A question about buying textbooks off the Internet, please

[lucyanna girl]

There is no doubt that college books are less expensive on the Internet but what do you do about books that should come with a CD? Most of the places I have checked say book only. My daughter is a Freshman this year and she is afraid the teacher will require use of the CD. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Penny

 

[delmar411]

what class is it? And if they will use the CD, there will be one for use in the library. That's what I did for my geology class. I didn't realize I bought the wrong edition until mid-way through the class (when my reading assignment didn't match up to my book! LOL) and I just used the library's CD for the 1 assignment that required it.

 

[roadtripper]

I'm not an expert, but often the info on the CD is the same as info that can be found online at the book's companion website. Some texts require you to register with a code from the text or CD; others have all kinds of info available with no login required. So I guess she should try to find out what the CD has on it, and base her decision on that. Good luck--those prices are crazy--I hope she can get some deals!

 

[disneylove69]

I only used a CD for a computer class and acct. Both time the teachers had copies available online for us to get. Schools also have copies in the library or computer room for onsite use.

 

[Deesknee]

My son gets the professors name & email address. (the college is usually willing to give that info after confirming student is registered) then he emails the professor asking what edition/version of the book & if it has a cd he asks if they will be using it. Also when he buys it online he makes sure the cd is included & works well. He likes Amazon.

Also, I don't know much about it, as none of my kids have done it yet, but alot of colleges are renting books now.
Or, if possible get a list of students that were enrolled in the class the previous year (after confirming they are using the same book/cd), sometimes you can go directly to a student & buy their book off them.

Plus, I never knew, but the bookstores sometimes only buy back a certain # of books, so when it comes time, have your child to sell it back right away if they are planning on selling it back to the school bookstore.

Good Luck!!!

 

[sookie]

I am at the graduate level, so its a lot easier for me to get the newest edition because i end up using it for references and for other classes for at least a couple of years. right now i am finishing my phd so - i basically end up accumulating books upon books. but thats ok.
i really like barnes and noble. uses saves me at least 200 bucks each semseter - but i am in a health profession so my costs are high.
at the lower levels i would double check that an old version is OK
then i would buy the old versions.
also see if she can bum the old versions that the bookstore won't buy back off of friends.

 

[sookie]

and i have never had a teacher require use of the CD!
take care!

 

[livndisney]

and i have never had a teacher require use of the CD!
take care!

I had a class this summer that required the use of a CD and the teacher did not supply a copy.

 

[sookie]

I had a class this summer that required the use of a CD and the teacher did not supply a copy.

what?! was this in a specialty course or was this in a gen ed course?

 

[sookie]

I had a class this summer that required the use of a CD and the teacher did not supply a copy.

i guess one thought is that you could make friends with someone in the class then make a copy of the cd! lol

 

[annsteere]

I AM a college teacher. Email yours and ask.

One of my classes does not use the CD at all. For one it is a resource. For one it comes with an online portal that is REQUIRED for the class. Find out from the prof what your class will be like.

I changed text books this semester so that students who buy a used book are offered the opportunity to buy just the CD, at a reasonable price, by visiting the publisher's website. (Former text would sell the CD separately but the price was ridiculous.) That might be an option for you.

 

[dakcp2001]

When I sell my books online I always say whether or not the CD is included. Just buy one of the ones that does have it. I sell on half.com, and I have bought from both half & amazon. I know some people rent textbooks from Chegg that might be worth looking into.

 

[LilyWDW]

Sometimes they use the CDs and sometimes they do not. Our library also won't stock the CD unless they are asked to specifically from the department or professor. So that can not be counted on.

Besides the CD, another thing to look for are access codes. If the code has been used already, then your student can not use it again. Meaning, they no don't have a code. Sometimes the publisher will have some codes for purchase separate, but they can be expensive and it's not guaranteed they will.

Contact the professor ahead of time and find out what they will be needing. This is really the only way to know for sure.

 

[Disneyforus]

I am in nursing school and buy all my books online. Almost all of my books have CD's with them, though it does not state that in the description at the online store. I was a bit nervous the first time I bought books, because I knew that I needed the CD, plus an online activation code for a couple of my classes. But, every book came with the CD, hooked right into the back cover in it's very own sleeve.

BTW, I love how books now have different media options(CD's, online tutorials/support) for different learning styles...it's wonderful!

Good luck, and that reminds me...I need to buy my books for fall!!!

 

[livndisney]

what?! was this in a specialty course or was this in a gen ed course?

Gen ed

 

[smokeyblue]

I had only had two classes that I needed the CD and there was multiple free ways around it. I had a programming class that the book came with the software. The professor let us use his disc or borrow a classmates. One class I had to print labs off of the CD. You could also photocopy them from the book. Also, the library at school had a copy of every text book in use "on reserve" which meant it could not leave the library but you could check it out for two-hour intervals. Sometimes, but not always, the library would have the CD available with the book.

So the long and the short of it, don't worry about the CD. People are always willing to share. Also I don't know if I recommend this or not, but I often bought the next to latest edition of some books. They pretty much contained the same information. Usually it was verbatim with no changes, just a different cover.

 

[Tistal]

College level instructor here. The best advice I can offer is to have your daughter email her instructor and ask. For one of the classes that I teach it is a departmental requirement that every student purchases and uses the CD and online component, but I teach other classes that the CD, even though it is bundled with the text, is not required.