The College Parent’s Guide to Finding Cheap Textbooks
Finding college textbooks can be a nightmare, even for a college parent. You haven’t had to think about or read a college textbook in years. You might have a hard time remembering how you found your books or how much you spent.
Seeing the cost of your freshman’s textbooks might give you some anxiety. How in the world could your child ever pay so much money for books he’ll only use one semester? If you can’t help with college costs, you may feel like you should keep out of the hunt for college textbooks. However, you can provide needed guidance to your freshman as he tries to find his college textbooks.
When to start looking for college textbooks
In an article for the Washington Post, the chief executive officer of the University Network shares that during the August before school starts is usually a cheaper time to buy textbooks. Rather than waiting until you set foot on campus to drop off your freshman, start looking now during break.
If your child is clueless as to what books he needs, encourage him to contact an academic advisor or talk with upperclassmen students met at freshman orientation. Though he may not have every college credit figured out at this point, he likely has a pretty good idea of what general classes he will be taking during the semester.
Your child will have heavy competition when trying to locate books for general freshman classes, due to the fact that every freshman is required to take these courses. Getting these textbooks should be a priority before leaving for move-in day. However, your freshman likely doesn’t realize the competition he faces, so you may need to impress this on him.
Your child will also see a spike in textbook prices if he waits until arriving on campus. Most freshmen put off the task of finding and getting textbooks until right before classes start, which means they are willing to pay more than necessary. Finding these books now will help keep the cost down.
Depending on who is paying for college expenses, your freshman may need some assistance in this textbook acquiring process. At this point, he likely doesn’t know how much textbooks truly cost, so you may have to help him adjust to this reality. Help him assess his finances and come up with a budget.
Where to start looking for college textbooks
Word of mouth or a cork board on the dorm hall probably won’t help your freshman out when looking for books. Even though you looked for college textbooks in years, you’ll probably need to step in and offer help.
The campus bookstore should almost never be the first place you look for textbooks. The prices are usually much more expensive than you will find online. The best starting place is comparison websites like DealOz or SlugBooks. These websites cut out time you would normally have to spend scouring various websites for the best prices.
The second place to search is on college specific textbook sites. Most colleges have a student-made site or a Facebook page that allows students to sell, rent, or buy textbooks. Encourage your freshman to contact upperclassmen from his school or a future roommate about the name of these sites.
The third place to look is among other students. Your freshman likely met other students who may have textbooks they would be willing to let your child borrow. Use the connections! Students usually have an unspoken code of sorts where they help out a friend in need with free textbook use.
What factors to consider when finding college textbooks
Some textbook specifics should be your special concern, because your freshman is likely unaware of these details. One of these details is the length the textbook will be needed. Some books are only needed for one semester and then are useless to your freshman. These books do not need to be purchased brand new (unless they’re workbooks). Your child would probably benefit from renting over buying, because renting is easier for a semester-long course.
If your child needs a book repeatedly throughout his college years, purchasing a copy is usually the best option. However, your child doesn’t need to buy a brand new copy. He may be able to find a lightly used copy.
If your child wants to make a little extra money in between semesters, purchasing and then renting out copies of textbooks he no longer needs may be a good option. However, this typically requires a fair amount of work on your freshman’s part. Tracking down people, getting paid, and retrieving textbooks can be the last thing on his mind before the holiday or summer breaks.
A second detail is book format. While reading electronic versions of books may drive you crazy, your freshman may be completely fine with reading on a screen for hours. Before taking the plunge and purchasing or renting ebooks, encourage your child to try to do some more serious reading (not social media) on a screen. If he finds his eyes get irritated or he has trouble focusing, ebooks are probably not right for him.
A good way to cut costs is to consider purchasing or renting paperback versions of textbooks. If your freshman takes good care of these books, this may be a cheap alternative to hardback copies that cost more. If your freshman struggles to take care of school books, this may not work especially if renting a textbook.
A third detail is shipping. Not only can shipping costs be expensive, but they can also be another thing your already financially-strapped freshman has to think about. Shipping location is also an important factor. If the book is coming from far away, the book will likely take weeks to arrive and the shipping costs will probably be higher.
Sending textbooks to your child’s campus address or box number may save you from packing more things. Most freshmen courses do not require reading before the first day of classes, so having the books sent to college can provide extra car space for other belongings.
A fourth detail is rental dates. If your child is renting books, be sure he looks closely at the rental length. Not every textbook rental allows you to rent for an entire semester, though most do. Be sure your child is aware of and responsible enough to return his books on time.
A fifth detail is use. Textbooks that require regular use and impact his ability to succeed in major classes should be a top priority. These are the books you can help your freshman look for now.
Allow him to learn this process by letting him find other smaller textbooks on his own. You can always check in, and he can always ask you questions. But he needs to know how to find books on his own, so that he can find his college textbooks in future semesters.
While it may be easier to take over this process and do the work, guiding your freshman allows him to learn. Finding textbooks is a stressful part of this transition to college, but you can help him learn the ins and outs before he starts college.
