Hunter Voices
A Remedy for the Textbook Shopping Headache?
Jessica Pham
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News
As a new school year begins, students across college campuses are bemoaning the dreaded semester ritual of emptying their pocketbooks and forking over their hard-earned cash to buy textbooks. According to a recent study conducted by City Councilman Eric N. Gioia, the average cost of books for City University of New York freshmen in the fall semester will be $536, amounting to more than 20 percent of the in-state annual tuition of $4,980.
So, with prices on the rise, students are turning to alternatives to their local bookstore. Websites like Chegg.com, the Netflix of textbooks, which offers textbook rentals, are becoming increasingly popular, as are digital downloads to Kindles and iPhones. Do these alternatives offer a small but welcome remedy for the textbook price dilemma?
Here is what some Hunter students (and GM of the Hunter Bookstore) had to say:
Angela Molfetas, Freshman, Adolescent Education
"This is actually my first time buying textbooks, and it's a bit of a shock for me. I just transferred from LaGuardia College, and the Accelerated Studies in Associates Program (ASAP) there covered the cost of my textbooks. Now, I've already spent $200, and I'll probably spend maybe $400 more. I'm a mother, so I would definitely rent textbooks if it would save money. 90% of the books we buy we won't use in the future anyways.
Michael Fiuis, Sophmore, Undeclared
"I'll probably spend around $200-500 this semester. It's expensive but you can't do anything about it. I could go on Amazon.com or something but there's pressure to get the books right away. I'd try renting textbooks online, but only if they guarantee delivery."
Sonia Plitt, Junior, Premed
"I'm out here comparing prices right now for my physics textbooks. Even used textbooks are expensive. I just found out that there are websites where students scan their textbooks and you can download them for free as torrents. But you didn't hear it from me."
Jason Figueroa, General Manager of Hunter College Bookstore
"The Hunter College population isn't rich, and textbook prices are skyrocketing out of control. Digital textbooks and readers like Kindle can be an alternative. [At the Hunter Bookstore] we have 60 titles for download for 40-50% less than the textbook price. I've even heard of textbook downloads on iPhones. The renting model might be something we'll want to try. If the students want it, it will happen. And if you can find books online for cheap, then great. But the perception that online is cheaper is not always true. You have to take into account shipping and stock issues. Here at the bookstore, we have a working partnership with the school, we keep stock, and we are convenient. And business is busier than ever."
So, with prices on the rise, students are turning to alternatives to their local bookstore. Websites like Chegg.com, the Netflix of textbooks, which offers textbook rentals, are becoming increasingly popular, as are digital downloads to Kindles and iPhones. Do these alternatives offer a small but welcome remedy for the textbook price dilemma?
Here is what some Hunter students (and GM of the Hunter Bookstore) had to say:
Angela Molfetas, Freshman, Adolescent Education
"This is actually my first time buying textbooks, and it's a bit of a shock for me. I just transferred from LaGuardia College, and the Accelerated Studies in Associates Program (ASAP) there covered the cost of my textbooks. Now, I've already spent $200, and I'll probably spend maybe $400 more. I'm a mother, so I would definitely rent textbooks if it would save money. 90% of the books we buy we won't use in the future anyways.
Michael Fiuis, Sophmore, Undeclared
"I'll probably spend around $200-500 this semester. It's expensive but you can't do anything about it. I could go on Amazon.com or something but there's pressure to get the books right away. I'd try renting textbooks online, but only if they guarantee delivery."
Sonia Plitt, Junior, Premed
"I'm out here comparing prices right now for my physics textbooks. Even used textbooks are expensive. I just found out that there are websites where students scan their textbooks and you can download them for free as torrents. But you didn't hear it from me."
Jason Figueroa, General Manager of Hunter College Bookstore
"The Hunter College population isn't rich, and textbook prices are skyrocketing out of control. Digital textbooks and readers like Kindle can be an alternative. [At the Hunter Bookstore] we have 60 titles for download for 40-50% less than the textbook price. I've even heard of textbook downloads on iPhones. The renting model might be something we'll want to try. If the students want it, it will happen. And if you can find books online for cheap, then great. But the perception that online is cheaper is not always true. You have to take into account shipping and stock issues. Here at the bookstore, we have a working partnership with the school, we keep stock, and we are convenient. And business is busier than ever."
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posted 12/26/09 @ 5:50 AM EST
Textbooks are very necessary for the study, but they are expensive.
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