<p>I'm bout to shell out $500+ for my first semester alone, is that normal???</p>
<p>$500 plus dollars can be a normal amount. It really depends on what your major is. Typically science, engineering, and math majors have some of the most expensive books. I know this semester I'm looking at spending around $500-$600 or so. I'm a freshman biology major by the way. My classes include Intro Chem, Botany, Molecular Perspectives, Elementary Japanese, and our required freshman World Cultures course. It also depends on whether the books you are buying are new or used. Your school's bookstore prices are usually higher than what you can find on amazon.com or half.com, etc.</p>
<p>thanks, I also have to buy Microsoft Office 2007 as a business student, make that $700+(need the book too...)</p>
<p>'Bout $500. I'm a freshman Psych major.</p>
<p>Just over $300, after lots of shopping around.</p>
<p>For comparison's sake, if I'd bought all my books new from my university's bookstore, it would've cost nearly $750, and if I'd bought them all used from the same bookstore, it would've been $560. Such a rip-off...</p>
<p>$125...i'm very proud of myself lol</p>
<p>It's very normal to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on books, any semester of any year.</p>
<p>Please take advantage of online booksellers and used booksellers, however. In my opinion, most university bookstores are, comparatively, a rip off. I only buy from my school bookstore if I'm running short on time and cannot wait for a copy to be shipped. Even if they offer a buy-back policy at the end of the semester, you are usually more likely to make more money by selling your books online than by selling books back to your school bookstore.</p>
<p>I also find that university libraries and public county libraries are really underused by many students. They are a really amazing resource.</p>
<p>For instance, one of my majors in English literature. After the first year of college, I realized that 1) Most if not all of my courses' required books could be found at the university or public county library and 2) Most of my courses only focused on a particular book for one week in the entire semester. My poetry classes, for instance, sometimes focused on a poet's selected poems for just one DAY the entire semester. Was it worth it buying a $15.00 - $20.00 book of poetry that I would be using for ONE class session? No-- I could check out the same book for free from the library, or I could simply photocopy the selected poems for cents at a time. </p>
<p>Also, make use of your library's inter-loan policy if their copy has already been checked out or if they do not carry a certain book. </p>
<p>This has always worked for me-- I also have never tended to highlight or mark up my books even if I've bought them-- I just don't need to. After freshman year, when I had forty books lying around, most of which I would probably never read again, I decided it would be a waste to keep buying.</p>
<p>Junior year I spent about $200 dollars on books, both semesters combined. That year I had nine courses, five of them being English literature courses. The bulk of my purchases had to do with buying textbooks for my required math and science courses, which are understandably not avaliable through libraries the same way Auden and Hawthorne are. </p>
<p>By the way, if I check out a book and find out I really enjoy it-- I do end up buying it. But it doesn't hurt that I get to trial read through the library before actually putting down the cash.</p>
<p>I haven't bought them yet, but by calculations about $130 for the semester, first year GDesign major. I'm using Chegg for the most expensive ones.</p>
<p>$230 as a Biostats major. But this is with considerable shopping around.</p>
<p>From my bookstore it would've been... $480.30. My bookstore is pretty cheap though. They don't ever overcharge, and usually charge less than most.</p>
<p>$180 for all my books (5 classes!). I did pretty good this semester. :D</p>
<p>Anybody who thinks they need microsoft office should really take a look at Open Office (google it). It's basically a free microsoft office, and it comes highly recommended by the computer science department at my school (they go so far to say that they don't even accept the microsoft word .doc file type).</p>
<p>Microsoft offers a great deal for college students on August 20th. It's $60 for Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. Check out The</a> Ultimate Steal presented by Microsoft</p>
<p>The answer for everyone (except apparently alduhkneel) - waaaaaay too much =P</p>
<p>I'm running about $500 this semester. Upper division books are expensive and I can't borrow them from anyone, le sigh.</p>
<p>$406, and I'm a sophomore civil engineering major. Anything in the $400-$599 range sounds common.</p>
<p>Just wondering.. since I haven't been to orientation yet (get to do all the fun stuff after we move in), when do the profs expect the books to be in hand? After how many days of class? Also, if buying from the net, how much is shipping and when do they get to school?</p>
<p>Oh, and which is the BEST and CHEAPEST site for textbooks? I'm not really a fan of Amazon..</p>
<p>$180ish, <3 amazon and half.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
when do the profs expect the books to be in hand?
[/quote]
Well, it's not like they will ever make sure that you have your books with you. They do pretty much start teaching the material right away, so it's good to have the books available within the first week.</p>
<p>about 500. Freshman Chemistry major. 17 units.</p>
<p>Yeah, that's why I'm worried about buying books online and not getting them on time</p>
<p>I got 2 of my 3 books for about $200. I suspect my third book costs <or= $100. Buy on Amazon. Its much cheaper than getting them at the college book store; not to mention more convenient too.</p>