<p>Do those of you that have students already in college find that they keep any of their books or sell them all back?</p>
<p>I know my DD keeps the ones that she is interested in, as a history major and the technical reference ones, as a journalism major, but sells the rest back at the end of the semester. </p>
<p>Would an economics major typically keep their econ books, but sell back the calc book, or the book used for a non major class that they won't be building on?</p>
<p>In my experience, students have a pretty good idea of what books they would like to keep and what books they would like to sell back. </p>
<p>In general – especially since they often don’t get much money if they sell back the book – this is a decision I would leave to the student. </p>
<p>My kids kept books that they felt might provide useful background for future courses or jobs. These books may or may not have been in their majors. And in at least one case that I know about, my son kept some books used in a philosophy course because he was interested in reading the portions of the book that were not covered in the course.</p>
<p>Last year, I finally made the heart-wrenching decision to part with my beloved college textbooks. They were like extended family members for whom I had affection although I rarely had anything to do with them.</p>
<p>Did I mention that I graduated from college in 1976? And that I’ve moved about 10 times since? And that my DW’s final ultimatum wasn’t quite, “It’s them or me,” but close?</p>
<p>Both of my students were responsible for buying their own books. One kept just about all of them, the other sold them back before the ink was dry on his finals.</p>
<p>Depends on the book. I still have my calculus book used for 3 semesters back in the early '70’s- and a penciled in $13 on the inside cover, saved my chemistry major intro text and physics one for decades as well. Still keeping math text since son said to- got his degree in it recently. Needed the money in college so only saved those pertinent plus some fiction used. Son has most if not all of his sitting on the bookshelf here- someday he will be forced to choose to take them or they will be given away if we don’t want them. I/we intend to get around to some of them some day so it’s not a burden, even when we downsize.</p>
<p>My kids have always sold theirs. DH still has some of his old engineering books in our attic where they have resided in every home we’ve ever lived in. Why?</p>
<p>I kept all mine. Never opened calculus again, but I’ve referred back to and even reread many of the books from philosophy and humanities. Having the web at your fingertips makes having a chemistry textbook on hand less necessary.</p>
<p>I was surprised to see that S kept some of his at the end of freshman year. I’ll never understand why he kept the Intro to Russian text. He dropped that after 4 classes.</p>
<p>DB - that’s too funny. Have you asked him? You would think he would have returned it for a refund!</p>
<p>My son has sold most textbooks that are not in his major/minor. Besides wanting the cash - it’s just too much to lug back and forth.</p>
<p>I kept some of my books every semester, but not very many. Mostly the ones that I either couldn’t get very much money for at the bookstore return or else ones that I was interested in or thought I could use again in future classes or would want to have on my shelf. However, pretty much across the board, whatever book I thought I would use for the future just sat on my shelf gathering dust for years to come.</p>
<p>^
I had the same experience re: gathering dust on the shelf with undergrad books, although I’m keeping all my grad school books, especially the ones on diagnosis, interventions. clinical interviewing techniques, etc.</p>