<p>Sorry if this was already posted, but it seems that the state legislature has taken advantage once again of the power it gave itself in 2007 to annually adjust this allotment each academic year.</p>
<p>For the 2008-09 academic year, students will receive $375 (which is $187.50 per semester). This amount has been updated in the Financial Aid Student Toolkit on blackboard. More information is on the state bright futures webpage (Florida</a> Student Scholarship and Grant Programs).</p>
<p>This is somewhat disappointing, seeing how i've seen my allowance drop from $300/semester freshman year, to $225/semester last spring, and now down to this. I expect to see more of the same in the future terms, with this phasing out in the next few years. While it isn't a huge sum of money, and it's certainly understandable given the current financial situation the state is facing, it's more of the principle of it being taken away as I progress through my education at FSU.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting us know to expect even less textbook money again this year.</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience with ordering books online? One of the books my son needs is listed for $100 through the bookstore, I found it listed from $36 for a rental to $50-67 new on Campusbooks.com.</p>
<p>I had good luck for summer term with books from Amazon.com. I bought new books with shelf wear, etc. being sold for much less. (About the same as used books with markings sold at the bookstore). So I went ahead and got all fall books for D, using half.com and amazon.com. I paid $66 for a barely scuffed new psych text that was $139 at the bookstore new. I paid $14 for a still wrapped math text from a student who never ended up taking the course--over $100 new. I paid $49 for a used science text and we found all of two markings on the inside cover and that was it. It was $140 new. The best thing was that in searching for book, I found publishers study guides that had vocab, practice tests, etc available. Two texts had paperback study guides with the same covers as the texts for $50-60 new, but students were selling them online for $10-15. Often they had minimal writing in the first chagpter, then were clean. For that price, even if they don't get used much I though it was worth seeing if they might be helpful. So D had the psych and the nutrition guides for a combined $22, one had no writing in it and one had some circles in the first chapter practice test and that was it. </p>
<p>I think the rental idea is not bad, either. But there may be texts that can be used again, or serve as references for the nest semester or two. Or instead of renting for $36, buy it for $50 and then get $10-20 back reselling it to the bookstore at the end of the term. Bill's buys books back also. </p>
<p>Also, there are international versions of texts with the SAME EXACT insides, but with different covers. They are often paperback versions. And they are often brand new, shrink wrapped for less than half, esp on half.com. But I waited and didn't try this time. D didn't want to "risk" it being different. But the listing for them will say when they are identical. </p>
<p>Also, we found a helpful page on the math department's website about older versions of the text they use for precalculus (its the same test they use for college algebra and trig) and how the problems are exactly the same from edition 2-4, and the assignments listed for all versions. More folks should know that they don't have to buy the latest edition, esp if they already have the last edition from another class, or purchased before the publisher came out with a new edition the month before!!!</p>
<p>I agree with SUNNYFLORIDA - the "BUY BOOKS" link on your Bb class schedule now shows the exact ISBN numbers at the eFollett bookstore. It is very easy to accurately get most of the textbooks a lot cheaper at places like amazon or half. We use either Cheap</a> College Textbooks | New and Used College Books or ISBN.nu:</a> Find the best price for books online to search the web for the best prices. WARNING -- Be careful about the international versions sometimes they are not exactly the same and you won't be able to sell them back to the bookstore.</p>
<p>If you are confident that your schedule won't be changing, you should order now to allow for shipping delays.</p>
<p>If Bill's or eFollett won't buy back your books, you can either sell them to other students with an email blast, uloop or craigslist OR you can resell them on amazon.</p>