A trip to the college bookstore can result in serious sticker shock. For the classes I teach at a community college, the books often cost over $150 each, and that’s probably on the low end. Here are a few pointers for keeping those costs down.
1. If you buy your books before the first day of class, keep the receipt and don’t take off the wrappers.
Several of the books on my syllabus, and which are therefore stocked in the bookstore, are only recommended, not required. If you remove the coverings from the books or write in them, you probably won’t get a full refund from the bookstore so wait until the first day of class to find out from the instructor which books are required and how much each one will be used. Warning: you will not make a good first impression on your instructor if you ask “Do we really need the books?” Instructors like to think that you are as excited about the topic as they are and a question like that makes it sound as though you aren’t. That’s not a good way to start the school year. Instead, try “These books are really expensive. Can you suggest a way to keep the cost down?” If you don’t want to raise your hand and ask the question in front of everyone, approach the instructor after class.
2. Get the ISBN of the book and look for it from sources other than the college bookstore.
There are many online sources for low cost textbooks or for electronic versions of the book. If you have the ISBN you will be able to find the correct volume. You will probably need to start this process a week or more before classes start so consider emailing your instructor to ask them for the ISBN or go to the bookstore and jot it down.
3. Ask your instructor if an older edition of the book will be acceptable.
Several of the books that I use for classes are updated every couple of years. Believe me, the changes are miniscule, but they are enough to make an old copy worthless on the secondary market. I tell my students that if they’d like to use an older version of the text, that’s fine with me, but it is up to them to make sure that they get the correct assignments by comparing pages with a classmate with the current edition.
4. Check the library.
Many textbooks are available on reserve in the campus library. You won’t be able to check them out or write in them, but you can read them in the library and make copies. Depending on the class, this might work for you.
5. Maybe you really don’t need the book.
This is a bold move, but in some cases, I’ve seen students do it. Check with people who have taken the same class with the same instructor and ask how much the instructor relies on the text and how much they rely on notes or Power Points that are available either as handouts or on the class website. You might be able to use numbers 4 and 5 for a winning combination.
Education is a good investment, but with a little planning your can make your education dollars last a little longer.