Imagine a student needs three books for a specific class that, in total, cost about $175. Sometimes as the class progresses, it gets a little behind, therefore two of the books aren’t used.
Now multiply this situation three or four times to represent the plight of a full-time student.
This raises the question if buying textbooks is worth it. Short answer, no; long answer, depends on the situation.
For some, the issue of textbooks isn’t a problem because they have sufficient amounts of money to where it’s upsetting, but not detrimental. This, unfortunately, is not the reality for most students.
Now, imagine the student wasn’t in the best spot financially, is struggling to find another student buyer or just doesn’t have enough space for all these unused books they’ve collected from dropped or canceled classes. This imagined story is absolutely the truth for many Citrus College students.
Although emails and announcements are sent to encourage us to buy from the Owl Bookshop, their books are overpriced compared to websites like Chegg and Amazon— which still have their own issues like strange rental dates and late shipping.
School is complicated enough, and the struggle of buying textbooks is an added weight of uncertainty.
With no set answer on how to buy textbooks, the majority of us have been maneuvering between a few options.
“I typically buy my books through Amazon, but if I cannot buy them there, I end up buying them at the bookstore,” dance major Jaqueline Orozco said in the CitrusMobile app.
From my experience and observation, I’ve noticed that the first place students look for textbooks is through a quick Google search including the term “free pdf.”
Mother, full-time worker and child development major Brenda Morales said in the CitrusMobile app that sometimes she “has to buy due to codes needed from books.”
These codes force students to buy textbooks because they are a one-time use per person.
Students regularly pirate their books online, send photos of their textbooks among a class group chat or use any other cheaper method whenever available to avoid additional costs to their education.
Buying textbooks is not only a waste of money, but almost completely unnecessary.