<p>I received a rude awakening this week when I attempted to find used text books for my incoming freshman son.</p>
<p>Seems in this new online age some of the professors are requiring textbooks bundled with "access codes".</p>
<p>So naturally one is faced with the dilemma that used books do <em>not</em> include these access codes.</p>
<p>I guess my son will find out if the access codes are really necessary but my question is, how do you buy an access code separately? </p>
<p>I noticed for one of the required book bundles on my son's list it is actually about the same price to get a new book <em>with</em> the access code from the Pitt bookstore as it is to get a good used text book and a separate access code from Amazon.</p>
<p>This is not only costly but very confusing and I dread dealing with these access codes for four long years.</p>
<p>Any insight on this unnecessary headache would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I have always thought it was somehow wrong for professors to require a book in which they had a personal financial stake. Many of them require books which they authored, co-authored or to which they contributed. </p>
<p>This sounds like a way for them to make more money as they get nothing additional if you get a used book.</p>
<p>Honestly, I would have you son contact his professors individually and do two things:</p>
<p>A) request book information if it is not already available to him
B) ask the professor directly if the newest edition/access code is necessary. Some professors put this up on the syllabus and then admit that the book is not necessary or that older editions are fine or whatever. So double check before buying a brand new book.</p>