how much $$$ are we lookin at each semester or per year on text books. (1 Viewer)

[conics2008]

well by the looks of it, we are gonna be buyin our dam texts book, so how much are we looking at. like an average text book and how do people buy them and afford them....

can the lecturer give u a photocopy of them or naa...


sex is the key!

 

[spence]

It depends on what course you're doing, whether you buy all the texts or not, and whether you buy new or second hand

 

[rasengan90]

It depends on what course you're doing, whether you buy all the texts or not, and whether you buy new or second hand

What would be a pretty average price for a second hand book?

 

[katie tully]

Most good condition second hand texts generally go for 20-30% less. Rarely will you get them for 50% or less.

My cheapest text has been $65. Spent $230 on two text books the other day, $70 on another and I still have one to go that is about ~$60

 

[Rafy]

What would be a pretty average price for a second hand book?

For some idea look at Textbook Exchange - Welcome to Australia's largest second hand textbook site

It really depends on your subjects. Many Arts units only use readers that might cost ~$20, while law textbooks can cost in excess of $120 each

 

[jb_nc]

You can also just borrow them for a few hours from the Library Reserve if you don't want to buy them at all

 

[goony]

You can also just borrow them for a few hours from the Library Reserve if you don't want to buy them at all

If you're lucky and the book isn't in high demand, you can do this for the entire semester.

Last semester i only paid about $60 for 5 books (and that $60 was on a second hand book for 1 subject).

1 subject i bought the book second hand, 1 didn't require a text book, 1 i borrowed from the library, 1 was available online and the last one i already had.

 

[Templar]

It depends. I managed without buying a single textbook for uni.

 

[maz5]

What would be an average price per semester for those who do buy them(either second hand or new)?
Do you think $800 for text books for the year will cover it?

 

[nick1689]

It all depends on what subjects you do, and if either you need to buy a text book or a course reader (which are generally cheaper than text books)

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

picked up a brick of a chem textbook ([recent] organic chemistry by mcmurry) for $25 from a shop in newtown last year. no disc but an awesome find.

 

[James Cos]

picked up a brick of a chem textbook ([recent] organic chemistry by mcmurry) for $25 from a shop in newtown last year. no disc but an awesome find.

congrats

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

thanks man. 'preciate it.

 

[Boxes]

is it really necessary to buy the textbooks?

 

[Raven3333]

Depends for economics based subjects for me

Year1 sem 1 ~$300
Sem 2 ~$350
Year 2 sem 1 ~$200
Sem 2 ~$450

 

[Rafy]

is it really necessary to buy the textbooks?

Again really depends on the unit. I've gotten away without a textbook or reader for a few subjects. These usually have extremely decent lecture notes or cover topics of which there is much freely accessible material. For the most part however, you'll need to have the textbook/readers, or at least have access to them.

 

[maz5]

Depends for economics based subjects for me

Year1 sem 1 ~$300
Sem 2 ~$350
Year 2 sem 1 ~$200
Sem 2 ~$450

Thanks, that's a good indication.
Anyone from Arts?

 

[conics2008]

eff all this, im gonna get me photo copied version of my text.. will people think im a wanker if i photo copy the pages or the chapter that is required, or will the lectuer dude have a little cry about it...

 

[spence]

Thanks, that's a good indication.
Anyone from Arts?

In my (admittedly limited) experience, arts subjects are more likely to use course readers, which cost ~$20-30. That said, some will require textbooks

 

[Miss Winey]

I've done 4 years of arts
and for my language subjects, I had to pay for a text book and I got it free from an older student (this is a good reason to join and meet people from your faculty society). I also had a workbook, which i paid for. it wasn't too bad. like <$30

For all my anthropology, cultural studies, gender studies and history subjects i had readers. which were around $20-$30. not too bad.
you can get by finding the texts yourself and then photocopying, but it'll be around the same price and not worth the effort.

When i did a subject in education, the reader had 40% photo copied from it.
i really liked, so when i started working part time in teaching, i got my boss to buy it. gotta love getting tax cuts!