Average cost of textbooks?

[katryn]

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Question for all of the current students. What is your average cost of textbooks (per semester or year)?

I'm trying to figure out the approximate run of student debt. UT's website lists current tuition prices, but doesn't really give you a good idea of textbook or supply cost. Considering the average cost of reference books on Amazon, and the likely hood that some will be either reused or not worth buying, I was thinking tack on an extra 1500-2000$ a year....underestimate? overestimate? right on the money?

 

[dyachei]

Question for all of the current students. What is your average cost of textbooks (per semester or year)?

I'm trying to figure out the approximate run of student debt. UT's website lists current tuition prices, but doesn't really give you a good idea of textbook or supply cost. Considering the average cost of reference books on Amazon, and the likely hood that some will be either reused or not worth buying, I was thinking tack on an extra 1500-2000$ a year....underestimate? overestimate? right on the money?

Way overestimating. You can usually find deals on textbooks for one thing. For another, at full cost if you bought all the textbooks that UT recommends, you'd probably be closer to $700-$800. That said, I really don't recommend it, especially for first year. If you get in, there's usually a packet included of books needed and students selling them included (and places for rent from students). If you do want to check out some prices, books that are really good to have are the Miller's guide (although they may be changing to a different book this year), Wheater's histology, and possibly the physiology book (becomes useful second semester). But really, most books are not needed and the notes are really complete. Most profs don't test from textbooks, they test from their powerpoints or notes, which are available. You'll have to pay for a set of notes regardless of whether you use them or not through the bookstore, anyway. They run about $70 for the first semester, I think.

 

[Ben and Me]

I'd say you've overestimated. Of course, it all depends on your professors. I had to buy a neuroscience text a few weeks ago just so I could understand what was going on...and one of our anatomy professors has "required" reading that he'll test you on.

This year I've bought:
Dyce - Anatomy - ~ $120
Little Miller - Anatomy - ~$70 (could be off on Dyce and Little Miller though since I bought them oh so long ago...in August!)
Horse book - Anatomy - $25 (cheaper for us at Penn though, I think)
Goat book - Anatomy - $25 (again cheaper at Penn)
A photographic atlas of dog dissections - $140 - waste of money
Physiology - $80
Neuroscience - brand new but "used" from Amazon - $35 (great deal!)
Equine Nutrition - $60 (an elective)

I chose not to buy Histology and just use the website which probably saved me around $120.

Other than the anatomy books, I've only used them as supplementation. At some schools this may be different though...you may want to get in touch w/ some of the UT folks that post here.

If you're planning on taking paper notes, you may want to factor in printing costs as well - here many people buy the course packets from a commercial store that have all the powerpoint slides in them, which will add up! I just take notes on my computer (which has its downsides - I get seriously distracted in class!). If I wanted to print them out myself, I'd need to factor in the cost of ink for my printer.

ETA: oops! was posting at the same time as dyachei! He/she would have a much better idea than me! 🙂

 

[katryn]

Thanks! good to know that was an over estimate. I just remember a particular semester of undergrad where I spent 1300$ on text books that my professors all actually ended up using.

The big dilemma for me is whether to only take out loans for tuition or add on a little extra. If it's 300-500$ each semester, I can probably afford that, but not 1000$.

 

[david594]

I chose not to buy Histology and just use the website which probably saved me around $120.

Wheater's Histology was definitely worth the like $5 I paid for my used (1 version old) copy I bought off Amazon.

Not going crazy buying everything I will only have spent probably $4-500 for first year.

 

[dyachei]

I think first year I spent $250 on books and notes. And I didn't need most of it.

 

[Ben and Me]

FWIW, I'd say I spend more on texts than the vast majority of my classmates. I like having pretty books that aren't all highlighted in (until I do! haha) and I learn best from reading actual text instead of powerpoint slides (English major here, haha) - so take my estimate as in the higher range! 🙂

Do y'all get mentors? Mine has been an excellent resource on stuff like this.

 

[lailanni]

I don't buy anything unless I absolutely have to. I'll try and just use it from the library first until it gets annoying.

There is the standard notes pack we get here with printed notes from each class for about $120-150 each semester. I think it's total crap, but you have to buy them.

For first year I got the required anatomy text and pathology. Sold the pathology the second year.

For second year I didn't get any books first semester. Now I've gotten SA surgery because it's required for next year, the parasite book, and radiology. In retrospect, I could have gotten by without the rad. book and I will be selling it next year.

I'm probably on the other end of the spectrum of buying books. I would much rather use them at the library than drop hundreds of dollars to have them at home. Most people have many more than I do.

 

[dyachei]

For second year I didn't get any books first semester. Now I've gotten SA surgery because it's required for next year, the parasite book, and radiology. In retrospect, I could have gotten by without the rad. book and I will be selling it next year.

I'm probably on the other end of the spectrum of buying books. I would much rather use them at the library than drop hundreds of dollars to have them at home. Most people have many more than I do.

I'm pretty much like you. I don't like to buy textbooks. After 1st year, I bought the Ettinger's and the Thrall radiology. I didn't use them at all for classes, but I'm pretty sure I'll use them for reference in clinics. Oh, and I bought the nerdbook for clinics. Other than that, none of it was worth buying, in my opinion.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I will probably be buying every required and recommended book. I like to have as many resources as possible in case one "clicks" with me more or if i have a minor freak out before a test and need to look something specific up.
It's good to know that I won't be spending thousands of dollars, because that's what i expected.

i love the mentor system at penn!! i am so excited to get mine. it reminds me of the big/lil system in my fraternity. 😀

 

[Ben and Me]

I will probably be buying every required and recommended book. I like to have as many resources as possible in case one "clicks" with me more or if i have a minor freak out before a test and need to look something specific up.
It's good to know that I won't be spending thousands of dollars, because that's what i expected.

i love the mentor system at penn!! i am so excited to get mine. it reminds me of the big/lil system in my fraternity. 😀

BlacKat, I really wouldn't do that. There are ton of "recommended" books, most of which are just different versions of the same thing. I've bought them as needed, and they are all in the library if you're planning on studying up there. You honestly don't have time to do much reading, everything you need to know is in the powerpoints, and wikipedia is much better for looking up quick questions.

 

[BlacKAT33]

BlacKat, I really wouldn't do that. There are ton of "recommended" books, most of which are just different versions of the same thing. I've bought them as needed, and they are all in the library if you're planning on studying up there. You honestly don't have time to do much reading, everything you need to know is in the powerpoints, and wikipedia is much better for looking up quick questions.

oo ya i wont buy needless books that are all the same. i meant when some classes have no required text book, but they recommend one u could get. i guess i just like having a book for each class because some teachers dont explain their power points well. but i will trust u since u have more experience! 🙂

 

[Crazy Hippos]

For those of you that study from the library textbooks, is there a time limit to how long you can use them for (ie. two hours)? Are there generally enough copies available? At my undergrad institution, the students were aggressively competitive and would rip out pages of the textbook so other students couldn't read them. Have you heard of that happening at vet school?

 

[Ben and Me]

At my undergrad institution, the students were aggressively competitive and would rip out pages of the textbook so other students couldn't read them. Have you heard of that happening at vet school?

Goodness no.

 

[fierymicky]

I'm a first year at UT, and I spent an average of $300 per semester on books, including the $70-100 that I paid for the class notes. I didn't buy any of the texts through the bookstore, but rather bought them online. I didn't end up using all the books I bought, and so I am planning on selling them at the end of the year. FYI - www.finderscheapers.com allows you to search for a book and then pulls up price comparisons from a whole bunch of websites.

 

[lailanni]

For those of you that study from the library textbooks, is there a time limit to how long you can use them for (ie. two hours)? Are there generally enough copies available? At my undergrad institution, the students were aggressively competitive and would rip out pages of the textbook so other students couldn't read them. Have you heard of that happening at vet school?

There are some you can check out for weeks at a time, especially older editions of books we're currently using in class.

The current edition books that are required for class are usually on reserve, which means you can just read it in the library for as long as you want or check it out for 3-4 hours at a time.

A trick I use: if you check out a reserve book in the hours before closing, they will let you return it the next morning. At least that's ok with our library.

I find it's actually better for my studying - I get my reading done in one shot instead of procastinating at home.

 

[HopefulAg]

http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=9334827#post9334827 At my undergrad institution, the students were aggressively competitive and would rip out pages of the textbook so other students couldn't read them.

*blink*

Wow!

 

[Crazy Hippos]

lol that didn't happen to anyone else?

 

[NittanyKitty]

lol that didn't happen to anyone else?

Not that I heard of. But let me guess - you were one of the ones doing the page-ripping? 😉

 

[Crazy Hippos]

Not that I heard of. But let me guess - you were one of the ones doing the page-ripping? 😉

Look! A blue-footed booby!! *Runs away*

 

[GSDgirl]

For those of you that study from the library textbooks, is there a time limit to how long you can use them for (ie. two hours)? Are there generally enough copies available? At my undergrad institution, the students were aggressively competitive and would rip out pages of the textbook so other students couldn't read them. Have you heard of that happening at vet school?

...I heard of this happening at UW-Madison's med school when I did my BS there. Doubtful it happens at UW-Madison's vet school, but it does exist.

 

[lailanni]

I didn't use texts on reserve at undergrad, but I wouldn't have been surprised.

I've heard, on more than one occasion, a student ask another for help and get the completely wrong answer/explanation to mislead on purpose.

I think the most annoying thing was when we'd have instructor review sessions after hours. We'd have to prop a door open to get to room. Frequently, the prop would "accidentally" slip and lock people out of the review.

That's all undergrad though. Vet school is much nicer.

 

[HopefulAg]

Seriously?!

It astounds me how petty some people can be. I don't think any of that happened at my undergrad, or if it did, I was too ignorant to see it.