Post Secondary Education
Hello 2016! Let's see what you bring!
Last semester was a busy one because I needed to get stuff done. So many classes, so few time slots. As you may have already heard, I took a painting class and have a few things to show for my accomplishments here on DA. I have also been filling up a sketchbook I've had for years and am considering scanning some of the better pages when I can find the time and energy. I got my scores back from last semester's finals and the final grade. GOOD NEWS! I did not fail! This proves that I can handle 18 credit classes in one go, so I've decided to attempt such a feat again this semester.
Unfortunately, I won't be graduating this spring. I'll really be graduated from Snow College in December and will be moving on to greener pastures. I still get to walk with my class, however, and act like I graduated. Unfortunately, no art classes this semester, but I am still taking some fun classes. This includes a new course called Gothic and Supernatural Literature. We'll be reading the classics like Frankenstein, Dracula, Carmilla, Edgar Allan Poe, The Vampyre, I Am Legend, etc. I love the macabre and the dark literature so i'm excited for this class. My teacher is super fun as well. he says if we have room, we might be able to include some Creepy Pasta works.
With so many classes, that means that I must find a way to get my hands on all the requires texts for all classes. Some I have, others I need. What I wasn't expecting was the reaction I get from others when I told them that I found a textbook I need for less than $10. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that textbooks are expensive and it seems like an impossible task, but to my personal experience, it's not. Seriously I found a book i need from Amazon for only, like, $3. It astounds me that people do not think to look there for used books and instead go with a used one that's $65 at least. I didn't think it was that hard to find used books for so cheep. What surprised me was when I was selling my old books, that people thought $40 was a deal. Compared to others, that's not much, but there is no freaking way that I am paying more than $20 on a book.
If any of you are going to college and need a lift in textbooks, let me give you lift.
Do not go to the bookstore at your school. Whether you think it's cheap or not, they are money pits, don't trust them. Now technically your teachers will say go buy at the bookstore because the college has a contract with them, but hush hush, go online instead. The most agonizing part is waiting for shipment, but trust me, it's better.
Ask around campus. You'll meet students in every year, fresh, soph, junior, senior, grad, etc. They might have a book that you need that they don't need and would be glad to get rid of. If you ask on fb, or the college website, or the bulletin board, or teacher announcements, you might come across someone with your book. They get rid of the book they don't need, and you have a book for your class. Ask a roommate, they might have one. Two birds with one stone.
Share. Sharing is caring and when it comes to textbooks, don't be shy to ask to borrow. if you have a friend in the class, ask to study with them. Maybe offer to pay for half the price of the book as long as you both have equal custody of the chil--I mean book. No friends, make friends. You're all grown-ups and some classes will have you buddy up with them anyway so get along. Arrange a study group with multiple classmates so you can all read the chapters together and study. I'm an awful example of this, but that doesn't mean you have to be.
Always, buy used, never buy new unless you want to keep it for the rest of your life. Used books may be worn, but still usable and you'll probably only need it for a few months until the semester is over. When you go to look for a used book, particularly online, the seller will tell you if it's in good, great, acceptable, like new, etc. condition and the description will usually say what's wrong with it. Torn binding, highlighting, underlining, whatever. It's better than nothing and will be a better deal than a new one if it's the exact same text you need.
Rent it. If you rent it, then you won't have to worry about trying to sell it later.
Where can I go online to buy cheap books?
Amazon.com
Textbooks.com
Treeoflifebooks.com
plug in the ISBN into google and they will look up sellers for you. (Or the title and you can usually identify it by the cover if the teacher shows you the example in class)
Find the book, check the price for USED or RENT and compare to others. How much is the book? What's the condition? Can I deal with a few dings? How much is shipping? Is this the cheapest price I can get?