How to Reduce the Cost of College Textbooks

Published on: 16 February 2019 Last Updated on: 23 November 2021

Textbooks are a painful purchase for any student. Year after year, prices continue to rise, often resulting in textbook fees being added to the pile of crippling student loan debt facing the nation. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can reduce the cost of your books. College Textbooks can make things simple for a student. There is almost never a need to buy a brand new textbook at full price, so explore your options before you commit to anything. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t plan on buying all of your books in one transaction because purchasing them individually will net the most savings.

Forget the Campus Bookstore

Unless you are bound by a tuition stipend or other financial means to purchase your books at the campus bookstore, stay away. This is the guaranteed way to pay the highest prices for textbooks, even when buying used. The bookstore used to be the source for students, but thanks to technology, there are plenty of other ways to get the books that you need for a lot less.

The exception here is for research purposes; in most cases, the campus store is going to have the highest prices. However, there may be a rare occasion where they don’t. Feel free to call or visit and get a list of prices for the books that you need, just for the sake of comparison when you go online to shop around.

Always Buy Used

Unless there is a specific text you will keep forever or absolutely need the brand new edition of for some reason, buy your books used. These are at least ⅓ less than the cost of brand new books, and offer the same information on the pages.

Some are in better condition than others, but most used resellers will provide condition information and pictures of the book you are purchasing so that you can see what you are actually getting. You can find thousands of used copies online at prices that you can afford.

When you are buying used books, check out their resale value and the return policy of the seller you purchase from. Reselling your books after the semester is over is a great way to recoup some money that can go towards next semester’s books. Or, you can take the money and treat yourself for saving hundreds on your textbooks by buying used in the first place. The return policy is important because if a book arrives in unusable condition, you need to be able to send it back. Your class won’t be nearly as informative with a partial textbook, after all.

Rent or Borrow Books

The school or public library might have books that you need for classes. Before you spend a dime, look into these sources for common texts, literature books, and other texts available for you to borrow.

Libraries are a great resource that often gets overlooked. The downside here is that you may only be able to borrow a book for a part of the semester. Ask about their renewal policies when considering this option. College Textbooks can make your life easier by all means.

There is an increasing market in the campus bookstore realm for textbook rentals. This is another exception to the “avoid the bookstore” rule, of course. The most expensive texts are usually available for rental from your campus store, which might be the best financial option.

Before you rent, though, make sure that you know what you are signing up for. Take extra good care of the books so that you aren’t charged for damage upon their return, or forced to purchase them outright (which is what you were trying to avoid in the first place).

You can also rent textbooks online, or download ebook versions of the texts that you need for your college classes.

Sell Your Old Books

You can reduce the cost of your next semester’s textbook bill by selling your old books. Don’t sell them back to the campus bookstore, because they usually don’t offer much. Plus, you might only get credit to use in the store. Instead, consider selling them online or through community marketplaces. Advertise them around campus for other students, too. When you sell textbooks online, you can often choose the price and compare what others are selling. That gives you a better idea of how much you can actually earn.

Feel free to look around and get a few different quotes before you commit. Most re-seller websites that buy college texts will allow you to enter the ISBN and get an estimate of how much you will get for the books you are selling. See where you can get the most money for your books, even if you have to sell them in a few different places.

A Little Research Goes a Long Way

Your college book purchases don’t have to break the bank. Whether you need to reduce the cost on the front end or just make up the difference and sell textbooks to help cut the costs, there are plenty of options available. Just give yourself a little time to explore your options. An extra hour of your time could save you hundreds, no matter what degree you are studying.

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If you plan on applying to law school, it is important to register for the LSATs in advance. The Law School Admissions Test is a skills-based exam that is designed to test your critical reading and analytical thinking and is crucial for success in law school. Register for the LSAT Making sure you know the LSAT registration dates are the first and most imperative step when thinking about applying to law school. You will want to register as soon as possible to give yourself plenty of time to study. When registering, you will also want to choose a location that you are familiar with and is within a short distance from where you live. Take a Prep Class The three to four months before the LSAT test, your days will be spent studying at least four to six hours a day. While it is important to study in the way that best suits you, for this exam, taking a prep class is also helpful when preparing for the exam. In most areas, you will be able to find a local class to take in person. However, if the area you live in does not offer a prep class, you will be able to find one online. Test prep classes will give you important information, such as: Test format Sample questions Explanations of question types Practice exams Ask questions of test prep proctor Meet with fellow test-takers to set up study groups Study for the Law School Admissions Test It is imperative to utilize different methods of study for this exam. Because this exam does not test a specific body of knowledge but rather your ability to reason and think critically, studying previous versions of the test is very helpful. Take as many practice exams as you can before your test date. Purchasing study guides and test prep books will help you study for the LSATs. These study materials will introduce strategies on how to approach the questions on the exam. They will also give examples of the types of questions you can expect on the exam with detailed explanations on how to interpret the question and come to the best answer. Practice Makes Perfect Taking practice tests consistently in the months before the exam will help you to prepare for the LSAT. By incorporating timed practice exams, you can simulate what the actual test might be like. With timed pace exams, you can work on your pacing, so you don’t run out of time when taking the actual LSAT. Also, by taking practice exams, you can ensure you will have enough time to go back to questions you skip as well as check your answers. A Final Note Make sure you register for the LSAT’s far enough in advance, so you have plenty of time to study and prepare. Sign up to take a prep class to help you get ready for the exam and remember that practice makes perfect. Read Also: Protect Your Rights Today With Domestic Violence Lawyers The Basics Of Criminal Appeals Law

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But brain development through appropriate activities is a must! Using your brain in the fast-paced world is crucial to deal with all the dilemmas in life. Here we go! Concentrate On One Task At A Time Multitasking is an excellent option to maximize your productivity! Do you agree with this statement? Well, most of us find it to be a positive way to excel in productivity and ensure completing tasks. However, this conventional process is not a better choice for learning. Learning and development need attention and focus. Your concentration needs to adhere to the activity you are doing. Well, multitasking, in this modern world, can be fruitful in several conditions, but in the long run, it affects our brains in negative ways. While you are on a multitasking approach, your concentration may work in diverse ways. This is not a good step for brain development. Slow brain functioning may also occur with these steps! So, it's better to concentrate on one aspect at a time to engage more attention and let your brain function to its highest potential. Play Connect 4 Online Online learning and development is a common approach for students these days. But no matter your age, if you try to connect 4 online, it can help you deal with slow brain activities. Gaming is a must-try approach to dealing with the boredom of life. But we need to choose our games wisely so that they can affect our brains in positive ways. This is where the inspiring and easy-to-learn connected game can deal with slow brain problems. The best part is that you can play with your friends and family members from anywhere. So it does not take much effort to work on it. It just allows your brain to work much while you are fully chilling! 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Your brain is always ready to take more, but it will be your choice whether to work on it or not. Don't ever let your brain find laziness! Some intuitive approaches, like visual representation or practical application, can strengthen your understanding. Do not stop until it's fully understood! Take Regular Breaks A break might seem like a waste of time during a project! But do you know that a small nap or break can heal your brain in positive ways? It's not like taking a long break, but while working on a particular process, small breaks can help your brain refresh and work better. Break Down Bigs Into Smalls Our mind works in different ways than we think. It should not feel like you are overburdening it! So, whenever you need to work on something big, try to break down your task into small projects. Try to achieve those small tasks and celebrate them from the inside to refresh your mind. It's an inspiration to work more, and thus, your brain will function better automatically! 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Top 5 Ways To Cope With Online Education Challenges

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Digital literacy is also a key here. You don’t want to waste time hopelessly searching for needed information online or struggling to download materials. Thus, you better work on your computer skills first. Make sure you have everything you need set up and ready for your classes. Make a trial run for the apps or software you use for classes. Improve your mic and sound setting. Arrange everything before starting. 2. Stay organized Good time management skills are one way to success here. Of course, that’s often the first stumbling point for new timers in online education. Usually, a school or teachers do most of the work for you here. For example, students come to school at a specific time. They also have teachers checking their homework and expecting to fulfill certain tasks at home. However, when you study online, things go differently. You don’t have anyone to control or monitor your work. This is on you. Each student needs strong organizational and self-discipline skills to succeed. After all, we are not fully used to studying by ourselves. For instance, learners need to create a working schedule. Thus, a student should have a designated time to study. Also, with online learning, students should develop personal study plans. Such a plan should include study goals, learning objectives, examination points, etc. Moreover, learners should also monitor such a plan all by themselves, too. Related: Online Schools the Only Source for Personalized Education 3. Keep your motivation strong The traditional form of learning has teachers to guide you through your classes and progress. However, in online education, you have to combine the roles of an instructor, guide, and supervisor. Needless to say, such roles can be tough on inexperienced students. As a result, many may start toying with procrastination or long study breaks. Overall, keeping your motivation to learn and work hard all by yourself can be challenging. You can try setting clear goals for each class, week, or month. This way, you always work towards something specific. You are motivated to complete your goals. Such an easy trick will build up your confidence. Thus, with each study session, you will feel like you’re achieving something. Also, having goals will help you monitor your performance. Thus, you know exactly how well you’re doing and what areas should be improved. 4. Adapt to a new learning style The remote study is quite different from in-person classes. There is no traditional classroom setup, no scheduled study hours, or precise plan for each class. For the most part, it’s just you and your computer. Some people can feel uncomfortable or even unmotivated to study like this. However, you can and should adjust. Hence, you can try various new learning methods and approaches to adapt to this new learning style. Thus, you can try different study techniques. For example, most techniques help you break down your study hours into shorter periods of time with scheduled breaks. Thus, you can study in short sessions of 25 minutes with 5-minute breaks. You may also diversify where and how you receive information. Thus, with online learning, you can enjoy various forms of learning, from watching documentaries to using learning apps online. See what format fits your needs and preferences the most. 5. Seek help Online learning doesn’t exclude help from peers or teachers. Don’t try to do everything on your own. The Internet, for one, is a perfect place to seek guidance and assistance. For instance, seek help online when you can’t keep up with the workload. Professional writing services like writingpapersucks.com and similar are always there to give you a hand. It’s okay to need to feel like entrusting parts of homework to someone else at times. You already carry many responsibilities by studying online by yourself. We all need a break sometimes. Also, you can look for communities online interested in your subject. Hence, you won’t feel that alone in your struggles. There you can find support, encouragement, and learning tips. Bottom line Online learning shouldn't stop you from achieving your dreams. It’s just another learning method you can easily master with time and practice. Sure, it can look different at first. Yet, you will prevail with determination, motivation, and some help from the tips above. Good luck! Read Also: Online Services to Help StudentThe Many Benefits of Online Education5 Advantages of Online Learning in Germany

How to Reduce the Cost of College Textbooks

Forget the Campus Bookstore

Always Buy Used

Rent or Borrow Books

Sell Your Old Books

A Little Research Goes a Long Way

3 Reasons Why Online Degrees Are Better

How Education Powers a Better World?

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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OBJECTION! Don’t Miss Your LSATs This Year!

Speed Up Your Learning: 7 Ways To Train Your Brain

Top 5 Ways To Cope With Online Education Challenges

How to Reduce the Cost of College Textbooks

Forget the Campus Bookstore

Always Buy Used

Rent or Borrow Books

Sell Your Old Books

A Little Research Goes a Long Way

Share this Article

3 Reasons Why Online Degrees Are Better

How Education Powers a Better World?

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related