<p>I’m learning a lot from this thread. Thank you.</p>
<p>I just found out one of my required books is out of print, and the bookstore could only get a few copies of it (which went like lightening). :rolleyes:</p>
<p>"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.” "</p>
<p>This is a good suggestion. I’ve known a number of dining hall staff members who took a lot of pride in their work and in feeding “their” kids. Someone might be willing to put a sandwich aside for your daughter to pick up on days when she knows she has classes through lunch. If the dining hall isn’t too big, maybe there’s already a familiar face or two she could talk to about this.</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested in campaigning for bag lunches, this article covers how student government leaders worked with different university authorities to make it happen. The service is still in place and going strong today:</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: Hundreds Of Students Use ‘Fly-By’ Lunches](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=123016]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=123016)</p>
<p>zoosermom, one other idea. If your D belongs to facebook, she could post a public “note” asking if any students could tell her what books are used for her classes, and if anybody has any books they’d like to sell her. Of course, she may also already know students she could ask directly. </p>
<p>Also, my D’s school has a school book store, but also two private stores that sell to students, often a bit cheaper. One of those private stores also has online services. If your D’s school has a competing bookstore, that might be a place to get cheaper books, or at least info.</p>
<p>And when she enrolls in classes for next semester, she will know to contact the professors or go to the bookstore right away to find out what books are needed.</p>
<p>haha, my son also knows some of the caf employees. </p>
<p>As far as books, I don’t know if ZG has this, because she is at a smaller school than my son, but my son knows of some bookstores located off campus that have no association with the school. He told me that he gets much better prices for books there than he does at the university’s bookstore. He tries to get unhighlighted used books in good condition before he purchases a new book. He also seems to manage to get decent money back on his used books. He has only gotten stuck with one book so far (he paid $50, and they only wanted to give him $5 on to buy it back, so he did not sell it).</p>
<p>My 2 kids in college both say that many times, what is on the official book list isn’t what the professor ends up using. So they both always wait at least until the first day of class to buy anything. Then usually buy online.</p>
<p>Gotopractice, that was D’s experience in the fall. She was uber-hyper and wanted to move into the dorm with all her books in hand. She got a book allowance as part of a merit award, so I told her it was her choice (but of course MOM recommended that she wait…) She ended up buying a $45 book that the prof didn’t use (and told them the first week that they probably wouldn’t use it)…and she learned how students get fleeced when trying to sell books back. For next semester, she bought her Calculus 3 book from her roommate, one other class is continuing in the same textbook (w/ same prof) as a class she took in the fall, and rumor has it that at least one of her other classes doesn’t use a textbook at all. She’s hoping to profit with this semester’s book allowance. Makes up for how much over she went in the fall!</p>
<p>Here’s a practice that’s commonly used at my school: Buy the book both at the book store and online at the same time and then return the book you bought from the store they day of (or before) the return policy expires. That way you can read whatever you need to from the book you bought at the store while the book you bought online is shipped to you. Of course this does take a little more out-of-pocket cash/money (I guess, unless you use credit card?) but it solves your problem if the bookstore does have a return policy.</p>
<p>I asked my daughter whether or not they are allowed to take food from the cafeteria…she said no, but who is going to stop them from taking a banana or apple on the run ? I am pretty sure that the staff is made up of non-English speaking folks that would have a hard time enforcing the rules.
Really, who is taking a shopping bag load of food out of there ? It’s not like we all haven’t paid for it, right ?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I know where ZG goes to college. It has box lunches and has had them for many years. She may not like them–heck, if she is a freshman she may really not know that they exist. They do. Problem solved.</p>
<p>“I’m pretty sure I know where ZG goes to college. It has box lunches and has had them for many years.”</p>
<p>She doesn’t know that. Thank you for the information.</p>
<p>Addition: just checked the website and can’t find any reference. ZG looked at me like I had three heads but perked up at the info and said she would check.</p>
<p>Check to see if they can buy “stuff” at any of the scan places? My D’s school has points & girls “never” use all their points, my DD brought home pounds of gourmet coffee from the campus coffee place.</p>
<p>My S has learned to wait a couple of days to see what books the profs are really going to use, then he lets me know and I find them online and have them shipped to him directly. I have had very good luck with Alibris books online.</p>
<p>In the fall my son called me from his college bookstore with the isbn number’s of the books he needed. I got on-line and looked to see if I could get them cheaper. If not, then he bought them there. His bookstore sells quite a few used books, I don’t think he bought any new. zooser - want me to run up to the bookstore and get the books?? When I was looking for the books I made sure to get them within a state or two of his college so they wouldn’t take so long to ship.</p>
<p>Well, college is a time to be more adaptable–maybe she could try eating breakfast? Maybe breakfast goes late enough that it could be an early lunch for her?</p>
<p>She has classes 5 days a week through the breakfast hours. We’re sending her back with cereal and poptarts. Lovely that we have paid for all these meals and she’s not eating much. The bookstore told me that under no circumstances will they give out the book lists. Students have to come in in person with schedule and since kids have been doing that all week, most used books are already gone. Arrrrrrgh!!! I’m seriously thinking of writing to the school to be on record about this.</p>
<p>Kathie, thank you so much, but they won’t give the books to anyone else. Has to be the student. I’m assuming that another student could pretend to be my student, but who knows. I just think this is so punitive.</p>
<p>ZM, It looks to me like they do not release booklists to ensure that you buy the books in their store, at their price! It looks to me like they want to play “got cha”, and I guess they do. That is too bad. There is no other reason not to list books online for each class and section. The school my son attends does that. Somehow the on campus bookstore is still thriving, and they do buy back books too. They also sell lots of other items. Their first floor is full of sweats and Ts, plus lots more. They also sell laptops, computer items, and general school supplies on their second floor, among other items.</p>
<p>“ZM, It looks to me like they do not release booklists to ensure that you buy the books in their store, at their price! It looks to me like they want to play “got cha”, and I guess they do.”</p>
<p>Exactly right and I think it’s very unkind. I’m chalking this up to a learning experience about what the next daughter doesn’t want. Tell me the truth, ok? Am I crazy/paranoid/stupid in thinking that if the kids who are local save (say) $100 per semester by getting all used books and that’s not an option for kids who travel, that’s just a tad discriminatory? Over 8 semesters that can add up.</p>
<p>This rant doesn’t even include the fact that since the IT Department installed their “stuff” on her computer she hasn’t been able to utilize the school’s website at home or internet access at school. So she’s had this lovely, expensive computer and hasn’t turned it on at school since early November. Ok, I’m not usually this disgruntled. I think I need a drink.<br>
(Would it be ok for me to contact the head of IT and ask for help since the help received so far has been completely worthless?) She’s had six appointments with them and their answer is that the cable port in the back of the computer is broken. It is not. Is this too helicoptery? She’s tried to deal with this, but has been completely blown off. Is there a point at which a parent can step in at college or never?</p>
<p>Not that it matters but I’m just curious, is this one of the newer Barnes & Noble type takeover bookstores or is it run by the school?</p>
<p>“Not that it matters but I’m just curious, is this one of the newer Barnes & Noble type takeover bookstores or is it run by the school?”</p>
<p>The school.</p>