How to Get Cheap College Textbooks for Freshman Year
Do you know where to start when it comes to finding college textbooks? You may struggle with to begin this task, because you hardly know what you don’t know. Unless you have a close friend or relative who literally gave you every textbook, you probably need some help.
Your parent might be able to help you, but it’s likely been a while since he or she has had to purchase a college textbook. Googling “where to find college textbooks” may be a good place to start but may not yield the best results. This post aims to answer the basic questions when it comes to finding your freshman year college textbooks.
When to find college textbooks
Procrastinating is not a good idea, especially when it comes to finding college textbooks. Putting off this annoying and often time-consuming task won’t help you find the cheapest textbooks. Wait no longer than you have to.
You may have had some upperclassmen tell you not to bother with even finding textbooks. “You’ll never use them” or “you’ll never need them,” they might say. Your freshman year is not the time to try this apathetic philosophy (and I would argue that you should at least borrow a copy of your course textbooks).
So when should you find your textbooks? Keep in mind the longer you wait to find your textbooks, the less copies will be available and the more expensive those copies will be. Before classes begin, secure your textbooks to avoid a scramble to read your first assignments.
After freshman orientation, you probably have a list of what first semester classes you will definitely need to take. Look for these textbooks before arriving on campus. These classes will likely have large numbers of college freshmen who are also looking for the same books.
Immediately after you have confirmed your first semester class schedule, find the textbooks for your other classes. These classes will usually still be large but likely not as large as general classes like English or Speech. The cheap copies get taken quickly, so act soon.
How to find college textbooks
Knowing when isn’t enough. You need to know how you can find the exact textbooks that you need. Some colleges or academic advisors provide a list of textbooks you should get for the school year, but this is not always the case.
At freshman orientation, you probably learned about the online resources your college provides. You most likely have access to a course page for your registered classes. On the course page for each class, the teacher typically includes a course syllabus. Under a section labeled “required materials,” “course materials,” or something similar, your teacher lists the textbooks that you will need for that class.
Pay special attention to edition numbers and publication dates. You don’t want to arrive to class only to find out that you purchased the wrong book. Not only will you probably have to find time to return your textbook, but you also will probably have to wait at least a week before receiving the correct one.
If you are considering purchasing or renting an older edition, check a few facts first. Some newer editions include extensively different material than previous editions. Your teacher also bases his or her homework, quizzes, and tests on a specific edition, so email your professor and ask if using an older edition will work before you purchase a different edition.
Look under each course page to find the textbook needed for every class. Make a list of these textbooks. Then, create a budget of how much you can spend. If your parent is helping with this purchase, ask them what amount they are willing to spend. If you are purchasing your books, determine what amount of money you can spend.
Where to find college textbooks
This is likely the trickiest part of this process. Where can you find cheap college textbooks? If cheap is your main priority, you have a few different options. You can obviously try eBay, but there are a few other resources you might not be aware of.
One resource is your college. Because freshmen are required to take many of the same classes, sophomore students usually try to sell or rent old textbooks that are no longer needed. Every campus has an unofficial site or Facebook group that is a source for students trying to sell or rent books. If you connected with an upperclassman student at orientation, consider asking that student if your college has a resource like this.
A second resource is Amazon. You might be thinking, “I don’t need a brand new book,” but you can actually rent or buy used textbooks from Amazon. If you have an Amazon Prime Student account, you can get free shipping as well.
A third resource is comparison sites like DealOz or SlugBooks. These websites allow you to search for textbooks by ISBN or title. They compare prices across different websites, including Amazon and other websites, helping you get the best deal.
A fourth resource is other students you know. Even when textbook hunting, knowing the right people is important. If you have a personal relationship with an older student, this student may be your best resource. Some students will rent books to you extremely cheaply or even simply let you borrow the book free of charge.
Here a few extra tips can help you in this textbook-finding process:
Some teachers will require that you purchase certain books, like workbooks. While you can sometimes get away with buying a used copy, try your best to find a “like new” or barely used copy before shelling out the money for a new copy.
If you are open to using an ebook, this option is wonderful. You can buy or rent ebook textbooks, and the return is simple at the end of the semester. Reading from a screen doesn’t work well for everyone, so be sure you try it out before purchasing or renting an ebook.
Before purchasing or renting any format of a textbook, look at the reviews and notes. Sometimes the seller will let you know that certain chapters or pages are missing or that the pages are marked with notes. This doesn’t bother most people, but you want to know what quality of a book you are getting.
Check that your book isn’t available for free online through sources like OpenStax, under public domain, or available for use through your college library.
If renting a textbook, pay special attention to the length of the rental and the shipping costs. Finding textbooks that are not coming from another country or side of your country will help you get your textbooks sooner rather than later.
Before finishing the payment forms, carefully consider where you would like your textbooks sent. Sending your books to your campus address or box number can save you from having to pack another box. However, if you don’t know your box number yet or are still weeks away from living on campus, you probably should send your textbooks to your home address.
Finding the right textbooks can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to take up the rest of your break. Locate the books you need, set a budget, and purchase or rent them before classes begin. You’ll be thankful you prepared for the semester by getting the textbooks you need!
