
	This Semester, Save Money and Succeed 10 Tips to Get the Most from Your College Experience WASHINGTON, DC - As students across the country return to campus this month, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released a list of 10 tips for students on how to save money on textbooks. The tips provide students with a variety of ways to save money this season, from shopping early to using e-books and online editions to adopting good study habits. “With classes starting, it’s important students begin the academic year with the learning tools they need to be successful,” said Bruce Hildebrand, AAP’s executive director for higher education. Today, publishers offer more low-cost options than ever before for textbooks and supplemental learning materials, including split editions, textbooks by the chapter, down-loadable electronic versions, black-and-white editions, custom books and abbreviated editions. Innovations by publishers make it possible for professors to select customized content in course materials, thereby providing students with lower costs and better value. “Each year, students and their families must spend money on tuition, room and board, school supplies, dorm décor and countless other items,” Hildebrand said. “By helping them consider all available options when buying textbooks, we want to show how that load can be a little lighter – and how students can really make the most out of their college investment,” he said. A brief summary of the 10 tips to help college students save money are: 1) Do Your Research. Talk to your professor, bookstore manager or students who completed the course to learn which books and materials are most important. 2) Use the Most Modern, Comprehensive Texts and Tools. Textbooks are not the place to scrimp if you want to get the most from your education dollars. Students achieve better academic results when they use advanced textbooks, supplements and formats (printed, electronic, online) that best suit their learning style and needs. 3) Check Publishers’ Websites. Many publishing companies have websites that display all of the options in one place, including low-cost choices, such as discounted or free textbooks and other helpful links. 4) Explore E-Books and Online Editions. An increasing number of college instructors are adopting digital materials that are available online through password-protected websites, and are less expensive than printed materials. 5) Shop Early. If you know in advance which textbooks and course materials you will need, you will have time to comparison shop to find the best deal and can take advantage of bookstore discounts and sales events. In some cases, the laws of supply and demand can cause bookstore prices to be lower during certain times of the year. 6) Use a Textbook’s ISBN to Comparison Shop. Every book has a unique, machine-readable identification number known as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Use the ISBN to ensure you are purchasing the correct textbook. 7) Consider Used Books. Used textbooks are not always an appropriate choice, but you can usually save money by purchasing used titles for some courses during your college careers. College bookstores are reliable sources because they can find the correct editions with all the important ancillary materials. 8) Sell Your Used Textbooks. You can recover much of the cost for textbooks by selling your used editions privately or to a bookstore. Students on a four quarter system have as many as 16 chances to sell their books and can recoup as much as 50 percent of their textbook investment. 9) Keep Books You May Need for Your Future. If you think you may need or want specific books for future reference or to pursue another degree, career or interest, it may be more cost-efficient to keep them rather than try to replace them later. 10) Adopt Good Study Habits. Every year, millions of college students lose time and money they have invested in textbooks, learning tools, tuition, and fees because poor study habits force them to repeat a course, a semester or drop out altogether. One of the easiest ways to save money is to develop solid study skills and use the best instructional tools to master course material efficiently. Students who do, earn higher grades and graduate sooner, thereby saving money and gaining the greatest value from their college investment. The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s more than 300 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services.

This Semester, Save Money and Succeed

10 Tips to Get the Most from Your College Experience

WASHINGTON, DC - As students across the country return to campus this month, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released a list of 10 tips for students on how to save money on textbooks. The tips provide students with a variety of ways to save money this season, from shopping early to using e-books and online editions to adopting good study habits.

“With classes starting, it’s important students begin the academic year with the learning tools they need to be successful,” said Bruce Hildebrand, AAP’s executive director for higher education.

Today, publishers offer more low-cost options than ever before for textbooks and supplemental learning materials, including split editions, textbooks by the chapter, down-loadable electronic versions, black-and-white editions, custom books and abbreviated editions. Innovations by publishers make it possible for professors to select customized content in course materials, thereby providing students with lower costs and better value.

“Each year, students and their families must spend money on tuition, room and board, school supplies, dorm décor and countless other items,” Hildebrand said.

“By helping them consider all available options when buying textbooks, we want to show how that load can be a little lighter – and how students can really make the most out of their college investment,” he said.

A brief summary of the 10 tips to help college students save money are:

1) Do Your Research. Talk to your professor, bookstore manager or students who completed the course to learn which books and materials are most important.

2) Use the Most Modern, Comprehensive Texts and Tools. Textbooks are not the place to scrimp if you want to get the most from your education dollars. Students achieve better academic results when they use advanced textbooks, supplements and formats (printed, electronic, online) that best suit their learning style and needs.

3) Check Publishers’ Websites. Many publishing companies have websites that display all of the options in one place, including low-cost choices, such as discounted or free textbooks and other helpful links.

4) Explore E-Books and Online Editions. An increasing number of college instructors are adopting digital materials that are available online through password-protected websites, and are less expensive than printed materials.

5) Shop Early. If you know in advance which textbooks and course materials you will need, you will have time to comparison shop to find the best deal and can take advantage of bookstore discounts and sales events. In some cases, the laws of supply and demand can cause bookstore prices to be lower during certain times of the year.

6) Use a Textbook’s ISBN to Comparison Shop. Every book has a unique, machine-readable identification number known as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Use the ISBN to ensure you are purchasing the correct textbook.

7) Consider Used Books. Used textbooks are not always an appropriate choice, but you can usually save money by purchasing used titles for some courses during your college careers. College bookstores are reliable sources because they can find the correct editions with all the important ancillary materials.

8) Sell Your Used Textbooks. You can recover much of the cost for textbooks by selling your used editions privately or to a bookstore. Students on a four quarter system have as many as 16 chances to sell their books and can recoup as much as 50 percent of their textbook investment.

9) Keep Books You May Need for Your Future. If you think you may need or want specific books for future reference or to pursue another degree, career or interest, it may be more cost-efficient to keep them rather than try to replace them later.

10) Adopt Good Study Habits. Every year, millions of college students lose time and money they have invested in textbooks, learning tools, tuition, and fees because poor study habits force them to repeat a course, a semester or drop out altogether. One of the easiest ways to save money is to develop solid study skills and use the best instructional tools to master course material efficiently. Students who do, earn higher grades and graduate sooner, thereby saving money and gaining the greatest value from their college investment.

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s more than 300 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services.