Thanks to everyone who has posted and added their thoughts on the issue of the cost of textbooks.

I'd like to remind everyone to please refrain from posting anything that isn't supportive in the future, including in this thread.

Thanks!


Christina86
co-administrator

Originally Posted by (JD)

But truly IDK anymore about how that all works and I judge no one (except that "student loans" are NOT smart.) When I went to college I had two preschoolers, a spouse who still expected me to keep home and food on the table, worked a full time sales position to help do that, and took 16-22 credit hours a semester and passed. I also attend church 3x a week, and was involved in Scouting.

That's all fine and good for you but how much you can do and how much you observe other do is subjective. I'm sure there are kids these days who can do all that, and that there were people in your generation who could never handle all that at once.

Also keep in mind our unemployment rate is abou 10% right now. It doesn't sound like much until you live in say.... a small town with 2000 people. there might be 15 entry level jobs or so available. There are 199 other people competing against you for those jobs. How does a kid fresh out of high school with no job experience at all compete with maybe 100 or so other kids exactly in their position? And how can all of those kids compete with recently laid off adults who need the money and are experienced at not only working but also finding, applying for, and interviewing in jobs in such a way that that would make them as desirable as possible to an employer? How can college kids that need to have a scedule worked around compete with still more expirienced adults and younger kids that can come in at any day/time since they are out of school?

I'm applying for financial aide right now so I can hopefully start attending college next spring or fall (maybe look up some grants/scholarships? But I don't know what's available for people already graduated from HS) while I really, really don't want to take out loans I will most likely HAVE to in order to pay for classes. I'm sorry but I am not going to wait until the job market is kind enough to stand a chance of getting a job and I know that I'm going to college because it's the only way I could work the job I want and live the lifestyle I want.

In any case: back on topic, the cost of textbooks is really high but then at least they are your property and not the school's. If you don't want to sell it for some of your money back then you could keep it for as long as you want and potentially save some paper by taking notes directly in the book instead off needing a zillion and one notebooks.

If you are really lucky you could ask a previous student of that class and they might have the textbook you need. That's how I got my Spanish textbook for free when I was in high school since we needed to buy our Spanish textbook for the college level class. It's what most of the kids in my class did. This might not work though because the classes often change their textbooks year to year (our Spanish teacher actually had to fight with the college to NOT change the textbook we needed so we could do this and not have to pay $100+ for them on top of paying for the class itself!) and unless they are your friend or something they'd probably want to sell it to you anyways

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by googley

I just read in the graduate newsletter that we are allocated $30/credit hour for textbooks. I have one four credit class (=$120 for financial aid for the textbooks) where the textbooks cost $400. WTH! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Googley, that's NUTS!

I'm in a total of five classes this ONE semester - textbooks cost me $600! That's the cost for USED TEXTBOOKS. It's only six books too. Thankfully I'm getting two from a friend for $150 instead of $200 so I save SOME money but still!

I'm scared about next semester, if it's a similar price range again...

When you sell them back (if you choose to do so, and your college/university has the option) you get a LOT less money back. I think at my university it's about 20-30%

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by Kaika

Also keep in mind our unemployment rate is abou 10% right now. It doesn't sound like much until you live in say.... a small town with 2000 people. there might be 15 entry level jobs or so available. There are 199 other people competing against you for those jobs. How does a kid fresh out of high school with no job experience at all compete with maybe 100 or so other kids exactly in their position? And how can all of those kids compete with recently laid off adults who need the money and are experienced at not only working but also finding, applying for, and interviewing in jobs in such a way that that would make them as desirable as possible to an employer? How can college kids that need to have a scedule worked around compete with still more expirienced adults and younger kids that can come in at any day/time since they are out of school?

In addition to this, universities are having to cut classes left and right. Many times a required class is only available at one time, instead of the many times as was in the very recent past. For example, one class may be offered at 10-11:50 am on M/W, while another is offered at 6-9:50 pm on T/Th, while yet another is through "extended ed" and on Saturday from 1-4 pm. In order to stay on track for graduation (and continue receiving scholarship money) a student needs all three of these classes. That student is now not available to work mornings, evenings, or weekends, in the way an employer would desire!

Also many scholarships and grants specifically state that a student carry a specific number of units/credits, and that they work no more than a specific number of hours (usually 20). Gone are the days of "full-ride" scholarships and grants...they usually only cover tuition and books, sometimes housing on campus. Loans are the only option for many students and parents.

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by googley

I just read in the graduate newsletter that we are allocated $30/credit hour for textbooks. I have one four credit class (=$120 for financial aid for the textbooks) where the textbooks cost $400. WTH! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!

The cost of books is absolutely outrageous! On my campus, the professors try to keep the cost down by ordering books that are older, announcing books early by email to class lists (so we may order them online), and by using the same book for multiple classes (usually in sciences, for majors). We also have a small, independent bookstore that cuts the cost 10% under the campus bookstore (owned by B & N). Even with all these cost cutting measures, my book for an Art History, lower division, GE was $175 USED!

[Perna]

The technical textbooks are so expensive. I'm glad I was in social science and could get most of my books very used :-) I think the technical ones have problems because they're not "real" books and only college students need them so there's a smaller number of people buying them but because they're technical, they have to cost more because the information is harder to produce. I hate the texts (like when I took accounting) that change every year or two and you have to buy the correct edition!

[googley]

I just found out I have to spend another $65 on testing supplies for my class that I am already spending $400 on. And she let us know that she or the bookstore screwed up because only three of the books were supposed to be listed as required. Too bad I had already ordered all five of them and can't just return them as I bought them on line. I hate that professors don't make sure that these things are accurate. Instead we get screwed when there is a mistake.

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by googley

I just found out I have to spend another $65 on testing supplies for my class that I am already spending $400 on. And she let us know that she or the bookstore screwed up because only three of the books were supposed to be listed as required. Too bad I had already ordered all five of them and can't just return them as I bought them on line. I hate that professors don't make sure that these things are accurate. Instead we get screwed when there is a mistake.

Oh man! That's horrible. Can you sell them online or somewhere else like that to get most of the money back?

[Fresia]

I have 3 classes this semester, 8 hours, $675 on 3 books at the bookstore not including $60 in lab supplies. Online through Alibris.com, the only one who had these editions, down to $325; still a lot for so few credits but much better. Financial aid only allocated $240 towards these credit hours, $30 a credit. At least the online came closer.

$385 vs $240 = not realistic let alone $735 vs $240. I don't even want to think about what little going to get back when selling them back. I already know it will be pennies. One I will probably keep.

RE:School Funding - Best case scenario is to qualify for as many grants and scholarships as you can. Research them as they are out there and many go unused. If not available, loans are not evil. If it means getting an education or not, the education is too important and the loans are worth it in the end. Just be careful to only get the amount you need, NEED to get by, and what you realistically can pay back on your expected lowest income, go for minimums, not maximums. You don't have to take the full package amount that is offered.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by googley

I just read in the graduate newsletter that we are allocated $30/credit hour for textbooks.

What does that mean that you are allocated money? Does that mean they that you have a scholarship that pays for some of your textbooks? That would be great! I don't get any help for my books, but they are tax deductible if you save the receipts.

Last quarter I paid over $1000 for books, and another $180 for lab fees, $50 for lab supplies, and $380 for the required test prep program. Even though I am taking more credits this quarter, my textbook bill was only $174! I buy all my books on either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and if the used version is significantly cheaper, I get that. I got a $77 book this quarter for $9 used! I also got an $80 book for $50 used, a $55 book for $30 used, and an $85 book for $46. I paid $50 for a used book that the professor later removed from her list, and I can't return it. Why don't the professors get their act together on stuff like this?

They also have a deal on Amazon where if you are student, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for free for one year. This gives you free 2-day shipping on all your purchases.

To get the best dollar back on your books when you're done with them, sell them through Amazon or a similar online site. I need to keep almost all of mine from last quarter to help me study for the licensing exam next year. What I hate is how the publisher publishes a new edition every 2 years, when not much has changed at all. Then the professor requires the brand new version and students won't buy the older version that you are trying to sell.

Originally Posted by (JD)

With today's technology (like a library and research online, when I had to take time to go to the library and find books and hand write notes) and communication, I simply cannot understand why young college students can't manage to do more than attend class.

(JD), many programs forbid it. When I was in grad school, it was strictly forbidden to have an outside job the entire time. Now I am back in school, and it is forbidden for the first 4 quarters (the most intense), and then after that you are allowed to work part time (or fulltime if you can find a job that fits around your school courses and clinicals).

My own daughter is a college student and she looked all last year in her college town and could never find a job. Many of the students do work-study jobs, but my daughter does not qualify for that. Two of her roommates had to quit school and go back home because they could not find jobs. Just got a note from her university last week saying tuition was increasing 7.5%. Last year (when I was still working), my university raised tuition 14%. And then all these unexpected costs pop up in my life. I just added my 16 yo daughter to my auto insurance policy and the cost is $1500!! Both I and my college age daughter have taken out loans to finance our schooling. I don't know anyone in my program who hasn't. They don't let us work, so what else are we to do?

[googley]

Originally Posted by sunrise

What does that mean that you are allocated money? Does that mean they that you have a scholarship that pays for some of your textbooks? That would be great! I don't get any help for my books, but they are tax deductible if you save the receipts.

I mean that the school tells the federal government how much money to allow us to borrow for school, and they limit the money to loan to that amount. So since most of my money is coming from loans, I can't get more money than the school says I need (which is $30/credit hour) for textbooks. That means I have to take money from something else (like paying for rent, T, meds, food etc) to pay for my text books.

I don't want to hear anything about how I shouldn't be using loans to get through school. My program does not provide any fin aid in any other form. To be able to do my dream job I have to do grad school.

[Amazonmom]

Telling people never to use student loans is a way to perpetuate classism. I would say 50 percent of the friends I met at Cornell had families who could contribute nothing to their education. Saying they shouldn't have gone to an Ivy League school is ridiculous. Their minds were the best of the best.

They are all now making ungodly amounts of cash that paid off those "not smart" student loans long ago. I am glad they didn't stick to the community colleges and part time programs they could have paid for with cash.

They were all eating beans when the books got bought though...I remember they would collect the food samples companies would give out about the beginning of semester time. So did I!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by googley

I don't want to hear anything about how I shouldn't be using loans to get through school. My program does not provide any fin aid in any other form. To be able to do my dream job I have to do grad school.

I agree, googley. That is really obnoxious to be told that and shows a lack of understanding of today's world, not to mention a lack of empathy. Yeah, we could not take loans and not go to college and end up having unskilled jobs, or we could take a loan and become psychologists (or whatever). For my own daughter, her loan helps pay the difference between in state and out of state tuition. We told her if you go out of state, you need a bigger loan and she went into it with eyes wide open. Plus, she has worked hard to get 3 scholarships, so she is definitely helping out. Now, if only she could get a part-time job while she is in school. Luckily, she did get a summer job here at home, but it was nothing related to her future career so won't help her get a job when she has graduated. Many students she knows do unpaid "internships" in the summer, where essentially the company gets free labor and the student doesn't get a penny. What a racket!!