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Ways to Reduce Cost on College Textbooks

Amazing how the prices have spiked during the last year alone, along with professorswho require new editions of previous textbooks every semester (ditto same, nothingchanged). Apparently this is the structure of universities and book publishers to conspireagainst us, the students, and monetize on our need to obtain an education. Most of thetime, book stores just plainly rip us off as I have compared prices against prominentwebsites. In addition, the return policies for most University Bookstores are stringentwhere the returns are ineligible if the semester starts. What if I wanted to drop classes,what happens to the $168.00 statistics book that I no longer need? And there is newedition out next semester. Apparently I am screwed as are many students across UnitedStates.Being in my senior year and on the Dean's List, I am about to complete one of the biggestaccomplishments of my life. I have been able to manage myself and continue educationat the very finest level. As a Business student with developing business acumen, I try tosave cost on any and everything I can. This character of frugality is inspired by the biggest names in history. They have offered me the essence of Money and Time (Thanksto English Literature Class). It is through these principles that I can sense a savings factor contributing to my wealth. If you read this article, you may inhibit the prudent mentalityit requires to become successful and hard working. Starting this behavior early anddeveloping this attitude will rain numerous rewards and appreciation.

Stage one: Obtain Book ISBNs, Title and Authors

As soon as you register for classes, make a list of required textbooks that your professor is going to follow. Nearly all universities these days have dynamic linkage of informationfrom the instructor to the bookstore. What you need are the three important things to finda relevant textbook; the title, the author(s) and the ISBN number (located below theBarcode, not above). Make a note or fancy it with excel, whatever just get this important piece of information however you can.

Stage two: Class and instructor analysis

This is one of the critical stages where a student needs to analyze the schematics of his/her class and teaching methods of a particular professor. What I meant is, when I takea marketing class I know it is an easy class as it does not include rigorous calculations or strenuously long problems. So I know I can dominate this course through smartmemorization with devoted note taking skills. On the other hand, my quantitativedecision making class which is a tough one, I need to be tactical in my approach. This iswhere a professor needs to be present (at least for me in math) and pass on knowledgethrough demonstration including an active dialectic method. Before I even register for class, my social network in school gives me an added advantage as to choose which professor is worthy. Another tool I use are sites like ratemyprofessor.com, as to find the best ones with the not the easiest ratings but the professors who are well rounded overall

because I like to challenge myself and it is through these difficulties and inevitablemistakes that I learn.Once you have an idea of how your classes operate and at what scale of difficulty, your focus should deviate towards the Instructor. Here I judge them through several attributes based on leniency, strictness, articulation, memory, references, clumsiness, openness,appearance and professionalism. Your teacher is the dictator here, whatever perceptionthey have of you, you will get that grade. And my theory is to be friends with the enemysimilar to Sun Tzu's approach 'Know your enemy.' I like to achieve common grounds andoutshine as a protagonist amongst other students. This technique accumulates; I wouldsay 'imaginary bonus points' towards the end of semester, very resourceful once youobtain this bond, this linkage. This scenario of winning motivates me and I relate winningin battle as getting an A in class. The teachers throw difficult questions at you; differenttactics every now and then like pop quizzes, research papers, group projects or pick onyour contemporaries.

Analysis Continued : Professor X

Coming back to the topic, how does this theory correlates with you saving money? Thisis where I further dissect the attributes of a professor. For example; Professor X whose poodle face, goofy personality emits sort of leniency and clumsiness, I know I can getaway with 'stuff.' Onetime, I had this instructor, really a genius who helped me figure outseveral problems and giving all of us individual attention, very helpful, he lacked proper discipline and organization during many of his conversations. He could be easily persuaded on matters outside his field. His book where he kept his notes seemed like arubbish mess of weary graded papers in-between the pages, as if he didn't care. Professor X also does not require you to bring the textbook to class but wants to lecture you ontopic of maturity and the opinion of student responsibility that we should be responsiblefor our homework and attendance. For this type of instructor, I hold the priority of buyingthe book very low, unless course material is difficult itself.

Analysis Continued : Professor Y

Then appears at the podium, Professor Y, Why? Why! Why! That's what I said when Igot this one. She was the aggressive, straight forward middle-aged women who couldinsult any student at any time, oblivious to any respect for anyone. She set her toneskillfully as she picked on the weakest students and questioned them for their unnecessary questions. Her remarks were down-right sarcastic in a condescendingmanner, and the rest of us would try to laugh but we couldn't because her head alwaysswiveled and her eyes jumped out of her skull, like a hungry cat when interrupted duringits meal. And then moving back to scorning the poor student. For this professor, manystudents drop out and clearly miss the significant part of self-development. I believe I gota chance to interact with a difficult person. During the course of her semester, I

developed a defense against her arguments and learned to tolerate the belligerence. I wasafraid to even go in class without looking at the calendar and checking upon myassignments as she kept no room for error. I respect this teacher as she virtually spankedall the students in learning one of the hardest courses in my degree plan. She solidifiedthe foundations of this course; as a result I calmly breezed through the next courses. She provided a crash course in disciplining (Thank You!). Professor Y thus radiates thenotion of fear and punishment and for this professor I would buy the book right away.

Analysis Continued : Professor Z

Of course followed by Professor Z, The loveable kind. As if a philanthropist in disguise,if you get this one you're really lucky! Very rare, I only had one during my five years.Overflowing with comfort and accommodations, my professor never took role, alwaysenjoyed joking about recent issues and the time would expire within our discussions. Wewere watching more movies in class than actually reading anything. Assignments weredue on certain dates, and brightest of us submitted it on time. While most studentsconsidered the freedom and gullibility of this professor, they always submittedassignments late, they arrived late in class; there were no punishments, no points takenoff. The soft spoken professor was very predictable in his actions. The class was a strollthrough the park, an easy A. I don't even recommend purchasing a book for thisInstructor.

Analysis Continued : Professor XYZ

For the last kind, Professor XYZ, presumably the most familiar type you will findthroughout your Universities. They have a common philosophy yet they are available in plenty of assortments. Not all lecturers are the same; they have their own temperamentand a routine of teaching. They have a balanced character comprised of empathy,leverage and firmness while they carry out the sacred hand over of valuable experienceand knowledge. These professors are in abundance and they are what we need. XYZ asyou can tell is derived from previous three professors. Well proportioned (speakingacademically), they know whose taking advantage; they know when to be tough andelaborate; and they know how to enforce rules and principles. Some voluntarily foster students as means of fulfilling an altruistic need within their personality. I believe that to be the greatest property of any teacher, to be concerned about and encourage the studentsto engage in their course. Perhaps there are exceptions to these professors, where onechooses to buy the book or not and hold the buying priority just right. This professor gives enough time to search for books, so students can locate the cheapest ones available.This point then leads to my next stage of actually searching for cheaper books.

Stage three: The Search for textbooks

There are five ways I hunt for textbooks; through friends, search engines and websites,

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Ways to Reduce Cost on College Textbooks

Learn effective cost-saving and creative ways to purchase college textbooks. I do a thorough analysis of classes, professors and other sources that directly reflect textbook buy... (More)

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Category:	How-To Guides/Manuals
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Upload Date:	06/13/2009
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