Textbooks

[Telekinesis]

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How old do you go? 5 years old? Ten?

 

[zwitterion34]

5 years

 

[JESSFALLING]

How old do you go? 5 years old? Ten?

It depends on the science, and the level of instruction, but I wouldn't want to go much older than 5 years regardless. If it's an upper-division course with lots of ongoing research in the field, then 2-3 years should be a max limit. (Also, I will buy new if it's an upgrade from a 1st or 2nd edition since they are likely still in 'mistake fixing' mode.)

 

[kpcrew]

sometimes i just return the textbooks since the teacher teaches off the slides and i don't ever need to open it. or i check the library to see if they have a copy of it on reserve.

 

[AymAyzing]

sometimes i just return the textbooks since the teacher teaches off the slides and i don't ever need to open it. or i check the library to see if they have a copy of it on reserve.

I also do this. You should try and photocopy relevant sections too. Especially if you are getting into the advanced sciences; it is always nice to go back and review confusing concepts from the ground up. 🙂

 

[Mithril]

One edition.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I prefer to keep it classy: first editions only.

 

[Stumpyman]

Depends what class. I bought my Bio 1/2 book new and still use it for tutoring.

 

[vnicolas]

Ask the teacher, because some teachers give reference to pg numbers and charts to clarify to things in their lecture... the charts and figure could change.

SN:
I had a biochem teacher who used 1 st ed power-points and my uni sold the 4th ed biochem book.
I had an Orgo 2 teacher that use a complete different book from what my uni told us to buy.

 

[Morsetlis]

Textbooks are the things I bought freshman year that are still in plastic wrap and the things I don't buy senior year because all the professors test from lecture notes.

 

[miui]

Depends on the classes. If they were math-related, then I would often try to pdf them. Biology and chemistry related, would go an edition or two behind. Most of the professors offered enough powerpoints, notes, etc. to not really have much issues on staying in the know of the material being covered. So besides practice problems and more thorough explanations in the textbooks, I would just wait what the professor would say during the first week of class and judge from there if I get an early edition, "online pdf copy", or just stick with the class notes.

I too had a rough freshmen year in terms of textbooks, remember spending ~$500 for the semester at the bookstore. Probably could have cut the price down to ~$200 at least since those were mostly introductory classes who's textbooks constantly flood the amazon's used section.

 

[Morsetlis]

If you're REALLY intent on buying them, half.com has better prices than Amazon about half of the time.

 

[Telekinesis]

well it's a book for my neuroscience class. I find two editions back for like 3 bucks.

 

[orthomyxo]

http://bigwords.com/

Seriously, this is the best website ever. You put in all the ISBN's of the books you need, and it checks a ton of different places for the cheapest prices. It has easily saved me over $1000.

Just rented my Genetics book for $19.

 

[miui]

well it's a book for my neuroscience class. I find two editions back for like 3 bucks.

I remember buying a previous edition textbook(wade) for my orgo class for ~$16 off amazon, which was like at least $100 in savings compared to the newest at that time.

God, textbook prices are so pathetic. Also, don't forget to look into international edition, those are good if you need or want a new edition but would rather pay a fraction of the cost.

 

[chemistryguy]

bigwords.com is good, also dealoz.com
Both compare prices for used editions from a bunch of websites

I often try and get one edition behind the required textbook, but then again I usually read books anyway. I guess it depends how much you honestly use the book.

 

[Abi123]

No more than an edition back from me, it also depends on the changes that have taken place in between...

 

[Long Way to Go]

If it's something like Physics I and no textbook problems are required, you could use the first edition of Classical Mechanics, the most recent edition Fundamentals of Physics by Resnick and Halliday, or anything in between and be just fine. Otherwise, an edition or two is probably all I'll chance. Any more than that and the chance that they have completely reorganized the book shoots through the roof.