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Message
The College Textbook Racket
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:47 pm
So... I'm currently pursuing an engineering degree after a few years in the Navy. I cannot believe how big of a scam college textbooks are... it's insane.
My physics textbook costs $280, not including the required $80 web homework access code, the associated $60 lab manual, the optional solutions manual, and a graphing calculator if you want one.
That comes to a total of $420, just for the course materials. Not the tuition, just the books. WTF?
Now, obviously you can buy used, but 3 of my 5 classes require the latest edition, of those three, two were just released this year, meaning there are no used copies available yet.
Even more infuriating, after checking out the syllabus, we will be covering only 10 chapters out of 22, less than half the fricking book!
Do professors get kickbacks from the publishers? Why the hell are these books so expensive?? It sucks being a captive consumer in this situation. Luckily for me, the GI Bill takes care of a lot of it, but I simply can't imagine how normal students manage.
My physics textbook costs $280, not including the required $80 web homework access code, the associated $60 lab manual, the optional solutions manual, and a graphing calculator if you want one.
That comes to a total of $420, just for the course materials. Not the tuition, just the books. WTF?
Now, obviously you can buy used, but 3 of my 5 classes require the latest edition, of those three, two were just released this year, meaning there are no used copies available yet.
Even more infuriating, after checking out the syllabus, we will be covering only 10 chapters out of 22, less than half the fricking book!
Do professors get kickbacks from the publishers? Why the hell are these books so expensive?? It sucks being a captive consumer in this situation. Luckily for me, the GI Bill takes care of a lot of it, but I simply can't imagine how normal students manage.
37
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:48 pm to SurfTide
quote:
So... I'm currently pursuing an engineering degree
as far as i got.
does every engineering student feel the need to tell everyone they are in engineering?
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:49 pm to SurfTide
I hope you fail out of school.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:49 pm to SurfTide
welcome to college
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:50 pm to SurfTide
Are at Southern U, too?
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:50 pm to SurfTide
quote:
$80 web homework access code
This is where they really screw you. At least with a book, you have something tangible. But now you have to pay ~$100 just to do the damn homework? BS.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:50 pm to SurfTide
quote:
a graphing calculator if you want one.
You don't have to buy a new one of these for every class.
quote:
Even more infuriating, after checking out the syllabus, we will be covering only 10 chapters out of 22, less than half the fricking book!
When I was getting my eng degree, we used the same book for all of Physics I, II and III over the course of 3 semesters. Is it broken up like this for you?
But yeah, it sucks but books are expensive.
This post was edited on 1/26/16 at 2:51 pm
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:51 pm to SurfTide
quote:
I simply can't imagine how normal students manage.
By taking on crippling debt for the next 30 years, making a lot of their degrees financially useless.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:51 pm to Bullfrog
quote:
Are at Southern U, too?
I doubt it. Why pay for a textbook that's worth more than the tuition?
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:51 pm to SurfTide
Bookzz.org
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:51 pm to SurfTide
can you photocopy just what you need and return them?
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:52 pm to SurfTide
They have you by the balls for sure. Some times it is not possible, but I always waited to buy books later because some classes barely used them. I also bought older editions where I could, and rented books through sites like chegg. Once I got further along in college, I was lucky and some professors offered free pdf books online.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:54 pm to RollDatRoll
quote:
They have you by the balls for sure. Some times it is not possible, but I always waited to buy books later because some classes barely used them. I also bought older editions where I could, and rented books through sites like chegg. Once I got further along in college, I was lucky and some professors offered free pdf books online.
You'll be one of the nation's great entrepreneurs
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:54 pm to SurfTide
If you looked hard enough I am sure there's a PDF online for free. Not that I would encourage anyone to do anything illegal though.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 2:57 pm to SurfTide
A few of my classes in college required buying a book or publication that was actually written or had input from the professor teaching.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 3:11 pm to SurfTide
Not that I'm suggesting you should ever do something as sketchy as this, but if it's only ten chapters, why wouldn't you just go to the library or kinko's, copy the ten chapters, and then return the book during the full refund period?
I know people who risked a copyright suit all the time in college.
I know people who risked a copyright suit all the time in college.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 3:12 pm to Jones
quote:
does every engineering student feel the need to tell everyone they are in engineering?
Honestly, it is more of a culture thing. I can not speak for all people, but quite a few engineering students/engineer in general do equate someones worth to their major.
There are actually a couple of people like that in other majors as well.
Since I have been on both sides (dropping out of EE and recently working on a EE thesis) I can understand some of the behaviors that come off as narcissistic to some people.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 3:13 pm to SurfTide
I totally agree. I have two kids in college and feel your pain.
Posted on 1/26/16 at 3:14 pm to Jones
quote:
as far as i got.
does every engineering student feel the need to tell everyone they are in engineering?
quote:
Jones
Did an engineer frick your mom or something? You're comically irrational when it comes to engineers on here.
I'm an engineer btw
Posted on 1/26/16 at 3:15 pm to SabiDojo
quote:
I doubt it. Why pay for a textbook that's worth more than the tuition?
FIFY Sabi
quote:
Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,630 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $8,274 (2014-15).
I know your joking, but SU is pretty expensive. LSU people complain WAY too much about costs.
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