Serious Any Americancels in college? Please educate me on spending

[Hate_my_life]

In posts discussing college in the USA, apparently you have to purchase text-books or something?
Why?

Is it true?
What other equipment do you have to buy? Genuinely curious.

 

[radishman]

So is college basically public school outside the US if you apparently don't need to buy books?

 

[Hate_my_life]

So is college basically public school outside the US if you apparently don't need to buy books?

Kind of (We still have to pay tuition fees)

Majority of books are free for students and only in exceptional circumstances will you have to purchase a book.
The lecturers normally make sure the Library has numerous digital/physical copies available for students.

 

[radishman]

Kind of (We still have to pay tuition fees)

Majority of books are free for students and only in exceptional circumstances will you have to purchase a book.
The lecturers normally make sure the Library has numerous digital/physical copies available for students.

Yeah the college book thing is clearly a scam here in the states.

Edition to edition there's little to no change, but professors can be dicks by needing an online key from the new book, forcing you to buy it. Obviously kickbacks from the publishers.

 

[Kaisercel]

In posts discussing college in the USA, apparently you have to purchase text-books or something?
Why?

I don't understand your surprise. You also have to do this in many European countries. Anyway, today you can just download for free a pirate copy of most books from websites like Library genesis.

 

[Ellsworth]

Yeah the college book thing is clearly a scam here in the states.

Edition to edition there's little to no change, but professors can be dicks by needing an online key from the new book, forcing you to buy it. Obviously kickbacks from the publishers.

Yes it a very obvious scam mixed with price gouging. They could easily use cheaper books or not demand the newest addition every year. Now try he are using electronic online keys which are also spendy. Basically plan on spending 400-500 avg a quarter on text books. Then you get to sell some of them back to the bookstore at 10% lol

 

[radishman]

Yes it a very obvious scam mixed with price gouging. They could easily use cheaper books or not demand the newest addition every year. Now try he are using electronic online keys which are also spendy. Basically plan on spending 400-500 avg a quarter on text books. Then you get to sell some of them back to the bookstore at 10% lol

Yep and like a semester or 2 later those used books are worthless since the courses require a revised edition.