How to Close the Best Deal When Buying College Textbooks

The costs of curricular college textbooks have risen considerably in the last few years, requiring college and university students to spend exorbitant sums of money simply to enter in possession of a minimum number of topical course materials each semester. Each school year, the average student is forced to spend up to $500 on new college textbooks in order to be able to continue one's education.

Although there are many campus bookstores that offer students the opportunity to purchase used college textbooks at smaller prices, the discounts prepared by such offline resources are most often insignificant. Students who decide to buy used textbooks from the college bookstore are often surprised to see that they only economize a few bucks when making their purchases from such used textbook resources. At best, college students who buy all their curriculum-required study materials from used college bookstores rather than new bookstores are offered a 10 percent discount, a very small favor considering that many of these used college textbooks are out of date or in a deplorable condition.

Certain college bookstores convince students to buy college textbooks from such places by offering them the chance to sell back their study materials at the end of the semester or school year. However, students who do so are rarely able to sell their college textbooks at more than 5 to 10 percent of the original price! Even the most optimistic students can't hope to sell back a new or used college textbook worth $80 for more than $8. In the worst case whatsoever, students may not be offered a dime when they try to valorize their college textbooks at the end of the semester. Due to these reasons, lots of students have recently turned away from campus bookstores, looking for cheaper ways of obtaining their required textbooks, such as buying online.

At present, the Internet is virtually saturated with online bookstores and similar online resources that establish very low, affordable prices for college textbooks. In order to ensure that you will make the best online purchase, the trick is to carefully analyze the offer and find the website that can service your needs and requirements in the most convenient way possible. Popular online college bookstores and similar online resources offer an entire series of advantages to students who decide to make their purchases from such places: extensive offer (students sometimes have better chances of finding rare college textbooks online rather than offline); very low prices (compared to campus bookstores, online resources make substantial discounts to students); possibility of selling back the purchased study materials at decent prices (students can sell back their college textbooks at up to 40-50 percent of the original price); you can order at any time of day; fast delivery and low shipping costs.

Competitive college textbook-offering websites allow students to search their required books by title, author, keyword or ISBN code. This way, finding the books you are interested in is simple and efficient. Once you find your desired textbooks, you can purchase them at the established price (some online resources even allow you to negotiate prices) and they will be delivered to you at home. The average delivery time of college textbook online resources is 10 business days; with a bit of luck, you can enter in possession of your books even sooner.

Shipping costs are usually low, and students who make more substantial orders don't require paying shipping costs at all. When you don't need the purchased college textbooks anymore, you can sell back these materials at up to 50 percent of the original price. Some websites have even better policies: if the textbooks you are selling back are in perfect condition, you have the freedom to decide your own price! This way you can actually try to sell your study materials at higher prices than the original costs.
Tip! Although there are many campus bookstores that offer students the opportunity to purchase used college textbooks at smaller prices, the discounts prepared by such offline resources are most often insignificant. Students who decide to buy used textbooks from the college bookstore are often surprised to see that they only economize a few bucks when making their purchases from such used textbook resources.

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

Factors Responsible for the Exaggerated Prices of New College Textbooks

For college students all across the country who are required to pay expensive college tuitions and various other taxes in order to continue their education, the continuously rising prices of curriculum-required college textbooks is yet another reason of concern. Forced to spend up to $100 on a single new textbook, college students with scarce financial resources make great efforts just to keep pace with today's demanding educational system.

In an attempt to determine a reduction in the average costs of topical college textbooks, many student and faculty chairmen groups have appealed to Congress representatives for help, but only obtained explanations and promises that their problems will be taken care of in the near future. Without proper understanding and support, thousands of college students are turning to the Internet for help, substituting new college textbooks with online study materials, while others are considering buying used (and often outdated) textbooks. Lots of students nowadays purchase used college textbooks through campus websites such as DogEars and Books on Campus. Others obtain their study materials through used-college textbook exchange programs initiated and promoted by various faculties, while some college students even order their study materials from overseas websites that establish substantially lower prices for new textbooks.

Although they haven't been able to come up with decent solutions to the new college textbook crisis, Congress officials have clarified the factors that have amplified and sustained the phenomenon in the last few years. Although faculty chairmen nationwide claim that textbook publishers hold the blame for the high costs of college textbooks, and publishers argue that faculty members demand new, expensive versions of college study materials, Congress representatives have revealed that the truth is somewhere in-between.

The higher-education publishing industry claims that it needs to maintain publications updated and reviewed in order to satisfy the requirements imposed by most faculties and also claims that new college textbook prices are competitive in each market. Editors inform that college textbooks must be regularly modernized to raise the interest of today's college students and teachers who are used to the interactivity and graphics offered by the Internet.
Tip! So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

Textbook publishers claim that all new editions focus on including the latest teaching techniques and information, regardless of subject; even disciplines that were considered to be more stable, such as geography and history nowadays suffer major - often unneeded - modifications. Textbook editors have stated that if teachers would consider restricting the amount of unnecessary information introduced in newer editions, the costs of study materials would be substantially diminished. On the other hand, professors have asked publishers to come up with a solution to release economic editions that still include the latest information but in a cheaper format.

A major reason why college textbooks have become unaffordable to students is that most editions include content both for teaching and learning, today's materials being used by teachers and students altogether. If the teaching content would be published and sold separately, students would be able to purchase their books at lower prices, buying strictly the content and learning tools that they need. Thus, a possible solution to the problem would require the implication of both textbook publishers and professors: college textbook publishers should release economical editions for students (lower-quality but more affordable new textbooks), while teachers should separate the teaching content from the learning content and reduce the frequency of unnecessary updates and reviews.
Tip! You can however save some money at a school bookstore by asking for used textbooks instead, as these are often sold at a discount. However, many school bookstores don't seem to have much selection when it comes to used college textbooks, so it may not be much of an option.

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

How to Overcome the High Prices of College Textbooks

Every year students require various college textbooks for their classes, spending a small fortune to purchase them. High standards should be improved in the business deal of purchasing new and used books so that all students would benefit of improved methods of learning. In recent years, college bookstores have begun to lose their monopoly over the market, generating pronounced imbalances regarding the average costs of most study materials.

Thousands of students who will soon head off to college campuses nationwide are beginning to realize that it takes quite a bit of capital these days to buy textbooks. In the past two decades, college textbooks prices have increased considerably, at twice the rate of inflation. According to government estimates, students and their families have spent more than $6 billion on new and used textbooks over the period of the academic year 2003-2004. During 2002 and 2004, the average college student spent up to $900 a year for textbooks, around 3 percent more than in the last seven years. Recent studies have also revealed the fact that the average student nowadays spends about $100 on a single curriculum-oriented new book and about $65 on a similar used book.

Fortunately, there are various high-standard educational institutions that are currently striving to overcome such topical issues regarding the low affordability of curricular study materials. The University of Phoenix for instance, has corrected such problems by modifying the general curriculum and preparing a lighter course load for attending students. By replacing most traditional textbooks with e-books, the University of Phoenix has become the first "textbook-less" college in the country.

Highly skilled students joining selected programs nowadays benefit for Microsoft's e-book reader software. However, in order to obtain unlimited access to interactive materials and up-to-date texts online, students still have to pay a per-course fee. In present, the University of Phoenix has almost 95,500 students at more than 100 locations across the country, currently striving to integrate all students in the e-book-oriented study program.

In order to achieve a better position on the market, the great majority of booksellers have recently started to sell textbooks at a considerable discount off the cover price. Furthermore, special areas have been created in order to improve the selling of textbooks on the Internet. Another great source for college books are the online used bookstores, which help students find the textbooks of their interest at considerably lower prices.

Students must be very careful when closing a deal on the Web. Considering the fact that textbook prices greatly vary on the Internet, students are advised to closely analyze all possible alternatives before choosing a certain bookseller over another. It is important to note that the purchase price should not be the only considered aspect when buying textbooks online; students should also factor in shipping costs and delivery time before deciding upon buying their desired textbooks on the Internet.

In order to fight the high cost of college textbooks you should double-check for the correct 10-digit International Standard Book Number, or ISBN. This number is situated above the bar code on the textbook's back cover or title page. When you are purchasing online you should check for the ISBN along with the book title, author and edition.

If you simply can't afford new textbooks, you should consider purchasing used textbooks, as they are considerably less expensive than their new counterparts. You can purchase a used textbook at about 75 percent of the retail price of a new textbook. Prices vary anywhere from $10 to $80, with an approximate average of $40. Due to the fact that used books are a scarce and limited resource, often being sold out by the beginning of the school year, students may need to shop early in order to obtain their required used books. In spite of this fact, used textbooks are still a reliable, cost-effective alternative to new textbooks, allowing students to spend less money for their education.

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

Are College and University Textbooks a Luxury?

Nowadays, more and more students nationwide are faced with a very frustrating problem - the exacerbated prices of topical college textbooks and university textbooks. Due to the increasingly higher prices of both curriculum-required and extra-curricular college and university textbooks, overwhelmingly large numbers of students simply can't fulfill their dreams of graduating from superior educational institutions, lacking the material resources required for purchasing even half the amount of their much desired textbooks. The low-affordability of most university and college textbooks registered in present is a very disturbing fact among students who have a very restrictive budget for completing their education. College textbooks and university textbooks have become so expensive that they are nowadays regarded as a luxury among studious people who strive to overcome their condition and graduate from the educational institutions of their choice.

Despite the major implications of the limited affordability of most university and college textbooks, very few specific institutions seem to take proper action and get involved in the process of finding effective solutions for overcoming this acute crisis. While the phenomenon is becoming more and more prominent, the government and other competent institutions don't seem to bother to manage the situation, leaving students with a pronounced feeling of discontentment and disappointment. Instead of encouraging and helping the youth - the future of the country - to complete their education and occupy respectable positions in the society, the government nourishes the problem and turns away from thousands and thousands of less-privileged students. Despite the fact that this crisis could be quickly ameliorated by allocating more funds to the Board of Education and by providing the students and faculties with an efficient set of educational facilities, the phenomenon is left to grow.

In a world where everyone is looking for profits, very few people still provide students with effective support. However, these people do exist! Concerned by the exaggerated proportions of today's textbooks' prices, various companies are currently striving to provide students with proper study materials, allowing them to continue their education without having to spend a fortune in the process. Such companies basically act as intermediaries, collecting a wide range of international educational materials and offering them to students in exchange for considerably smaller prices!

By requesting the help of such companies, students can purchase new, popular university and college books at almost half the original price! In addition, the textbooks of their choice are delivered to their doorstep free of charge, thus helping them save a lot of money. Reliable university and college textbooks dealers meet the needs and requirements of their customers with professionalism and dedication, offering high-quality and cost-effective study materials to students who can't afford buying these products from someplace else! If your budget simply doesn't allow you to purchase your desired textbooks from local bookstores, the best thing to do is purchase them online from a professional and reliable vendor. By doing so, you will be able to economize a great deal of money, effort and not to mention time, as your order will be delivered to your home as soon as possible!

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

How to Find Cheap College Textbooks

College students dread the start of every semester. This is because of the rising tuition fees, school supplies and textbooks. Every year, the cost of college is getting higher. It is only wise that students should learn how to cut costs and find alternatives in saving money.

Are you a college student who wants to save money? Worry no more! Did you know that you can save hundreds of dollars with college textbooks? Here are some tips that would help you save a lot of money with textbooks.

1. Save money on used books. Instead of buying a new one, why not consider a used textbook? You can ask other students who are done with the subject if they have the book you are looking for. There are also web sites on the Internet that sell cheap college textbooks.

2. Look for other alternatives. You may consult with your professor if you can buy the older edition of the book. An older edition of a college textbook almost has the same content as the newest edition most of the time. Buying an older edition can save you almost half the price of the latest one.

4. Required or recommended? Ask your professor whether the book is required or just recommended. If the book is just recommended, you may just read the book from your college library.

5. Avoid package deals. There are college textbooks that come with other materials which you do not really need. Buying in package costs higher and will only waste your money if you do not need the other materials. You can save if you buy the book separately.

6. Buy online. Online bookstores were proven to offer cheaper books than regular bookstores. Online bookstores do not have the overhead cost which only adds up to the price of the book. Buying a book online is also more convenient plus you can order books right away.

7. Share with a friend. You may also try sharing a book with one of your classmates. This can help you cut the amount that you have to allot for the textbook. However, it is important that you become responsible when taking turns on the textbook.

8. You may also consider bartering with a student who has the book you need. This will save you money from buying a new one. There will surely be someone from your university who is looking for a book you used last year. Be aggressive enough to find students in need of your books and can barter the books you need.

9. Buy early. Remember that prices are high and supplies are low. College textbooks usually cost higher during the start of the semester. You can buy the book as soon as you get your books-to-buy list from your professor. Buying early or off season will save you hundreds of dollars.

Cheap college textbooks are never difficult to find. Remember to strategize and negotiate in order to save money from these books. Take care of your books and never write on them. They might be of great help in the future.

Tip! Although there are many campus bookstores that offer students the opportunity to purchase used college textbooks at smaller prices, the discounts prepared by such offline resources are most often insignificant. Students who decide to buy used textbooks from the college bookstore are often surprised to see that they only economize a few bucks when making their purchases from such used textbook resources.

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in Education and Careers. For more information regarding College Text Books Cheap please drop by at http://www.topcollegelife.com/

How To Save A Lot Of Money When Buying College Textbooks

College textbooks prices are continuously increasing, and this has become a problem for a large number of students with limited budgets. Students must acquire many textbooks for their studies and with today's prices the total amount of money that has to be spent on these college textbooks is pretty large and this problem becomes an obstacle in the student's path to graduation. Therefore many students have begun to consider the textbooks which were once accessible to everybody something unreachable and unaffordable. This is disturbing, and something must be done so that all students can access all the books they need for their education. You may say that there are libraries of course, but libraries have limited amounts of each book and in many cases students can't take the book at home to study it at their will, they can only read it inside the library, which may be disturbing for students who need privacy to learn.

Most of the colleges and governmental institutions don't do anything to solve this problem and they let students do whatever they can. Therefore, the only solution to this problem is to buy much cheaper books from the students that graduated or don't need them any longer. This way you get the same books that you need but at prices that everyone can afford. This business is profitable in both ways, because it helps both students who can't afford to buy all the college textbooks they need and those who don't need them anymore to sell them and make some profit from something otherwise wasted.

If you are interested in buying second-hand college textbooks and saving good money you should visit one of the websites that are specialized in the commercialization of college textbooks. This way you'll find all the textbooks you need, because these websites have domain categories, where you can search for all the subjects studied in college, from mathematics to biology or astrophysics, and you won't even leave your house.

Also, if you are interested in selling your old college textbooks you can find one of these websites and list the books that you need to sell. Whomever needs one of the college textbooks you are offering can buy it from you with the help of the website. These websites have a search engine that can find any book you need and can also compare the prices of the textbooks and help you find the best deal!

Many times college teachers dictate the students what books to buy in order to learn everything about his/her subject and pass the exams. After finding this information out, ask your teacher or a friend that has the book what he book's ISBN code is. Then type the ISBN code in a college textbooks-selling website and you'll find the exact same book but at a much lower price. As simple as that!

Until the government gives colleges more funds, which isn't likely to happen in the near future, the method listed above is the best method to get very good prices on college textbooks, so if you are a student that needs textbooks just search for a website that sells them and you'll save good money

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

Programs Initiated to Bring Down College Textbooks Prices

Today's college textbooks are undoubtedly unaffordable for many categories of students who study in superior educational establishments throughout the United States. The overall prices of curriculum-required, extensively used college textbooks are rising continuously, determining increasingly larger numbers of students to stop attending to classes and even turn away from college and university for good. According to statistics, college textbook prices haven't ceased to rise since 1986, the costs of such products tripling over the last two decades. Recent estimates also indicate that students at four-year schools spent around $900 for their required textbooks and other similar study materials over the period of the 2003-2004 school year. Due to the exaggerated costs of college textbooks, more than 60 percent of students in the United States can't afford to buy all the course materials they need, and thus fail to pass their exams and even fail to graduate from school.

Although they haven't paid the right attention to the phenomenon in the past, government representatives and faculty chairmen have recently initiated various projects that focus entirely on reducing the prices of college books. Hoping to put an end to the pronounced crisis behind college textbooks, state legislators are also currently developing new sets of specific laws that aim to bring down the prices of study materials. This year, more than 40 bills and resolutions will be gradually introduced in around 15 states. According to the National Association of College Stores, other states have also promised to take proper action in order to make textbooks affordable to all categories of students.

States are following various approaches in their effort to cut down the prices of college textbooks, developing different solutions according to their available resources. For instance, the states of New Jersey and Illinois have initiated multiple rental programs, while the states of New York and Maryland are focusing on exempting the prices of college textbooks from the local sales tax. In addition, the government has decreed that all state faculties respect a series of norms and regulations. Thus, the state of Virginia doesn't allow college and university faculties to accept publisher interests, the state of Washington imposes school faculty chairmen to only use low-price study materials, and the state of Connecticut imposes that college textbooks publishers disclose the prices of such materials to faculties.

While these initiatives have been successfully embraced in some American states, certain faculty chairmen find the solutions provided by the government inefficient and offensive, stating that the laws should primarily target textbook publishers, not faculties. However, due to the existing set of interstate commerce laws, legislators can't directly sanction publishers and try to solve the costs problem by requiring faculties to respect certain specific rules instead. Furthermore, government representatives have stated that the recently proposed programs and initiatives are only temporary, as it is very difficult to find a permanent solution for the problem of high college textbook prices in present. Perhaps the following months will bring better prospects in taking care of these issues once and for all.
Tip! Thousands of students who will soon head off to college campuses nationwide are beginning to realize that it takes quite a bit of capital these days to buy textbooks. In the past two decades, college textbooks prices have increased considerably, at twice the rate of inflation.

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

Ways on How to Save Money on College Textbooks

So you are ready for college! You are now about to embark on more intense years of studying and learning. You must be eager to experience college life.

Your college experience will surely be amazing and challenging because college years is a time try out new things and experience the wonders of life as a mature individual.

However, many students could not afford the expenses of college education. Aside from the high tuition fees, prices for college text books are at their peak. Many are discouraged and have second thoughts in pursuing a higher education because of this.

When you do not have enough money to buy college textbooks, then there are many options available for you. One best way on not spending money for a specific textbook is by sharing it with your fellow college student. How do you do it? Here are some tips.

1. You may find a classmate that patterns his study lessons opposite with your schedule. If you stay up late in the night, take the opportunity to use the book. While he prefers to read and get all that he needs in the book in the morning, you may do other school works. In this way, you can maximize the book and save money.

2. You can also share when purchasing a number of old books to save more money. As you learn and progress through all your subjects, you will have the chance to study those in certain semesters and this again will give you an opportunity for sharing college text books.

3. Another option for you is to organize study lesson sessions with your fellow students. You will meet a lot of college students and take the opportunity to exchange college textbooks. For sure, you would meet students who already have the books you need and you can swap your text books, which they may need.

4. You can save more money on used college textbooks. Many university and college bookstores offer a variety of college textbooks old students have sold or donated. You may save a hundreds of dollars if you choose to buy used college text books..

5. Look for bookstores that offer discounts and bargain sale for books that are frequently revised and reissued. You may also search for bulletin boards and look for cheaper textbooks. Students also earn by selling their used textbooks for a more reasonable price.
Tip! When you do not have enough money to buy college textbooks, then there are many options available for you. One best way on not spending money for a specific textbook is by sharing it with your fellow college student.

6. You may ask from some of your upperclassmen friends if they have the college textbooks you need. For sure they are more than willing to help you because they do know how heavy on the pockets it is on buying new textbooks.

Never forget to find ways on how to save money in college. Make friends and learn to swap before buying a new one. Take care of your books and never write on them. You may sell them in the future and that could help you earn money while in school.

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in Education. For more information regarding College Text Books please drop by at http://www.topcollegelife.com/

Buying College Textbooks

High school students take having free books for granted. Most incoming college freshmen are in for a big shock when they see the price of their new calculus book. That's what my advice is here for. $150 for one book is a lot to swallow, not to mention the $30 lab manual that comes with it. Oh and did you forget the $15 CD too? Buying textbooks is very, very expensive. On average a student buying his/her books from the school bookstore can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$400. So you're looking at spending nearly $750 for books the whole year. In this article I am going to discuss some of the unconventional means of acquiring your books for the semester.

Nearly all incoming students look up their book lists online a week before class starts and buys their books from the university bookstore. People make fun of freshman because they don't know any better, and this is a prime example. I'll admit it, I bought my first semester's books from the university book store, and boy did it show in my pocket book. University bookstores (or bookstores on campus) have the highest mark-up of all stores. You are a fool if you buy your books from them. The only time I recommend buying your book from the university bookstore is when they are the only supplier. For instance, if your professor wrote his own book and you can only buy it through the school.

The next best method of buying books is from a bookstore off-campus. But even here you will still pay hundreds of dollars for books you probably won't read. Off-campus bookstores are generally smaller and don't have the selection size of a university bookstore. If you are buying off-campus be sure to pick your books up early, because they will probably run out.

In my opinion, the best method of buying books is online. You can not beat the prices. If you are new to college an unfamiliar with sites that sell textbooks, please visit Amazon (I have several links to them on my site). Half.com and Ebay are also excellent places to find new and used textbooks. Most teachers post their required textbooks online a few weeks before the semester starts. This is the perfect time to search Amazon for you book. You have to look early because shipping can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. If you can wait the shipping time, buying online is the best option. I turned to online buying after my freshman year. It was the best money saving method I used all through college. You turn $350 semester book fees into a mere $150 (or less). It's amazing how so few students are actually buying online. These companies are 100% safe. There is no reason not to buy online.

Now I will go through some of the pros and cons of buying books from our three different means.

On-campus Bookstore Pro - prime location Pro - save time Pro - get the exact editions you need Pro - offer new and used books Pro - offer buy back plans Con - too expensive Con - you get like $10 buy back for a $100 book Con - not as many used copies Off-campus Bookstore Pro - less expensive Pro - lots of used books Pro - offer buy backs Con - may have older editions Con - not located nearby (unless you live off campus) Con - small selections Online Bookstore Pro - cheapest books anywhere Pro - get exactly the book you need Pro - buy anytime Con - have to wait 1-2 weeks for delivery Some other tips on how to save money when it comes to buying books Tip 1. Share a book with a friend Tip 2. Always buy used Tip 3. Buy previous editions (the books don't change, trust me) Tip 4. Look if the book is in e-book form Tip 5. Swap books with other students If you are going to get anything out of this article, the most important point being made is to be smart with your money. Buy your books online. It is by far the cheapest method. You can buy previous editions of the book you need for a fraction of the price. Editions don't change from year to year. Buying edition 4 instead of 5 will not make a difference. This is based on my experiences, the pages numbers and writing will be exactly the same. Publishing textbooks is all a big scam. They update editions every year or two and expect us to buy them for $150.
Tip! If you are interested in buying second-hand college textbooks and saving good money you should visit one of the websites that are specialized in the commercialization of college textbooks. This way you'll find all the textbooks you need, because these websites have domain categories, where you can search for all the subjects studied in college, from mathematics to biology or astrophysics, and you won't even leave your house.

Also, please be cautious when buying books from a bookstore on or near campus. They will tell you "Bring you book back at the end of the year and you will get CASH!" They always make up these gimmicks that put a picture of you stuffing wads of twenties in your wallet. What they don't tell you is that they don't always buy books back. If a new edition comes out, guess what, you're screwed. I would say 75% of the time you will wait in the buy back line and they will say "I'm sorry, we aren't buying that book back". If this does happen to you I suggest you make an Amazon account and sell your book online. I've done it, and it works.

For more information on how to save money when buying textbooks, or if you have any questions in general, please email me at collegesos@yahoo.com

http://collegesos.blogspot.com/

I am a recent graduate of the University of Florida. I am currently employed full-time but it is my desire to help incoming and current college students. It is my goal to help all students have a better college experience by giving them the advice they need that college advisors can't give them.

How To Save Money When You Buy College Textbooks

College students are often shocked by the amount they have to pay for college textbooks each semester. If you add it up over the course of the year it can prove to be a very expensive part of your college education. But there are ways to save money when you buy your college textbooks, and here are a few tips on how you can do that.

First of all, recognize that the most expensive option that you will have for buying your college textbooks is to buy them at the school bookstore. Traditionally, university and college bookstores mark up the prices on their college textbooks by quite a bit more than you will find almost anywhere else.

So for instance, if you want to buy the textbooks that you will need for each semester from a college bookstore, you can most likely expect to spend somewhere between $300 - $400 just for that one semester alone. Obviously then, if you double that figure, it would be very easy to spend $600 - $800 for the entire year's worth of textbooks that you will need for your individual classes. And depending on the classes that you are taking, some textbooks may cost well over $100 - $150 apiece, raising your overall costs even more.

There are advantages to buying from a university bookstore however, including the convenience and time saving factors. All you have to do is just visit your campus, go to the bookstore, get your books and pay your money. And most of the time you will be sure to get the exact textbook that you need for the classes you will be taking.
Tip! You can save more money on used college textbooks. Many university and college bookstores offer a variety of college textbooks old students have sold or donated.

You can however save some money at a school bookstore by asking for used textbooks instead, as these are often sold at a discount. However, many school bookstores don't seem to have much selection when it comes to used college textbooks, so it may not be much of an option.

A second option for buying your college textbooks is to get them from an off campus bookstore instead. The advantages in using this kind of bookstore is that you can usually save money on the price of new college textbooks, and they usually have a better selection of used books as well.

However, the best way to save lots of money on college textbooks is to buy them online at the Amazon or Ebay websites. Here is where you can get your best deals on both new and used college textbooks anywhere. Many students that have taken the course that you will be taking, will be putting their college textbook up online for sale at a greatly reduced price. In fact, if you buy your textbook online at a deep discount and then sell it yourself at the end of the semester, you may wind up having very little overall costs for your college textbooks each year. The only drawback with buying your books online is that there will be some shipping time delay while the books are being sent to you. So be sure that you start your online shopping as soon as the professors lists the required textbooks needed for the coming semester.

Buying college textbooks need not be a very expensive financial burden for most college students. As you can see from this article there are ways that you can dramatically lower your college costs by buying college textbooks for much less.
Tip! Although they haven't paid the right attention to the phenomenon in the past, government representatives and faculty chairmen have recently initiated various projects that focus entirely on reducing the prices of college books. Hoping to put an end to the pronounced crisis behind college textbooks, state legislators are also currently developing new sets of specific laws that aim to bring down the prices of study materials.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including education. You can make a college university search and learn about a life experience college degree and more by visiting our education website.

Quick Cash Selling Your College Textbooks on eBay

There is a ravenous online market for college textbooks. Putting up a textbook or any book for sale on Ebay is a snap. Simply enter the ISBN number, which is located on the inside cover of most books. The ISBN number can also be located on the back of many books.

The International Standard Book Number, or ISBN (sometimes pronounced "is-ben"), is a unique identifier for books, intended to be used commercially.

Ebay recognizes the ISBN number, and will automatically enter all the relevant data about the book, and in most cases add a picture as well.

Non Fiction Books with copyright dates of 1999 and newer normally command top dollar on Ebay.

There are people who look exclusively for valuable books in their communities. The book scout will scour thrift stores, local auctions and estate sales for books that may at most cost a dollar and resell for $40 and up per book. They are known in the book industry as book scouts. Book scouts are able to pick the cherries from stacks of books in just a few minutes, earning hundreds of dollars for a small amount of work.

If you are book scouting at thrift stores or local auctions keep this tip in mind. A good rule of thumb is anything that you cannot understand technically would be a good idea to purchase. There is virtually no downside to buying used books; the worst-case scenario is the book you purchased for 50 cents is worth that amount. Quite often the books will average $25 and up with and occasional $80 or $90 textbook.


Get paid handsomely and become a book detective selling used books on Ebay.

Tim Gilberg is able to provide information and insight from a unique perspective - that of someone who is actually doing what others just talk about. Ebay Power Seller Platinum Status was Attained by Tim Gilberg, which is one of the highest sales levels attained selling on eBay. Tim is active on Ebay and liquidation.com as well as consulting and working with other Top ebay Power Seller's to give you real life in use insight, not theories. Visit Tim Gilberg at his website online college degree.

Conflicts Behind New College Textbook Crisis

The prices of new college textbooks haven't ceased to rise in the last few years, forcing thousands of students nationwide to spend a small fortune on their education. For students confronted with scarce budget situations, the ongoing increase of college textbooks prices represents another serious impediment in continuing and completing their studies, the expensive nature of courseware materials requiring the average student to invest even more money in order to graduate from the educational institution of choice.

Although the school year is about to commence, faculty chairmen and government representatives are still negotiating a series of possible solutions for the present college textbook crisis. While students nationwide are currently preoccupied with saving enough money for the coming school year, the competent parties that have promised to put an end to the continuously rising textbook prices phenomenon by the beginning of the first semester are still far from reaching a consensus. Disturbed by the poor implication of the government and ministry of education in solving the problem, students have even tried to take matters on their own, initiating various campaigns and programs aimed at bringing down the costs of curriculum-required college textbooks and other topical study materials.

Student campaigners have primarily blamed textbook publishers for generating and sustaining the phenomenon, accusing them of charging exaggerated prices and regularly printing new editions even when not necessary. Students have even sustained the fact that publishers are actually trying to eliminate the used-textbooks market by regularly re-editing the existing study materials. However, all the programs initiated by students have failed, all the specific campaigns being rejected or ignored by the competent authorities. The American Association of Publishers has countered the students' initiatives, accusing them of exaggerating the proportions of the crisis and claiming that the average yearly costs of college textbooks don't
In an attempt to discriminate themselves, publishers have blamed the faculties for the high costs of college textbooks, arguing that it's the professors who require new and constantly updated textbook editions. In turn, faculties have denied these claims, adding even more confusion to the problem. Faculty chairmen have replied that it would be unnecessary to demand updated editions for courseware materials that have remained unchanged for more than 20 years, as in the case of subjects such as first-year chemistry or calculus. Thus, faculty leaders have rejected all the accusations forwarded by textbook publishers.

While at present most parties are preoccupied with blaming each other, very few officials are actually struggling to come up with decent solutions for the high prices of college textbooks. In an attempt to reduce the proportions of the new textbook crisis, high educational institutions such as Princeton University have initiated a series of specific programs that are considered to be an efficient, but only temporary solution to the college textbooks problem: the university will begin selling downloadable college textbooks in PDF format at about 70 percent of existing print copies. Several other campuses have decided to adopt the same solution, currently focusing on including textbook renting, lending, exchanging, as well as buy-back programs for students.

So if you want to find out more about textbooks and especially about college textbooks, follow these links, you will also find information for the Dutch versions - studieboeken.

College Weight Gain

Are you destined to gain the Freshman Fifteen?

Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted weight gain as they enter college. A recent study by Cornell University found that on average, college freshman gain about 0.5 pounds a week. This is almost 11 times more than the average weight gain among 17-and 18-year olds and almost 20 times more than the average weight gain among American adults! In the face of such staggering statistics two obvious questions arise: 1) Why are college students gaining weight at such an alarming rate? and 2) How can college weight gain be avoided?

Q: Why are college students gaining weight at such an alarming rate?

A: There are many different specifics that lead the student to gain weight in college, but they can be summed up into three main categories.

1. Increase in Calories
College life encourages an increase in the caloric intake of students. College is filled with social events and social events usually equal FOOD! Most college cafeterias serve their food buffet style, and when given access to unlimited amounts of food most people automatically overeat. Fast food, while laden with calories, is cheap so it appeals to the budget of a college student. Studying for long hours often leads to snacking for hours. Blended coffee drinks and smoothies are often staples in a college student’s diet even though these items often pack more calories than a regular meal.

2. Decrease in Activity
When students enter college most of them leave organized sports behind them. These students that were used to practicing five or more times a week for hours at a time are now left with no accountability to be active. Couple this with the hectic schedule that most college students deal with, and it begins to make sense why most incoming freshmen don’t even make time to find the campus gym, let alone visit it regularly!

3. Metabolism Killers
College students are notorious for crashing their metabolism by poorly managing their diets. This occurs when a student eats too few meals, and ends up eating extra large meals once or twice a day instead of proportioned meals throughout the day. A common metabolism killer of college students is skipping breakfast, the most important meal of the day as it starts one’s metabolism up in the morning. Eating late at night is another classic metabolism killer of college students.

Q: How can college weight gain be avoided?

A: The first step in avoiding weight gain is to be aware of the things that cause it. Couple that with the following three suggestions of proven ways to avoid weight gain, and you are looking at a plan of success!



1. Set a Goal
The best way to ensure that you don’t become the next college weight gain statistic is to make it your goal not to gain the weight. Be aware of the changes to your lifestyle once you enter college, and make a conscious effort to only allow healthy changes to occur. Post your goal where you can view it every day and periodically check your progress by weighing yourself.

2. Practice Nutritious Eating
Be aware of the pitfalls of college eating habits and concentrate on eating nutritious well-balanced meals. Avoid fried foods and foods high in calories. Eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as you can, and practice portion control while roaming the cafeteria.

3. Join an Exercise Program
Whether you join an intramural sports team, enroll in PE, or attend an aerobics class the bottom line is that you need to be active in order to ward off the freshman fifteen. Find an activity that you enjoy and consistently do it. You should be exercising a minimum of half an hour three times each week. A great way to keep consistent is to build accountability with a friend.

Armed with an informed game plan and some effort, any college student can avoid weight gain. For more information on college weight gain, and for your own game plan visit www.AvoidTheFreshman15.com. You don’t have to settle for depressing weight gain as you navigate through the most exciting time of your life! You deserve the body of your dreams.




About the author:
Diana Keuilian, Certified Personal Trainer, and author of “Avoid The Freshman Fifteen”, has a proven method for avoiding college weight gain. Visit www.AvoidTheFreshman15.comto learn more. She is also the head Fitness Trainer for the nation’s leading online fitness site www.HitechPersonalFitness.comand board member of www.HitechTrainer.comLearn more at www.Keuilian.com

Benefits Of An Online Degree

There are a number of benefits to entering a distance learning program to earn your online degree. You get to learn at your own speed in the comfort of your own home and you can work at your kitchen table or on your back porch if you have a long enough extension cord.

But you also get the opportunity to learn again, which for many of us is really a great gift. Some of us are stuck in low-paying jobs and careers that are stifling our creativity and intellect. Others simply want to experience the natural high that comes from pursuing a life-long interest.

With hundreds of schools, universities, and colleges offering accredited online degree programs that opportunity and those benefits are waiting to be picked like low-hanging fruit. Enroll in an online degree program and let distance learning help you harvest your share.

Even though most of your online learning is done in the solitude of your own home there are many resources available to assist you progress towards your online degree. A virtual and real army of teachers, advisors and counselors are waiting to help. Some institutions even provide you with your own academic advisor who will help you navigate through course outlines and curricula in order to select the study program that meets your needs.

One of the major benefits to getting an online degree is almost guaranteed pay raise. Your current employer should be given first chance to reward your efforts by giving you a new job or assignment or by adding to your pay envelope. But if that is not possible then the marketplace will reward you for your specialized training with further opportunities to increase your earning power.

But perhaps the biggest benefits of getting an online degree are actually the intangible ones. The pride and boost to your self-esteem that you will feel from finally graduating is worth any amount of money.

The respect and admiration of your family and friends is also priceless. Even people at work may start to treat you a little different as you become more knowledgeable in your work and you may find that you are sought out for advice and guidance.

To realize your dreams is really the purpose of life and the elation that you feel as a result of achieving yours will last and endure for a long, long time. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

About the author:
This article courtesy of http://www.schoolguideusa.com