My book total is over $400 and I am only taking two classes! I can only purchase one of my books used because the publisher changed the edition on the other three. I was going to buy the older editions cheaper, but a friend convinced me otherwise because she said they sometimes change homework problems and chapters get switched around in different editions. Who is in charge of this system and don't they understand that most college students are poor?
2006-09-13 11:29:04 · 12 answers · asked by kat ♥ 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Yea book prices are outta this world.... that's why i get mine on-line like at valorebooks.com for like 50-100 bucks cheaper. I only do it because the college i attend doesn't make it mandatory that we buy from the bookstore there. And I buy most of my books as the international version which is cheaper. Exact same book only it cant be sold in the US and it may be softcover instead of hardcover (still comes with CD-roms and all that stuff if that's what the book comes with). I got my $150.00 anatomy and phys book for 70 bucks off that site as the international version. And what was even better is that I asked my professor if it was cool before i bought it and he said yes of course not only is it way cheaper but its the same book. The only downfall to the international version is I cant sell it back to the bookstore here but I can sell it to some random kid if I want. Take a look at the website next time u need books and u'll be amazed at what you find. Just make sure u have the right ISBN number and order it like 2-4weeks in advance before school starts so that it will get here in time.
2006-09-13 12:28:36 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Bre 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is all politics...
Your University wants to be rated as one of the best in the nation...
In order for anyone to consider a university in the top 100 then they MUST have a large percentage of their professors being published each year...
Most proffessors don't have TIME to do research and to write a new book so they revise books that they have already written ...
Books that Professors have already written are normally text books that they wrote because they could not find one to match with their curriculum and the students complained about having to buy 2 or 3 books each semester because they cost too much...
The Professor changes a couple of chapters to update them, making them published, the school gets the prestige of calling most of its' professors as being published recently, and the students get to buy only 4 or 5 books instead of 2 or 3 and those are at a much higher price because the version will not sell enough to pay the printing costs unless they charge $125 to $200 for each book.
2006-09-13 18:36:44 · answer #2 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason why college textbooks are so expensive is because the college must cover the cost of having these books made based on their curriculum standards, the bindings, publishing, the delivery and how many needed, not to mention the repairs needed after the college year has ended to repair or replace these texts. Sometimes, the individual university is in charge of these standards, other times, it is established through the National Board of Accredited Colleges and Universities, or the National Board of Colleges, Vo-Techs, and Trade Schools. You should consider yourself very lucky, when I attended college, my total cost of books for one semester was $2,100.
2006-09-13 18:55:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep, very expensive. Things have not changed since I took college courses 20 years ago. I went through my Master's program and thought I was going to have a heart attack...The books cost MORE than the tuition. So I feel your pain, until the academic community pushes Ebooks (hmmm, we might save a few forests in the process), the academic world will push their wares upon the student population.
2006-09-13 18:37:34 · answer #4 · answered by Marilyn C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They know most college students are poor,
but their parents pay for most everything.
Text books have very small printings (not that many printed)
Where I went to school, the instructors would write the book and require everyone to buy it. One instructor even told me he makes more money selling the book than his salary because it is so 'well written' (his words) that many schools use it.
2006-09-13 18:35:00 · answer #5 · answered by Dennis K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am going through the same thing. My husband is a professor at a university and I asked him. He said that its the publishers trying to make money. They usually have to pay copyrite fees too, and that contributes a little to it. Basically, they are all in the business to make money and they are. Luckily, some professors at some schools are starting to offer the texts online and are saving their students some money.
2006-09-13 18:32:17 · answer #6 · answered by julez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ahhhh the perennial Back to School textbook cost freak-out. I had my last one in 1984 (the year, not the book; that was still pretty cheap way back then). Sorry, I know its not funny to you. Yes, they know you are poor, but they also know you have no other choice.
2006-09-13 18:34:23 · answer #7 · answered by voiceoverman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same reason why baby furniture and accessories are so much. They've got you over a barrel and you don't really have a choice, so why not milk us for all we've got?
2006-09-13 18:33:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
So that they can squeeze you for all the money they can get!!! It's ridiculous I know. then you sell them back for half price and the cycle starts again.
2006-09-13 18:32:51 · answer #9 · answered by bookluffer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prices go up every year
2006-09-13 18:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋