Gripe

CardinalSM · #1 01-07-2003, 04:02 PM

Ok, I am going to gripe. I have 18 (yes, 18!!!) text books for this semester. They cost me 350 bucks total! They would have been 500, but I bought most of them online instead of at the campus book store. But, for real, do we really need 6 thick textbooks for a 3 hr history class?? AHHHHH my checking account is severely depleted!

Thanks for letting me vent.

DeltAlum · #2 01-07-2003, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CardinalSM
Thanks for letting me vent.

You're welcome.

It's a pet peeve of mine that college teachers are so myopic about their own class/subject area that they require so much in the way of books and other costs.

And, of course, it's too much to expect to use the same texts a few terms in a row so students can get a reasonable resale price. Of course, they have to support their fellow teachers as they publish new works, don't they? And, of course, the bookstores are an important part of any college community, right? (Did you ever notice that in a college riot, the bookstore is almost always a target?)

When I was an adjunct faculty member, I didn't require any books.

(Full disclosure -- does this sound like the rant of a father of a college freshman? Guilty!)

Rio_Kohitsuji · #3 01-07-2003, 10:30 PM

Only 350 bucks for 18 books????? That's CHEAP!!!!

I bought 7...yes SEVEN....for $299.84!!!! And I still have 3 books to go...I can just hear my checking account weeping...

SigkapAlumWSU · #4 01-07-2003, 10:43 PM

We usually average about 5 for around $450-500.. I don't know why you guys are getting them so cheap!

swissmiss04 · #5 01-07-2003, 11:58 PM

Last semester I spent around $700 (I swear to God) on books alone. I was absolutely livid. I'm a music major, and therefore I can be taking 15 hours but that actually means about 10 classes (no joke). One of my classes almost always runs in the 300's for books. It's redamndiculous. They say "We don't ask the bookstore to allow resales because we want them added to your professional library." Well too #$%^ing bad that I don't have the professional salary to go along w/ that professional library. Ok, I think I'm better now.

juniorgrrl · #6 01-08-2003, 01:30 AM

I spent nearly $1000 on books last semester. And thats not counting all the money I eventually spent on copies. I get to reuse some of them this semester, but most of them are useless. We don't even get to sell them back.

I hate law school.

justamom · #7 01-09-2003, 09:13 AM

juniorgrrl, hang in there. You know it wll all be worth it befor you know it. Hubby always says, "Work your hardest for a few years and enjoy the rest of your life."

Delt Aum-And, of course, it's too much to expect to use the same texts a few terms in a row so students can get a reasonable resale price. Of course, they have to support their fellow teachers as they publish new works, don't they?

Couldn't agree more!

kddani · #8 01-09-2003, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juniorgrrl
I spent nearly $1000 on books last semester. And thats not counting all the money I eventually spent on copies. I get to reuse some of them this semester, but most of them are useless. We don't even get to sell them back.

I hate law school.

Put them up for sale on Amazon and/or half.com

I've been reselling my casenotes books and decided to try to get some cash from the textbooks- put some up last night and already sold my criminal law casebook, my torts casenotes, and my criminal law examples and explanations.

There actually seems to be a pretty good market for them, you can get decent prices, b/c so many people don't sell their used law textbooks.

japhir · #9 01-09-2003, 02:29 PM

I hate it when Professor's make you buy a book that they've written that really has nothing to do with the class. I bought 3 different 'required' books (one on the history of Algebra in the Marianst movement?!?) that I never even opened.
Professors! Stop making poor college students spend their money on books just to boost your ego! If they book was any good, people would buy it on their own!

carnation · #10 01-09-2003, 05:33 PM

What makes me crazy is that professors don't have the option to get some of the books without the CDs. The other Spanish profs and I don't want the disc that comes with the book, we don't have time to use it nor do the students, but it's not an option. Therefore the price is a bunch higher.

Lady Pi Phi · #11 01-09-2003, 07:43 PM

2 semesters ago I bought 4 books for 600 dollars. I cried and cried and cried. Not to mention I was royally pissed off!!!!

350 bucks for 18 books is amazing!!!!!

amycat412 · #12 01-09-2003, 07:56 PM

I was at USC 10 years ago and my books were regularly 300 and up per semester.

Any uSC students reading this? What did your books run you this semester?

Steeltrap · #13 01-09-2003, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amycat412
I was at USC 10 years ago and my books were regularly 300 and up per semester.

Any uSC students reading this? What did your books run you this semester?

I graduated from USC nearly 17 years ago.

I remember that my books were a pricey penny, but don't recall the exact date.

LeslieAGD · #14 01-09-2003, 09:05 PM

Yeah, I remember that feeling.

Get this...One of my campus bookstores sent me a coupon for money off books and buy-backs. It's a little late now that I'm student teaching and don't need any!

Tom Earp · #15 01-09-2003, 11:40 PM

While I have been out of school for awhile, I have a question?

Do you belong to a Greek Org? Do you or your Boy/Girl Friend know someone who has taken the same course?

Da, the School Book Stores, normally give little back on books but sell them them at higher prices than they paid less!

Why not try to buy VIA another Greek?

My Law Book, the size of the NY phone book was bought from a friend and sold for that amount to Brothers!

Young man came into shop today and told me he forked out 500.00 for 4 books!!!

That is Bull Sh*&, as cost are getting so high now!

Remember when you went to College in the 50's it was cheaper!

Oh, I was not born then!