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Mar 07, 2008 -- Rent your college textbooks instead of buying?
Clark's daughter is a freshman and he's floored by the outrageous prices he has to pay for her textbooks -- even if they try to get the books used. The average student spends $575 to use his or her books for about 12-15 weeks -- then they become yesterday's news. One college has a brilliant solution to this annoying problem. Northwest Missouri State University is now renting textbook to students; the average bill for a semester or term is $75.
Several years ago, Clark went on the air talking about how it's a racket when professors get paid to revise their textbooks annually and push the updated editions in course syllabi. He heard from an angry science professor saying educators would be shortchanging their students if they didn't update -- because the field of science evolves so rapidly. That may be true at the graduate level, but not at the undergraduate level. Most undergrads are just trying to decide what they want to do for a career. To make underclassmen buy an updated textbook every year is ridiculous. Clark hopes Northwest Missouri State's model gains traction across the country.
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Does anyone have any sources for used calculators? High school algrebra requires a TI-84. Which is $99 at Walmart. There is no option for a knock off brand either, unfortunately.
Renting School Books
Try Chegg.com even If I buy my books elsewhere they will buy your books from you and plant a tree in your name. Plus they also offer the option to rent the books as well.
Text book rental
I think it's an excellent idea. Technology may change yearly but your basics don't such as math and english. I have done better in my math classes pouring over older books. Explanations were simipler and not written for rocket scientists.While attending a nursing program we were required to purchase certain books. The previous year, you could purchase these books individually. That year, the books came bundled. I was furious but had no choice for some of the texts. I also think it a rip off that colleges don't pay fair value for the book buybacks.To make matters worse I've heard that when books are returned and resold a portion of the sale goes toward scholarships. I think I should have a say-so as to whether I wish to participate in donating. Most students are not eligible for some of these scholarships so I think it truly unfair.
Text Book Rental
Way back in the dark ages of the 80's, I attended the University of Southern Mississippi. They had a borrowing system for most text books. You would pay for damages at the end of the semester or could buy them out right. My bills for lab manuals and other supplemental texts rarely hit $50. My Brother had text books costs of over $450 a semester, at another state university. He might have gotten $250 to $300 back in used book sales at the end of the semester.
Textbook mafia
The textbook industry is a racket. The angry science professor is being disingenuous. He is correct that science is progessing rapidly but new editions every few years doesn't correct the problem. Science is moving too fast. Electronic resources(e.g. the Internet) affords scientific information to be updated in near real time at a fraction of the cost of textbooks. The angry professor's cash cow is going digital at a fraction of the cost. No wonder he's angry.
