<p>ZG is going back to school for second semester of freshman year next week. I’m totally aggravated about the book buying situation. I know this is likely how its done everywhere, but it’s seriously frustrating. She can only buy her books in person, which means that the kids who live locally have already gone and bought up all the used books, leaving the more expensive new ones for kids who travel back to school. They don’t give a book list (kids bring schedule to the bookstore), so we can’t comparison shop or buy online because waiting till after classes start may not allow enough time for books to be delivered. I find this discriminatory against non-local students. The other thing that makes me nuts is that we are mandated to buy a 20 meal plan and ZG (a) doesn’t eat breakfast and (b) has very little time between classes to get to lunch during the cafeteria’s lunch hours, so those will all be wasted meals. The school doesn’t allow students to leave the cafeteria with food, so takeout isn’t an option. The other alternative is the fast food place open all the time, but their food is always more expensive than a swipe, which adds up. I mean Jeez, aren’t we paying enough that they have to scam more from us in such ugly ways?</p>
<p>One thing that my son did was “get by” (borrow from a friend, go to the library, or other forms of getting by) the first week or two without a textbook and then buy one online at a much reduced rate. This may not work for all classes, but for many it worked fine.</p>
<p>Really? The school doesn’t have any info online? How frustrating! I had to hunt through my D’s school’s website - nothing is easy or obvious. But finally found a link to the bookstore, which has a link to the “textbook” section. There I can plug in her course numbers and find out what book to buy. Then I hunt all over the Internet. She only needs one new book this semester - got a notice from the school that the package was delivered yesterday. I bought it used for $70 on Amazon. School is selling used ones for $129 and new for $169.</p>
<p>I did the same for first semester. Saved about half the total cost if buying new. She did have to buy a couple when she got there, because she wanted to change classes, or the book wasn’t available anywhere else. (And yes, I do it all. D doesn’t have enough interest in saving my money!)</p>
<p>I wonder if she could email teachers and find out what books will be required? Does the website have an online course bulletin that might have the info?</p>
<p>They don’t have a bag lunch pickup point? Time to get some student activism underway on that.</p>
<p>“The school doesn’t allow students to leave the cafeteria with food”</p>
<p>Um, mine didn’t either…but that didn’t stop us. I spent four years in dorms where you had to buy 20 all-you-can-eats a week. Well, if the food I’d paid for wasn’t available at the hours I needed it, I carried it out, and I don’t have any moral qualms about it. It is a very rare dining area that’s so closely monitored that you can’t sit down at a busy table, load your food into ziploc bags you’ve brought for that purpose, stash them in your backpack and head off to class. I wouldn’t try it with soup, but PB&J, apples, and the like work just fine. Unless, of course, the college is thoroughly searching all the backpacks as the students leave, but I haven’t seen that happening.</p>
<p>“Really? The school doesn’t have any info online? How frustrating! I had to hunt through my D’s school’s website - nothing is easy or obvious. But finally found a link to the bookstore, which has a link to the “textbook” section. There I can plug in her course numbers and find out what book to buy.”</p>
<p>Nothing on the website and I called the bookstore to ask about it and they said it is policy that students bring in their schedules and receive their list of books. Arrrrrrrgh.</p>
<p>“Unless, of course, the college is thoroughly searching all the backpacks as the students leave, but I haven’t seen that happening.”</p>
<p>I don’t think they’re searching, but sneaking is required and ZG is too shy and passive to attempt that. Just not in her nature, much to my chagrin.</p>
<p>Our school you do something similar. You take your ID and your class schedule to get your books. Of course here we have a rental program so it’s $18.33 per course 
And then at any time throughout the semester you have the option to buy your book if you want to.</p>
<p>She can email professors to get book lists beforehand and buy locally. She could also order used books on Amazon or buy from other students (who often don’t sell books back to the bookstore but instead directly to other students). In the week before she gets the books from Amazon (or wherever) she can use books from the library or borrow someone’s.</p>
<p>Well, if she can’t palm a sandwich, her only option is to talk to her student government rep about starting a bag lunch pickup point (or run for student government herself on that platform, which may turn out to be very popular). That’s how we got one when I was in college.</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: Loker Bag Lunch Option Satisfies Most Students](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=217114]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=217114)</p>
<p>" In the week before she gets the books from Amazon (or wherever) she can use books from the library or borrow someone’s."</p>
<p>Great idea. Hadn’t thought of that. She’s had two emails in to profs with no replies yet because school isn’t session, so I don’t think that would be workable, but borrowing would be ok.</p>
<p>"Well, if she can’t palm a sandwich, her only option is to talk to her student government rep about starting a bag lunch pickup point (or run for student government herself on that platform, which may turn out to be very popular). That’s how we got one when I was in college.</p>
<p>The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Loker Bag Lunch Option Satisfies Most Students"</p>
<p>What a fabulous idea!</p>
<p>zoosermom - I just ordered my son’s through Amazon on Monday and bought used books that have “expedited” delivery. I got them today, so a 4 day turnaround. Not bad and your daughter may be able to get by with that.</p>
<p>Same situation with my son, books at the uni coop were astronomical! Online, I probably saved a couple hundred bucks!!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If these are your biggest complaints and frustrations, count yourself lucky. It would be nice, but is not always possible to save money on books. College food plans are often comprehensive and often do not allow a lot of options.</p>
<p>I agree with email the profs
often the bookstore isnt’ even connected with the school, it is just an entity that is renting the space-
but the profs should know in advance what books they are going to be using and which editions are acceptable.</p>
<p>Check to see if there is a bag lunch option for students whose schedules don’t allow them to eat lunch. There probably is, but many students don’t like it because the choices are limited.</p>
<p>"If these are your biggest complaints and frustrations, count yourself lucky. "</p>
<p>Money is very tight for us right now, so I’m not feeling very lucky. But thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>Make sure to ask the profs if other editions and which ones would be acceptable. Sometimes (especially on half.com) the previous edition is substantially cheaper. Substantially! Also true for the international version.</p>
<p>In my older daughter’s case when money was super,super tight she mentioned it to the prof(s) and they always seemed to have extra copies they “borrowed” for the class and returned in pristine condition (bookcovers!). Kiddos also met up with other students in the class from the previous semester before and after finals and offered them cash on the spot for the books.</p>
<p>My kiddos’ also have labs, practices, work which prevent attending dinner times/lunch and have managed to have a “brown” bag to go. In some instances there was a policy of “no food” out but my kiddos made it their business to get to know many of the caf workers who would ritually make sure they had a “lunch/dinner to go.” Kindness goes a long way!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>I understand about money being tight. My D has sometimes been pretty successful saving book money and other times she had to buy new at a high cost. The biggest savings were due to moving out of the dorm. She has much better living conditions, much lower food cost and the rent/utilities are so much lower she comes out way ahead even though she needs to pay rent over the summer.</p>
<p>the bookstore at my school posted titles and isbns online but I wasn’t able to find any books going by ISBN elsewhere- I had to look by title and hope it was correct.
When I went to the bookstore, I found that they wrote the incorrect ISBN # on their website- I dont know if it was on purpose or if they are just dumb.
But also- since the class is taught by two different instructors, I assumed the text required was still the same.
However, my instructor only requires one text ( which is actually a packet that costs $45., the other instructor requires two texts ( the other of which I ordered online)
Additonally, although I ordered all the books for a particular class last qtr- all seven of them- I barely cracked them and could have gotten away with half.
I also bought a big book at a used bookstore ( new$120) used $40., for another class & found out that this instructor doesn’t require a text at all- I should have known that because I had him last qtr and he made photocopies of articles he wanted students to have- I got a great deal on the book & I know I will use it anyway, but for someone where money is really tight- I don’t think it is always necessary to have all the books for all your classes on teh first day.( the school library also often has textbooks on reserve- )</p>
<p>My daughter went thru this last semester. Not enough books were stocked in the bookstore for one of her classes and it left 1/3 of the class without their book for the first two weeks of classes. My daughter, being the organized type was so frustrated and angry. she could not get it on Amazon or any bookstore in Boston. Luckily , her professor was understanding. I don’t understand why the bookstore isn’t in communication with the prof. in these matters. They know how many students will be in the class. Seems like a simple supply and demand concept ?</p>