First Year: Cost of Books?

[RehabPT2012]

I was wondering what students in other programs paid/are paying for textbooks their first year. My program just sent out the fall list and estimated that the total cost would be over 1,000- just for this fall. Is that normal? I know I can order the texts more cheaply online, but that was more than I was expecting for ONE semester...

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[CherokeeWahine]

My books for my first semester of PT school are going to cost just slightly under $500 (buying them through Amazon.com)

Maybe give Amazon a look? It might save you a decent amount of money 🙂

Also, our program coordinator told us that we will be using many of these books throughout the curriculum, so that's probably why your book list for this semester is so expensive.

 

[Akiramay]

I don't remember how much they cost, but I do know that you won't have to pay as much in subsequent semesters. The first year has the majority of books you need to buy for all of the foundational work, and then you'll use those books in second year too when applying the information.

 

[RehabPT2012]

Thanks guys! I did order my books online for far less than the estimated cost and am glad to hear that texts will be used in subsequent semesters too. The books themselves look really interesting and I'm sure I'll get a lot of good use out of them in and out class.

 

[jlconner2]

I started my program this summer and just for the summer I needed 4 books that cost me about $350 and for the Fall my books are going to be about $750 (Just for the required texts). Some professors have already sent out an email with highly recommended texts and I am still debating on those. I think that is just par for the course! Books cost a lot but hopefully we will be able to use them in the field if necessary!

 

[jchen707]

I started my program at the beginning of june. We've had a few tests already and I acutally only bought 2 books (anatomy and an anatomy atlas). The notes that the prof gives for Kines at my school has good notes (plus my own notes) and stuff. We're taking 6 classes and I've found that having the two that I bought were enough. I can also always borrow a book from a classmate if I need to. Ive been getting really good grades and stuff to so it is possible to not buy all the books (we were told by the second years that there were only certain books that were useful, so i didn't bother buying the other books) hope that helps (this is also just my case, it might be different for you or for someone else). just my two cents

 

[goyo1010]

Here's the Textbook list for TWU-Houston for the Fall of 2011 to give you an idea. Note that my class did not buy all the books on the list. Most of the required, and I found e-versions of some of the others (for free... SHHHHH). I definitely did not spend the amount estimated on there, especially since you can get better deals on online retailers.

 

[NeophyteParkour]

I paid about $380 for 10 books for my first semester. Thank you Amazon...I got one of the books for $1. I ordered the books immediately after getting the book list.
Online is definitely the way to go. Bookstore prices are always way more expensive.

 

[rangardrum]

I got 6 books for this summer (I started last month) from amazon for around $425. I heard from some 2nd years that they only had to buy one book for this summer, so it does seem like you'll get to reuse a lot of books from the first year.