HIGH COST OF TEXT BOOKS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS BY: ALICIA WEINSZIEHR

OVER PRICED AND SOMETIME UNNECESSARY TEXTBOOKS COST COLLEGE STUDENTS Studies show students spend around $1000 a year on text books. Text book costs are on the raise. Students are taking more classes than ever before. Books are being “required” but hardly ever used. College book store lacking options.

SOLUTIONS TO OVERPRICED TEXTBOOKS 1. Buying e-books 2. Renting books 3. Buying used books 4. Trading/Borrowing books 5. Buying older edition textbooks 6. More Professor developed workbooks 7. Using campus resources.

BUYING E-BOOKS E-books offer many benefits including: Cheaper Less weight to carry around Sometimes offer a printable version However students have found it more difficult to take notes and many e-books are purchased on a subscription program-meaning that, at the end of the semester, you no longer have access to the text.

RENTING BOOKS Renting textbooks though always cheaper than buying new, depending on where the student is renting from it may not be as pocketbook friendly as buying new and selling back at the end of the semester. If the book cost 55 dollars new but is 30 dollars to rent is renting really cheaper?

BUYING USED BOOKS Buying used textbooks is the most cost efficiency way to buy books. Cost as little as half the sticker price of a new book. Added bonus of another students notes However with new editions being made more and more often, it is becoming harder and harder for students to find used version.

TRADE/BOROWING AND/OR BUYING OLDER EDITIONS Trading or borrowing textbooks would be the most cost efficiency way, but usually the hardest to do Not a lot of students will be able to allow you to use there book without needing some kind of exchange of money or goods Buying older editions is a great way to save money. Most new editions have such little changes in them, most students don’t even notice a difference.

PROFESSOR DEVELOPED WORKBOOKS Professor developed workbooks are photocopied pages made by the Professor of just the required and needed course material in a smaller package, and usually only ¼ of the cost of the “required textbook.” This option is great because it allows the professor to customize the learning material and saving the student a lot of money.

USING CAMPUS RESOURCES Using campus resources including: Campus bookstore: Most students are unaware that you can use any open book at the campus book store. However you can’t take the book out of the store Campus Library: Another campus resource is the library. The library has a copy of the text books you are allowed to rent for up to 2 hrs. Also there is a copier you can photocopy pages for 10 cents a page if needed.

SUMMARY Educating students on options More responsibility on the Professors to assess if a textbook is really required or if a Professor developed edition is a better option. Tell students to slow down and take there time to find the option that is best for them. There are other sites that sell textbooks new, used and even ebook options at a cheaper price. College students need to know that these options are out there.

CONCLUSION Education Educate students by establishing a student union on COTC’s campus that incorporates and educates students on the different options.

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