<p>Hi, I'm a rising college freshman and I was interested in getting some more information about textbooks and college bookstores. Is it common for students to purchase books in the college/university bookstore, or is there a preference for other venues such as online or independent bookstores? Also, are most bookstores solely for the use of buying books, or can you buy other things there, as well? What do most students actually use the bookstore for, if they use it at all?</p>
<p>Students for whom money isn’t a concern use the bookstore, as do financial aid students. Schools will typically allow you to buy your books with financial aid money, but usually only through campus bookstores. </p>
<p>Personally, I buy my books online. I get financial aid, and I always save a little bit for the next semesters books. My book costs for this coming fall would have been over $1000 in my campus bookstore. I’ve gotten most of them already, and when it’s all said and done, I will have spent less than $500 on them. That’s a pretty significant difference.</p>
<p>Campus bookstores typically have general school supply type stuff. Notebooks, pens/pencils, folders, binders, calculators, study tools etc. Many school bookstores also sell laptops and computer accessories, some software like MS Word and such. Generally everything that a college student could feasibly need for school can be found there, but the same stuff can be found at much lower prices elsewhere.</p>
<p>Every one of my son’s textbooks was cheaper on Amazon than through the campus bookstore, even if he had rented (he chose to get very good quality used paperback texts).</p>