Lately there has been a lot of debate concerning the best way to procure your textbooks for the next semester.

“Is it better to buy from your school’s bookstore?“

“How about an online site, like Half.com or Amazon?”

“What about renting? That’s the latest trend, right?”

I really was not sure what I was going to do this semester. My parents are making me pay for all of my books, so I definitely want to go the cheapest route possible.

I decided the best plan of attack would be to make a chart to compare my options.  I found out which books I will be taking next semester, and here’s what I came up with.

In three out of four cases, renting textbooks from Chegg.com is the cheapest option. However, the downside to renting my books is that I cannot keep them after I am done with them. Sometimes, this would make me really sad because – contrary to popular belief – some college books are actually kind of cool. However, this is not the norm, so I guess saying “adios” to my books at the end of the semester wouldn’t be too bad. Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE – Winners Joy and Courtney were selected 9/1/10. This giveaway has ended.

Are you facing the financial burden of back to school and in need of cheap textbooks? Let us, along with Follett, help ease the pain with a $100 gift card.

Comment below and tell us why you need this $100 Follett gift card. “Poor college student” isn’t going to cut it, because let’s face it, most current college students, and even those of us who once walked those hallowed halls, have carried that title.

We will draw two winners September 1, 2010 – each will receive a $100 gift card from Follett to be used in their campus bookstores. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, it seems that college bookstores are trying to get in on the popular new trend of textbook rental.

Follett Higher Education Group announced a new plan to expand its textbook rental program to 850 college and university bookstores. In fall 2009, Follett’s pilot program was implemented at seven schools and saved students almost $2 million, as opposed to buying textbooks. By January 2010, there were 27 schools participating in the program. Starting the 2010 school year, Follett expects to have rental programs in place at more than 800 schools.

“Our rental program is efficient and value-driven and will benefit students while providing them with yet another affordable choice from Follett bookstores,” said Thomas A. Christopher, president of Follett Higher Education Group. “We have been at the forefront of cost-savings programs for more than a century, and this is just one of many options…to drive down the cost of course materials.” Read the rest of this entry »