Textbooks are expensive. Having to buy my own for the first time made me have a much deeper appreciation for the slightly tattered books my public high school loaned to me for free. It's easy to be duped when textbook prices are so high and no one is helping you find other resources. Know your options and save your money.
Do I need to get the book before class starts?
Usually, no. In fact, I would recommend waiting until the class has started because a lot of the time what is listed as a required textbook online is only recommended. Additionally, the professor might know of a free online pdf version or some other way to acquire the necessary materials.
If you’re still worried about needing the textbook before class starts, try emailing the professor. In my experience, most are happy to help and will be straightforward with you about how much you will be using your textbook. They understand how crippling the price of textbooks can be. Alternatively, reach out to students who have take the class before. A good resource to find those students might be a Facebook group for your major.
How will I know what book I need?
At Northeastern University, we are able to use an online search where we input our course number on our Barnes and Noble university book store and it comes back with our required textbooks. However, this option will not always list books for every class and will sometimes come back with books that say they are required when they are only recommended, or at least not used frequently. It also may not be an option available at your school.
I recommend waiting until you get your syllabus, which usually happens on the first day of class. I have had some teachers email me my syllabus before class or post it to our student website, but this has never happened to me for an introductory or freshman level course. The best way to be prepared is to stay on top of your student email and go to class.
Do I actually need this book?
Sometimes the cost of a textbook isn’t worth the two times you will use it in the classroom. Reach out to other students who have taken the class and to your professor. Every once in a while you have a class that only uses the textbook for one week the entire semester. Or a professor that tells you everything you need to know in their lectures. In these situations, you have other options, like borrowing that book from your library.
Where can I find the best deals on textbooks?
The best resource I’ve found for buying textbooks is Bigwords. This website compares the price of textbooks across multiple websites, finding you the lowest options. It shows you the options for new, used, and rental books. You can also click an option once you’ve found your book to compare buyback value. This will help you know whether it’s more cost effective to buy or rent.
Unless the book is specifically made by your school, you should probably avoid your college book store. The books are usually over-priced, including the used books. Seek other resources to compare prices.
Bigwords usually ends up taking me to Bookbyte, especially for rentals. This website offers 14-day returns for any reason, so it may be a good option if you aren’t completely sure which edition you need or whether or not you’ll need the textbook.
In cases where the book is made specifically by your school, or has some sort of online component that requires you to buy a new version, you will probably have to pay the full price. It’s still best to compare prices online. Besides Bigwords, Amazon also sells textbooks and textbook rentals. Students can get a free six month trial of Amazon Prime, which I highly recommend especially for your freshman year. Free shipping could be a factor in how much you will pay total for your books.
If you need to buy a novel, Thriftbooks is also an affordable site. It’s an online used bookstore, where books are usually only four or five dollars unless the book is brand new. Most books have a variety of price options, and shipping is only 99 cents, unless you buy ten or more books, in which case shipping is free. Thriftbooks also sells textbooks, but they don’t usually have a huge selection. That being said, it’s worth checking, and if you join their reading rewards program you get a five dollar coupon every time you reach 50 dollars in purchases.
Should I rent or buy?
That depends on your preference and prices. There’s nothing wrong with renting as long as you’re careful with your books. Though sometimes you can get a bit of your investment back when you buy and sell your book. Weigh your options and prices. As I mentioned before, Bigwords will show you how much your book might sell for when you are done with it.
Are there any resources with free books?
Not a ton, but I have found Project Gutenberg to be helpful. This website has over 50,000 free eBooks you can download to your computer. It’s sometimes a long shot, but I was able to find a textbook for my public speaking class there.
Is it okay to get an older edition of the textbook?
This is a better question for your professor. Sometimes the newer edition has a lot of important changes that would leave you in the dark with an older edition. Sometimes it’s only an added chapter. Find out the difference between the editions, and find out why your professor wants a particular edition. If it’s only for one chapter, it may be worth it to buy an older edition at a much lower price and borrow the updated version from your library when that chapter is being taught.
Can I use an eBook?
Yes, in fact they are often cheaper than a physical copy and easier to carry around. You also have the option to rent eBooks, a great option especially since you can’t sell back an eBook.
Can I borrow a textbook from my school’s library?
As mentioned before, this will probably depend on how much you use the textbook. If you’re using it every class, you might be up to your ears in book renewals. If you’re only using the book occasionally, it’s a great, free option. If your school doesn’t have the textbook, they probably use a program called interlibrary loan and should be able to get the textbook from another library.
Can I sell my book back?
If you chose to buy your books rather than rent, you are definitely going to be ripped off when it comes to selling them. On average I would say I get about half of what I paid for a book back. Once the book is used, even if it’s in perfect condition, it’s treated as worthless. The worst place to go for selling your books is usually your own college bookstore. You also might be tempted by the cash for books tents that pop up around campus at the end of the semester. This is a quick way to get money for your books, but you can usually make more online. Bigwords will compare to find the highest price when you sell back your book online.
You can also use online Facebook marketplaces specific to your school. At the beginning of the semester, students will often post what books they are looking for. This option doesn’t tend to give you the highest return on your books, because students will be looking for a deal. It also requires you to hold onto your textbooks over break.
