One of the many surprises of collegiate life is the book-buying ballet.
By: Julie Wells
Sr. Copy Editor
Though the transition from high school to college feels, and is, monumental, many things remain the same. First, mapping out a course “plan,” then registering and getting familiar with a new campus are relatively comparable to those first few weeks of high school. Heading out to purchase notebooks, pens and a thumb drive also feel vaguely familiar. However, unlike high school, there are rarely shopping splurges for new clothes courtesy of Mom and Dad, and books aren’t picked up from a storage room free of charge.
One of the many surprises of collegiate life is the book-buying ballet. Veteran students may wait until after the first day to purchase every book on their list because some teachers never assign one reading out of the text which can cost hundreds. However, new students, or those who have trouble resting easy unless 100 percent prepared, scurry off to stand in line in the campus bookstore. Convenient as that may be, it is not always the most efficient way to collect textbooks.
Oftentimes, students can find every book needed online. There are websites such as Abebooks, Textbooks, Half, and Amazon that offer simple ordering and palatable pricing. By simply entering ISBN codes, which can be found through the campus bookstore’s website, a purchase of the correct text in the correct volume by the correct author is almost certifiable.
Websites, however, have drawbacks that a campus bookstore would not. New editions which have not been used in previous semesters are often priced comparably to the bookstore because no used editions are available. There is no way to ensure that the correct edition of the text will be shipped until it has arrived. Kate Schlaman, a Meramec summer student, shops in-store for just this reason.
“It’s convenient. I know I’m going to be getting the right book in the right edition,” Schulman said.
Also, without the convenience of being able to see the text, the quality of a used book is certainly of some concern. What the website may deem as “light highlighting” could mean important sentences within a chapter are marked through with orange or blue and may be nearly illegible.
Shipping is often a problem with websites, especially if a student waits until the semester begins. Book availability can be an issue, but also distance of the site from which the book is being shipped can cause delays.
Campus bookstores are not without drawbacks. Long lines, limited used book options, and high prices are often enough to push some students to alternative options, be it online or second-hand textbook shops.
“[I buy from] the MIZZOU bookstore,” said first-time Meramec student Taylore Johnson. “It probably costs more, but you can just go in and out.”
Cost-saving options are especially important to students who already struggle with the cost of tuition, transportation and child care, or those who simply want to be money-conscience.
