<p>One thing to figure out when making the new/used decision is that some books come with on-line materials that you need a code to access. Some profs use the online materials and others don’t. Son is taking one class where the prof said that it was essential to buy a new book or to make sure the online code was intact, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to access important materials.</p>
<p>S goes to private and I have been buying his books for years. I got two copies of his AP physics book for $31 delivered. If I bought through the bookstore it would have cost $157 each. Two copies for 1/5 the price of one. And I always buy books without highlighting or writing. Unfortunately I had to pay almost list price for his English books because it is a new edition, but got it from Walmart for about $15 less than bookstore.</p>
<p>I feel so for these poor kids with these long days. S is fortunate-he leaves at 7 and even with CC practice is home by 5, unless he has something at night for another EC. </p>
<p>I think a lot of colleges are in for a very rude awakening very soon. The stock market and housing market bubbles are going to be hitting colleges very soon. There is no way these tuitions and fees and books can keep rising so far above people’s ability to pay for them. </p>
<p>Emmy there will be no ED for S-I am not sure about the EA but I do like the rolling admission concept and I think some of his schools may have that.</p>
<p>The first few years our kiddo was at school–I bought the books through the school/web site…and bought used and new depending on the course etc. Then I got much smarter, and I start buying the books earlier and online–almost never through the school –
Each year I spend a little time comparing web sites etc and have saved hundreds of $.</p>
<p>WHat ticks me off is how the school changes texts for history for example. The history of ancient man to 1500 has NOT changed. They use the same book–newer edition/cover. Why should I buy the new one for $100!!! </p>
<p>Or math–they use the same publisher/same text…new edition.</p>
<p>Answer: the school gets $ for BOTH the sale and buy back of the texts when its done through the school web site. I went to the web site corporate side and read about it—
The school used to not give the ISBN #s trying to force the parents to only buy through them–and the website/book seller wouldn’t give the ISBNs either. At least that has changed.</p>
<p>Still we have several books that we’d get only a few $ for–so I have kept them in case kiddo2 can use kiddo 1s texts for reference books.</p>
<p>My daughter, at grad school, told me she was renting a textbook for $50! $50 for a book she can’t even keep! She said the new one was over $100. My husband still has some of his math books from College and used them for a few years as reference after he got out but now they just sit in their boxes. I have sold my older kids books successfully on half.com if they don’t think they can use them again.</p>
<p>Fogfog, my older son got around the school not giving the ISBN number by actually calling me from his college bookstore and then reading the number to me. Sometimes the on-line prices were lower but sometimes it came out the same if the book was used at the College bookstore and no shipping charge was involved.</p>
<p>kathiep, I can beat that – we are renting a calculus book for $80 for the semester. It was $175 to buy new, $130 to buy used. This is for my HS senior, who is taking the course through the local CC.</p>
<p>Renting books never made sense to me. I have almost always been able to sell back a good used book for close to what I paid for it.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where the e-texts will go over the next several years. I have a hs freshman so he will be an even better example of the gap. I know S2 (2011) liked having his AP Chem book that he could highlight, write in the margins, and tag with post it notes for quick reference. We paid $25 inc. shipping. I’m sure all of this is possible with e-text. It’s just not native to him, so the actual book was a better choice. If he used a school text to return in June he would not have had it at home, nor could he have made any marks. Generally, when you purchase used text onlines, prev. highlighting or margin notes are disclosed. If the text is anything but ‘like new’ I contact the seller to ask specifics. I have always had honest responses.</p>
<p>I agree mamom, but I had no part in the decision and daughter probably felt that she could afford $50 but not $100.</p>
<p>^well that is a consideration, having the money up front to buy.</p>
<p>Another great website for used books is addall.com. It searches across lots of different used book sites, including abebooks, amazon and half.com. If I check addall and ebay, that pretty much covers the entire used book universe. I used this to get everything from home copies of middle school and high school texts (so they wouldn’t have to lug them back and forth) to graduate level finance texts. Like missypie says, sometimes you have no choice but to get the new book in order to get the online access info. </p>
<p>Like fogfog says, my pet peeve is new editions of math texts. Cutting-edge knowledge of science and history and lit analysis changes. Calculus is calculus!!!</p>
<p>College Application Question…D asked me last night about were to put her Student Pilot information (she is studying/flying…for her private pilots license…but I do not see her finishing it before the end of the school year because on thing she does not have alot of is time) Would it go under misc information, education or EC? Also what about Scuba Diving Certification? She has been an open water diver for years and wants to put that some where too.</p>
<p>I just aplaud you for remembering that stuff. We left a whole category of ECs off my son’s Common App a couple of years ago because it wasnt’ school, church or work so we just didn’t think of it.</p>
<p>Toured Hiram. Super nice people. Great tour, d met w adcom separately then with me, met w a really nice theater prof and had lunch with some girls. That said not sure if it will stay on list ( despite having red bricks) . D wasn’t sure if she felt like it was " home ". That said I liked the school alot and think it is a great choice for a b student looking for a small LAC in a small town. Everyone was extremely welcoming!</p>
<p>D got her drivers license this morning! And she’s off on her first solo driving adventure. She called me when she arrived at her friend’s house. Whew! She’s a careful driver but I know I’m going to worry whenever she goes anywhere.</p>
<p>Our insurance is “only” going up $850 every year (we have 3 cars). Yikes.</p>
<p>A good buddy of mine who is returning to college, rents a lot of the books. As the mother of three, happily married, she doesn’t really need a basic health text that focuses on drinking and safe sex. She likes the rental stuff because it is relatively affordable and simple.</p>
<p>oregonianmom - be glad you have a daughter when it comes to insurance. Seventeen, male, good student, no accidents “only” $1,600/year. Luckily his older brother is now 19 and pays for his own… it’s $1,450/year. Yes, these are both on 6yo cars with over 100k miles. S3 is coming up soon… ouch! If we were not loosing bus service next year I’d ask him to wait a year.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>very cool!</p>
<p>My guess is its under misc…because although it’s and educational thing–it’s not something that fits for her degree…unless she is looking at say aeronautical engineering…and can connect her love of flying to design/develp etc…
Same with scuba.
Both really cool things to be learning/doing… Aren’t stricly “ECs in terms of a school club or team”–since they are more than that.</p>
<p>Missy–
you have me thinking we need to think about everything and be sure we haven’t forgotten something without an “typical” heading/category.</p>
<p>Question about the ComAp…
Those fields for describing ECs etc…Does anyone know how long they are, and what the AdCom sees? Do AdComs print these files or just read them on a screen? The fileds seem pretty short.</p>
<p>We’re woking under the assumption that what you see in the print preview is what the AdCom sees.</p>
<p>Yes insurance is high-15+ year old car, no collision, $1,800 a year! </p>
<p>S had his first “bad” day yesterday-too much work, stressed out, etc. Biting my tongue with “I told you so!” about doing things this summer to clear out his schedule for the fall.</p>
<p>It’s going to be a long year!</p>