<p>How much do you usually spend on books and supplies per quarter? What is the most you've spent?</p>
<p>That depends on your major; hard science books almost always cost the most. Some of my friends in orgo, bio, etc have spent nearly 800 bucks in one quarter. The most Ive ever spent is about 450. However, the least was about 150, with one class costing only 15. So, Id say it depends on your major and class selection, which can often be a crap shoot.</p>
<p>do you usually buy books prior to your first class or wait until later in the week?
also, do most students buy from the bookstore or online?</p>
<p>I wait to get a syllabus for the class before I buy books (some books aren't needed until like week 7, etc), but many like to get it done with before class starts. Also, people do a combo of buying online and from the book stores (NU bokstore and Beck's). Personally, I dont order from online because delivery times can be sketchy, unless the books aren't needed for a few weeks.</p>
<p>I agree that book costs largely depends on your major and your classes. I've spent an average of 300-400 a quarter. However, I buy them all online, where it's a lot cheaper than at the NU bookstore. Delivery times are usually pretty good in my experience, and if I won't get them in time for a day when I need them, I'll buy them from the bookstore first and return them once I receive the ones I bought online.</p>
<p>Anyone know the average cost for engineers? I hope it's not $800 a quarter! That's insane!</p>
<p>Why books have to be printed on ultra-glossy heavy weight paper is something I have never understood. :/</p>
<p>An engineer friend of mine said he spends about that much on books, at least some quarters anyway.</p>
<p>Umm, $800 per quarter is insane. I guess you <em>could</em> end up paying as much, but only if you get all your stuff at the ridiculously overpriced oncampus bookstore (the ones in Evanston aren't much better). Even so, this can't happen every quarter. Or to anyone :). </p>
<p>I am an engineer, and I try to get stuff online (no better place than Amazon) or at least from other students -- they tend to sell their stuff really cheap. This is pretty useful because it also has a list of the books you need for each class and prof --> <a href="http://www.nuonlinebooks.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.nuonlinebooks.com/</a></p>
<p>I've probably never spent more than $200 per quarter and it's not like I don't get all the books or they're crappy or anything. A good strategy is to get as many as you can before classes start (because then the cheap books get sold out), and not get only those that profs don't actually use. You can find out if they don't use the books by looking at the CTECs for the course. (that's what students thought of the courses they took--
<a href="http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/ctec/%5B/url%5D">http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/ctec/</a>)</p>
<p>And lastly, you'll probably get some money back when you sell your books to the local bookstores at the end of spring quarter (did they buy back after fall and winter quarter too???).</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, lorddragon.</p>
<p>
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I am an engineer . . . I've probably never spent more than $200 per quarter
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This makes me very happy. :)</p>
<p>thanks this all helps a lot</p>
<p>is there a reason why theatre isn't included on the booklist @ nuonlinebooks.com?</p>
<p>Its a student-run site, so who knows .</p>
<p>thanks .</p>
<p>usually the best deal speed-wise and cost-wise is Beck's books, which is right across the street from south campus, on the northside of downtown Evanston.</p>
<p>Oh, and for engineering, a lot of those people who spend $800 often use the books the whole year, so it's VERY rarely actually 800 per quarter...</p>