Textbooks are a law school expense many students don't account for when budgeting the semester. But your textbooks can cost from $1,000 to $3,000 per year if you purchase them new from the campus bookstore. An unscientific study conducted by the UR Law Library found that students can save up to 2/3 of the price on their textbooks every semester by seeking out the lowest prices available, be it buying new or used, or renting. Here are some tips for smarter shopping.
Buying Textbooks
You have many options to purchase your books online, but you need to act early to ensure your books will arrive in time for the start of the semester. If your books are not going to arrive by the start of class, the Law Library has copies of your textbooks on reserve.
Older editions of books are often much less expensive than the current edition. If your professor says you may use an older edition for a class, try finding it at an online retailer. You may have to check more than one site, since often these cheap books go fast.
If you rent your books online, make sure you send them back before the deadline or you will be hit with some hefty late fees.
Here are some online retailers that sell and rent textbooks at discounted prices.
Where to buy/rent -
Selling Back Your Books
Once the semester is over, you can sell back your textbooks. Be real with yourself about your textbooks -- once the semester is over, you will likely never look at them again. Once the new edition of a book comes out, those very expensive books become out-of-date. Sell back your books as soon as possible to get the best price.
Where to sell -