<p>I think the hardest thing to believe about the bookstore article is that someone got all their books for a total of $220. We've already priced one math book, and it lists around $175. Found one online (new instructor's edition) for about half that, and just through Amazon or Barnes and Noble it is about $145 with free shipping.</p>
<p>Does anyone know that the bookstore charges the full retail price or some discount off the full retail? I want to compare a few books before I go on line. Thanks. The guaranteed buy-back at 50% from the bookstore appears to be a good deal.</p>
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The guaranteed buy-back at 50% from the bookstore appears to be a good deal.
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<p>yeah, if you want to sell back your textbooks... which IMO is a horrible idea for anyone in any kind of math/science/engr degree, and many others as well</p>
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I think the hardest thing to believe about the bookstore article is that someone got all their books for a total of $220.
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<p>Definitely possible if you're taking mostly literature or history courses.</p>
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Does anyone know that the bookstore charges the full retail price or some discount off the full retail?
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<p>They charge prices that are equal to or greater than the prices charged by online retailers.</p>
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The guaranteed buy-back at 50% from the bookstore appears to be a good deal.
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<p>Not much of a comparison shopper, are you? Understand that buying/selling online (especially used) allows you to save huge amounts of money. Example: my textbooks last fall cost $340 (purchased online) and I sold them for $320. There are few advantages to buying at the bookstore unless you really value picking the book up off the shelf and paying for it on the spot. The buyback program is just dumb.</p>
<p>in the spring semester it is sometimes cheaper if you're taking a course that uses the same book as you used the previous semester. ex a language
last semester i had it great, one of my classes just had novels; one had a custom packet that cost $10; i had the book for my language already... but the books for my math class and astro class killed me, haha.</p>
<p>the buyback isn't 50% of what you paid for it, I believe it's 50% of what they will sell it for. the bookstore charges the highest prices so unless it's a UVA specific book, avoid at all costs.</p>
<p>Regarding that article, the only way I can believe she spent 220 dollars on books is if she took classes that didn't have traditional textbooks but actual books or something, in that case savings don't usually exist online. Also shipping by media mail on half.com is like 3-5 bucks.</p>
<p>People buy from the bookstore because it's convenient, just have to stop in a day or two before classes to get your books, quick and easy.</p>
<p>Cav, which online site did u use to purchase ur books?</p>
<p>Half.com and Amazon.com are excellent places to start.</p>
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yeah, if you want to sell back your textbooks... which IMO is a horrible idea for anyone in any kind of math/science/engr degree, and many others as well
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<p>I'd be amazingly surprised if you ever end up looking back at more than a tenth of your past books, if that.</p>
<p>Internet is an amazing reference resource later on.</p>
<p>Not necesarily. During DiffEq this summer, I looked at my calc book routinely. My dad (EE) has even borrowed my calc book. He still has all of his college EE books and uses them frequently. The stuff never changes, and it's nice to have a resourceful hard copy. Some of the non-tech books are a waste, but I know i'm keeping my calc/diffeq/electronics/electrophysics/etc books</p>
<p>You know what's better and cheaper than a math/science textbook? A Schaum's guide.</p>
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Not necesarily. During DiffEq this summer, I looked at my calc book routinely. My dad (EE) has even borrowed my calc book. He still has all of his college EE books and uses them frequently. The stuff never changes, and it's nice to have a resourceful hard copy. Some of the non-tech books are a waste, but I know i'm keeping my calc/diffeq/electronics/electrophysics/etc books
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<p>Note I didn't say never, just one tenth seems a generous esitmate based on my own experiences and what I've seen with friends. Calculus book is probably one of those things that is likely to fall in the tenth given how well everyone remembers their trig identities and integration rules. Although even then, you can find either one of those things very easily online.</p>
<p>The typical intro ODE course just involves memorizing roughly fifteen formulas/patterns if you will. Once again very easy to find online, although personally they're reasonably easy to find online. Plus you generally end up using computer software/calculators for basic computation past that point anyways.</p>
<p>Although of course, perhaps just my view. But I noticed similar things from roommates, etc.</p>
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You know what's better and cheaper than a math/science textbook? A Schaum's guide.
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<p>That has one tiny caveat - it doesn't have the problems. Generally one of the common reasons for getting a book is being able to do the homework problems, which are often inside.</p>
<p>I meant to say that in response to shoebox as an alternative to keeping textbooks as references.</p>
<p>Yeah, I still prefer looking things up in a textbook(or guide) to the internet. Wolfram's math world is a fantastic resource I have used a number of times, but I would still probably rather have a textbook. They are usually more thorough and work example problems and such.</p>
<p>I wish I had my calc III and lin al books right now, because I have to study for the placement tests I have to take on the 27th, and if I bomb them then no diffQ for me :(. But I took the classes at high school, so I don't have the books. That means I either need to buy them or find a good online reference. Probably buy a guide or just use Wolfram.</p>
<p>ehiunno, here's a start:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.numbertheory.org/book/%5B/url%5D">http://www.numbertheory.org/book/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://joshua.smcvt.edu/linalg.html/%5B/url%5D">http://joshua.smcvt.edu/linalg.html/</a></p>
<p>thanks a ton cav.</p>
<p>I had forgotten that MIT puts all their lecture notes online. thats a good place to start.</p>
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I wish I had my calc III and lin al books right now, because I have to study for the placement tests I have to take on the 27th, and if I bomb them then no diffQ for me
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<p>ehiunno, you don't have to officially have the pre-reqs to take the class. No one will check and ISIS will not prevent you from registering from the class. I took APMA 213 (diff eq) and APMA 311 (prob/stat) my first year and I officially placed out of APMA 212 at the end of first year with the Spring final exam.</p>
<p>So if there's a class I want to take, but it says "Pre-reqs: Must have taken ___", you really don't have to follow it? I really want to take this one politics class, and although I don't have the pre-req fullfilled, I've learned about it somewhat in school and on my own, so it's not like I have zero comprehension of the subject. But, the pre-req is holding me back, as well as in some other courses I'd like to take, I just don't have the time in the e-school to fullfill them.</p>
<p>Shoe, I would talk to the professor. Tell him/her what you know and ask him/her how much is really needed. He/She should be able to let you know if you can handle it.</p>
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So if there's a class I want to take, but it says "Pre-reqs: Must have taken ___", you really don't have to follow it? I really want to take this one politics class, and although I don't have the pre-req fullfilled, I've learned about it somewhat in school and on my own, so it's not like I have zero comprehension of the subject. But, the pre-req is holding me back, as well as in some other courses I'd like to take, I just don't have the time in the e-school to fullfill them.
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<p>The pre-reqs listed in course descriptions are really only suggestions; you will not be restricted from classes for not having them. More often than not, you will be expected to have a complete understanding of pre-req topics, so make the jump at your own disgression. This is not always the case. For example APMA 212 (multivar) is the pre-req for APMA 311 (prob/stat), which really makes no sense b/c you do not use multivariable calculus in APMA 311.</p>
<p>Like ehiunno said, you can talk to the prof before you register if you are unsure if your background is adequate.</p>