Something that all of us can agree on is the insane cost of college text books. According to a federal committee chartered by Congress "first-time, full-time students spent a total of $898 at four-year public colleges and $886 at two-year public colleges on books and supplies" in 2003-04. With the rising cost of tuition and books it is making it more difficult for people to afford school. As previously posted, the amount of funding for schools is dropping so more money out of pocket will be needed to attend college in the future. Many students including my self found that teachers insist we buy the textbook and we often only read a very little from a few chapters. There are many online distributors that sell and rent the same textbooks you need in college for much cheaper.
I agree that it is insane to pay hundreds of dollars for textbooks. I know that it is a business, and that everyone needs to make a few dollars, but these authors and publishing houses are getting rich. I will try to find other avenues to purchase used books, such as Ebay, Amazon, Facebook, and even ask the Professor's if they have any spare books that they are willng to lend. I have even given my textbooks to the Professor as the class was ending because I know that the book store would only give me a few dollars and then turn around and sell it for 1/2 of what I paid for it. I would rather give the book to the next student than let the book store make any money. Sorry but I believe it passing it on.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the prices of textbooks are getting out of hand. So many can't or don't go further in their education because of the money and by the state raising book prices,I understand why people wouldn't want to try.
ReplyDeleteRick, I do agree with your post. The cost of textbooks for school keep going up and it makes it hard for people to afford them. This is one of the reason why people do not continue their education because of money problems. Everyone should have the right to og oto school for not a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteRick, this is a very true and interesting post. College textbooks are way too expensive. The cost of college alone is astronomical, and then you have to worry about purchasing the books and supplies you need to so you can attend your classes. Thank you for posting this interesting and very accurate post. Mary Ann Reday.
ReplyDeleteRick this was a very good post. I also think the cost of college text books is to high. The publishers know they have a captive market. As long as they offer things to entice the teachers such as pre-made lesson plans, tests, and online additions the teachers and schools will continue to used these manuals and force the students to continue to pick up the cost for these publishers. And the publishers know that this is the one market where they continue to turn a heavy profit to offset the losses they are seeing in their other printing markets.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the price of college textbooks are very high. Many professors only use maybe half of a book and it is frustrating. We do not get our moneys worth. Sometimes when you go to sell your book back, there is no money back. I am happy when I get twenty dollars for a used book. Many students I know use online book stores to buy their books cheaper. This is a great option.
ReplyDeleteI do not pay for my college text books personally so it does not hurt my bank account but it does hurt my parents. I see how much my parents spend on me in books and it is absolutely outrageous. I think that the smart thing to do is to but used books online and save a few of my parents bucks. I can only imagine that books will get even more expensive in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhile i am truly fed up with paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of books each semester (only to be sold back for pennies, i do feel quite bad for the authors/companies who put these books together while I just download it for free. Much is the same feeling i feel at times with music and movies. Not to mention that real books are a business that is slowly and slowly dying.
ReplyDeleteI also buy textbooks that I hardly use, the only text books that I really use are the math books were problems have to be completed out of the book. But for other subjects where text books are required, I don’t even use the books because all the information can be accessed on google. So why do schools require books? Technology makes it possible for books to not be required, there is no reason why books should be so much money.
ReplyDeleteRick, this was a great post. It boggles my mine when I have to buy a book for $150 and when I try to sell it back at the end of the semester I am told they won't buy it because a newer book will be used for the next semester. The newer book really has the same information as the old, they just change to look of it or add a few more facts. I now try to get the textbooks from Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI agree, what a rip off in college books. Each year they print new ones, which only change a few things, just so they can make more money. We already spend so much on tuition, and the prices are just continuing to become more astronomical. It is practically the same for a book as for one class (with a slight exaggeration). So what can we do about it? Getting books through online stores is usually good, and never buying new books if at all possible. A used book can look almost as good as a new one and cost a huge chunk less then a new one.
ReplyDeleteit is true about the cost of the text book is outrages. sometimes I try to buy online, or rent a book from chegg which is very good website for renting college text book. it is much more cheaper than buy a new text book.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much textbooks cost. And for some classes you have to buy two or even three books. I have taken some online math classes and you do not need to buy the books because everything is online, but you do need to purchase an access code. If you know what books you need before classes start you can get them by ordering them used online. Just make sure you give yourself enough time for shipping.
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