| | |
CC Resources for Texas A & M University
 | 
06-25-2009, 11:18 PM
|
#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 279
| Textbooks are pricey D:
Well, I've registered for my classes and all only to be hit by the RIDICULOUS cost of textbooks! I took a look at all my required textbooks for the fall semester of 09 and they amounted to $860...for ONE semester (I calculated used ones to be ~ $700, which isn't feasible either) Btw, I only have 14 credit hours O_O
Of course, this is from the TAMU bookstore, so high prices for new and used books are expected. What really ticks me off is the fact that ISBN numbers are not displayed on the page where one is allowed to view all required books. It is soooooo cumbersome to find the correct books on Amazon, or any other textbook vendor online.
It's as if TAMU has purposely left out ISBN #s to lure one away from other vendors (attributed to confusion) and buy straight from their bookstore. My Calc 2 textbook is ~ $250!!!! The information on the website is so convoluted that I can't find that version of the textbook anywhere online.
Any idea how I can get the ISBN #s for all my required books? Maybe we should all contact the TAMU bookstore and petition for them to start displaying ISBN #s for all textbooks on their website.
End rant  | 
| Reply
| |
06-26-2009, 12:49 AM
|
#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 49
|
Dude!
I ordered all my textbooks (well, the expensive ones anyway. didn't get a couple of things like class specific lab manual or a official lab notebook etc.) off of Amazon for $399.81 (I remember the price because it was just shy of $400).
Here's what I did: Welcome to Texas A&M University*Bookstore
On the left side of the page if you scroll down a bit, you can see something where you can enter in your classes. Hopefully you have all your class info from registration so you know what sections you're in etc. (some sections use different textbooks in some cases. I know my honors chemistry section uses a different book from regular sections). So just enter your information into that box for each of your classes and then on that second page you can click "View Textbook List." This gives you a list of all the books you need. The title, author, and edition should be enough for you to find it on Amazon.
As of today all my books have arrived in very good condition. I ordered used ones off of Amazon and got some great deals. The Calc 2 textbook you need is Early Vectors by Stewart, I'm guessing. I needed it for Calc 3 and got it for around $60 and spent another $20 on the solutions manual. I think you can get them even cheaper, but I wanted a nice one. Also included in my < $400 package, a brand new Campbell's bio book (still wrapped) and my chem textbook/solutions manual, and a funny little book on running for a KINE class. I'm happy because I know I'll be using the chem and bio books in the spring semester as well.
Good luck, hope you can find some cheap ones!
| |
| Reply
| |
06-26-2009, 01:14 AM
|
#3 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 279
|
That's exactly what I did, at that website.
Problem is, sometimes the information they give doesn't suffice to find a book online.
The Early vectors book says "edition 99" wth is that??
I don't want to get the wrong edition. I found almost all my books on amazon&other websites, but the editions were different and scattered. Therein my problem lies :/
ISBN #s make textbook finding soooo much easier
| |
| Reply
| |
06-26-2009, 02:24 AM
|
#4 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 49
|
I'm not sure what Edition 99 means. I would guess it means it was published in '99? Amazon.com: Calculus Stewart Early Vectors
Aha. I just opened my book up, which would be that red/black one at the top there, and it says Copyright 1999, which is sort of misleading given that that Amazon link says May 2003 next to the book. (Plus, between you and me, I scoped out the MSC bookstore at my conference and saw the red/black book there in the MATH section.)
Perhaps I just had good luck on Amazon. This calc book, a bio book, and a chem book weren't hard purchases I suppose.
When in doubt, I'd just go with the newest edition available :s
| |
| Reply
| |
06-26-2009, 01:13 PM
|
#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,240
|
sometimes you can buy the INTERNATIONAL EDITION for much cheaper than the HARDCOVER...
does TAMU put textbooks on reserve at the library? you could save a few bucks by using the library's copy.
| |
| Reply
| |
06-26-2009, 03:59 PM
|
#6 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Station....WHOOP!
Posts: 130
|
Your cal 2 book is 250 dollars because you use it for more then just your cal 2 class.
and buying online is definately the way to go. second semester freshmen year i only spent 250 dollars total on books.
| |
| Reply
| |
06-28-2009, 08:00 AM
|
#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 78
|
Does anyone have the ISBN number for the Physics 218 class text book?
University Physics Vol 1 with Mastering Physics 12th edition
| |
| Reply
| |
06-28-2009, 02:47 PM
|
#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 279
|
^ my point exactly, sometimes difficult to find the correct book without an ISBN #
argh
| |
| Reply
| |
06-28-2009, 06:54 PM
|
#9 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ar's bed, TX
Posts: 755
|
So we don't get ISBN #'s for our books when we register?! Wth!
Lameeeee!
| |
| Reply
| |
06-28-2009, 11:47 PM
|
#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: TX
Posts: 1,007
|
Be careful with buying international editions, they have different problem sets in them. In classes that assign problems out of the book for required homework (engineering, math, sciences), that could really kill you. Books like Calculus: Early Vectors by Stewart are used for Calc. I, II, and III... so that's quite nice.
And yes, amazon.com is the best place to go to buy them. Make sure you buy them a week or two in advance, because even expedited shipping can take a while. On campus, Textbook Solutions is the cheapest (although they don't always have what you need). Next cheapest would be Traditions Bookstore.
And don't forget, at the end of the semester you can sell your books back to the MSC bookstore and get a pretty little end of semester bonus (usually >$100).
| |
| Reply
| |
06-29-2009, 12:35 AM
|
#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 279
|
Wow! Thank you very much gstein for the referral to "Textbook Solutions"
I entered all my classes, and they displayed the amazon page from where I can buy each book. The way it's looking, I can save around $3-400!
Each book is also the correct one, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about this anymore  | |
| Reply
| |
06-29-2009, 12:49 AM
|
#13 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 279
| | |
| Reply
| |
06-29-2009, 02:11 AM
|
#14 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 49
|
Yep, those two items go together.
| |
| Reply
| |
07-10-2009, 09:04 PM
|
#15 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ar's bed, TX
Posts: 755
|
~$1050 just for one semester of 15 hours here. D: hahaha
Textbook Solutions didn't have most of my books. 
Off to search for books on half.com & amazon. ;/
| |
| Reply
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:30 AM. |
