Do U buy newest edition textbook or previous edition to save $$$?

[fiorio]

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Hi, for everyone in Pharm school, do you always purchase the newest edition of textbook or the previous edition to save $$$?
I am looking at the physiology book I will need to buy, 100+USD , but the previous edition is like 15bucks (exactly the one I used in pre-pharm), it would be a huge saving to buy the older edition. and I bet they only changed 1-2 pages.

What is your opinion on this?
thanks~🙄

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Hi, for everyone in Pharm school, do you always purchase the newest edition of textbook or the previous edition to save $$$?
I am looking at the physiology book I will need to buy, 100+USD , but the previous edition is like 15bucks (exactly the one I used in pre-pharm), it would be a huge saving to buy the older edition. and I bet they only changed 1-2 pages.

What is your opinion on this?
thanks~🙄

For classes like A&P...old book should work just fine.

Classes like Therapeutics, Pharmacology, etc. where guidelines, drugs, therapy change constantly...I'd be much more inclined to purchase the newer version.

Many students rarely purchase textbooks in pharmacy school to begin with though (and upperclassmen may advise you to only purchase them for specific courses). I was definitely a book-buyer in school though...just depends on you!

 

[Knipps]

buy the latest edition used but definitely talk to upper classmen about what's necessary vs suggested

 

[mike36]

I like getting the current editions, just because it is easier to follow reading assignments that way.

 

[RxWildcat]

It really depends on the book itself, but I usually try to find an older edition on amazon for super cheap. Sometimes the older editions are hardly different at all, I know for an undergrad chem book I had I couldn't find any difference whatsoever. Another word of advice is don't go out and buy all the recommended books until you know which ones are beneficial, my PY1 year I spent $960 on books and didn't even use half of them.

 

[Allure]

The only book I purchased was Dipiro. It's like the bible in pharmacy school. We use it for almost ever class.

 

[xeodragon]

Well, I usually spend the extra money on a new current edition book (just for the freshness haha) unless I can get a good deal. Definitely get some advice on which ones are useful. If you have friends that have the book from previous years, ask them to borrow or buy it off them for cheap!

 

[Quiksilver]

Go to amazon marketplace for books, i get em for cheap there. I got the new Goodman & Gilman Therapeutics book for $40. Brand new, still in plastic wrap

 

[iphetamine]

Sadly, here in Egypt we don't use textbooks. :S

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Actually buying books is soooo undergrad.

hehe

 

[tussionex]

talk to upperclassmen. they will tell you what's actually useful.

i almost never opened dipiro.....i used the handbook extensively, it was much more succint and easy to carry. good for a quick review during a free moment or two.

goodman and gilman's was a doorstop. there was some paperback pharmacology book (can't remember the name) that i LOVED.

 

[McZyprexalynn]

Don't buy any books until after you have gone to class. I made that mistake last year and cracked open exactly one book I bought. You should get a pretty decent idea of how much the prof is going to use the book by the syllabus and the first few days of class.

I have used the old edition of books before in non pharmacy courses and it was annoying when the prof would refer to a page number because the numbering was off.

 

[norafena]

Sadly, here in Egypt we don't use textbooks. :S

I know what it's like..during my grad school in my home country we did not study in textbooks, we just copied the material that the instructor would give us.
It was so confusing...that is one more reason why studying in the US is much more easier than in other parts of the world 🙂