<p>This is probably jumping the gun, but, is there a link to get the list of required books for the Fall 2009 classes? I'd like to price shop on line.</p>
<p>They’re not all posted yet, but some lists are up at oberlin.bncollege.com -> scroll down to where it says “Buy your textbooks online today!”</p>
<p>Thank you!! I think you just saved me a bunch of money.</p>
<p>Truth be told, I almost never buy books, either from the bookstore or online. After my first semester, I discovered something that allows me to buy only one or two of the 20+ books I need each semester: Ohiolink. That service, through the library, allows you to request books from a host of other college libraries around the state, and keep them nearly the whole semester. Between Oberlin’s own collection, and that, there’s not much use for bargain hunting–which can be frustrating, and elusive, for a lot of those texts.</p>
<p>20+ books each semester? That’s crazy. No offense, but I find that difficult to believe.</p>
<p>Plainsman, have you looked at any of the course textbook lists? Many upper-level courses in history or literature (for example) require 5+ books.</p>
<p>I usually average around 20-25 books required per semester. It’s been as low as 15 and as high as 30. That doesn’t include the books that I get on my own for research projects–by the end of a semester, my room is covered in books, it’s a nightmare.</p>
<p>Fanatic,</p>
<p>My oldest daughter attends flagship state U, and not a single course in two years there has required more than 2 textbooks. So four or five courses (she took five last semester), even at two text books per course, is only ten, and at least two courses required only one textbook. </p>
<p>How does Oberlin estimate expenses for textbooks at only between 800-900 dollars if the average student needs 40 text books per academic year? That’s the estimate I received from Financial Aid.</p>
<p>I went to grad school, Top Ten MBA program, and I never needed to buy more than two texts per course. </p>
<p>Something is screwy about Oberlin. Do Amherst and Swarthmore require 20+ texts per semester? Would I be correct to assume none of the 20+ textbooks you need per semester are in the 150 - 350 dollar range, even if purchased brand new? What’s the average price for one of these texts purchased new?</p>
<p>To quaere’s comment, I hope 5+ books for a literature course means 5+ paperbacks reasonably priced new.</p>
<p>Damn, someone caught on to our secret deal with the textbook publishers…</p>
<p>Seriously - have you looked at the textbook lists on the bookstore website? I think that would answer a lot of your questions. But here goes:</p>
<p>Textbooks are very discipline-specific. On one end, a math or science course might require only one or two textbooks, but probably expensive ones ($100-150). On the other end, an upper-level literature course might require five to ten, but significantly less expensive ones ($5-20). That’s where the $800-900 estimate comes from. Though FWIW, I wouldn’t have spent that much this year even had I bought every single required textbook - more like $500 - and I think most of my friends had similar bills.</p>
<p>It is not the case that “the average student needs 40 textbooks per academic year”. It really really truly depends on what you’re studying, which is why it’s so important to look at the actual book lists and prices for actual courses your D plans to take.</p>
<p>Whether you need to buy books or just borrow them from the library depends on your own study habits. For example, as a classics / chemistry student, I buy Greek and Latin works and chemistry texts, which I know I’ll want to write in extensively, but often borrow literature in translation, which I just need to read.</p>
<p>And for what it’s worth, the number of textbooks required at Oberlin, and the amount that I paid for them, was consistent with both the courses I took at Local Public U and the courses my friends have taken at other top LACs. If you don’t believe me, check out the book information at the [url=<a href=“http://www.bookstore.swarthmore.edu/ePOS?store=333&form=shared3%2Ftextbooks%2Ftext_browse.html&design=333&campus=MAIN&__session_info__=I01p7fV4Y2t6EmPO6n6ounQht%2FkPDSQ50P4Asp%2BaTUi%2FGbECCsgYwVVnZZ4%2F0kGz2hnSvB6zL7cng6hIByUfAxg%2BTUwDzCWM]Swarthmore[/url”>http://www.bookstore.swarthmore.edu/ePOS?store=333&form=shared3%2Ftextbooks%2Ftext_browse.html&design=333&campus=MAIN&__session_info__=I01p7fV4Y2t6EmPO6n6ounQht%2FkPDSQ50P4Asp%2BaTUi%2FGbECCsgYwVVnZZ4%2F0kGz2hnSvB6zL7cng6hIByUfAxg%2BTUwDzCWM]Swarthmore[/url</a>] or [url=<a href=“Official Online Store”>Official Online Store]Wesleyan[/url</a>] college bookstores.</p>
<p>Plainsman: Your confusion is based on a misunderstanding of how the term “textbook” is used in humanities and many social science classes. Most of those courses don’t use “textbooks” in the way you mean. In literature classes, a text is a novel, a play, a book of stories–not a book costing $150-300.</p>
<p>Most literature courses require 8-10 such texts, some more. I’m not sure why you’re questioning the students’ veracity. And there’s nothing “screwy” about Oberlin.</p>
<p>Dave72: I was merely skeptical, hoping she had her facts wrong. But you’ve cleared it up. My idea of a “text book” is something massive, hardbound, 500 - 1000 pages, and absurdly expensive. That’s what I had in B-School and Law School. So, I was thinking: “My God, the bill!” </p>
<p>I guess I skipped the literature and social science classes as an undergrad back in the 70s. :)</p>
<p>quaere: Thanks for the clarification. I was envisioning a $3,000 bill just for textbooks. My blood pressure is back to normal again. 
</p>
<p>No, I have not looked at the textbook lists on the bookstore website. I’m leaving that one up to my daughter.</p>
<p>The price can be kept down by getting used books.</p>
<p>Also, I see this an opportunity for my son to begin building his own library. It is great to own the books that have affected one’s thinking, be able to go back to them and lend them to others.</p>
<p>Re: number of books. Our S is taking one class this summer (not at Oberlin) and he just ordered six books for it online.</p>