Is it better to sell college books back or keep them for reference purposes?

1. 80

   Earl S. Wynnposted 14 years ago

   Is it better to sell college books back or keep them for reference purposes?

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2. 0

   scriber1posted 14 years ago

   In both cases, it depends upon how likely those books are to be updated or rewritten -- and if the answer is often or soon, then you've answered your own question

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3. 70

   fortunerepposted 14 years ago

   Personally, and i worked at a college (my alumni) for 5 years i would say keep them,  there has actually been times when students would sale thier books and end up ordering one from amazon.  It is good reference.  It is a good quite a bit of cash if ya need it but it would be better to save them at least for another year.
   dori

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4. 59

   sally.sourceposted 14 years ago

   I still use some of my old college text books, and there are some I got rid of that I wish I hadn't: of course there are plenty I wish I had gotten rid of long ago. The best guide I think is if you learned a lot in a certain class, and it really interests you, keep the book.

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   BobbiRantposted 14 years ago

   I sold mine to other students because the bookstore was good at selling you a book for $300 and giving you maybe $45 or $50 for the darn thing.  I needed the money as a poor college student so I sold them back. I never regretted it.

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   C.V.Rajanposted 14 years ago

   There are people who sell college books during their course to get extra money for spending happily!

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   RogerADposted 14 years ago

   Kind of depends on the book really. I have several books that I still reference from time to time, have for a number of years now. While others, I would probably have never touched again.
   
   A big part of it is how useful the book is to you and how likely you are to actually use it again, be honest

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   shahadat73posted 14 years ago

   I always keep them. However I saw lot of my friends are selling them, because of money issue. I kept them even if I had problems with my budget.

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   Airikahposted 14 years ago

   Ive done both. Ive sold the math books... lol and kept the other ones that I found interesting, only to have given them away eventually over time. lOl soo maybe selling back or sellin to other students is a good thing.

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    Kind Regardsposted 14 years ago

    My experience, sell them.  I never once looked at them again.

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    LoganGposted 14 years ago

    I sold almost every book I could. I was often able to sell my books for more than I paid. However, now that I'm out of school, I often find myself looking for a resource and wishing I still had my books.
    
    My advice: sell any book not related to your field of study/career. They're just too expensive to hang on to. But keep those you found particularly useful or that you could forsee being in the future.

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    Wayne Brownposted 14 years ago

    Sell 'em...you wont' use them. Every college student makes the same mistake, hangs on to the book and carries them around from place to place while the information just becomes outdated....take the money! WB

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13. 59

    AlanZimmermanposted 14 years ago

    Depends on how good the book is...about half the stuff I read in college was useless, and thus sellable.
    
    I did have a few really good texts that I have kept, and still readily reference.  I guess its your call in terms of what you got out of the class and whether or not you would want to revisit the information in the future.

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    True Blue Tipsposted 14 years ago

    I personally think it is a good idea to sell them once you are finished with them.  You will appreciate not having to drag them around when you move and they can help someone else with their studies.

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    merobinson2posted 14 years ago

    I keep them. But this is because one day I would like to have a huge library in my home. I rarely if ever look at the books once the class ends. But you never know, you or someone you know may end up needing a book on the subject in the future. So if you can afford it, Id say keep them.

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16. 83

    CarolineChicagoposted 14 years ago

    Sell back your science texts. They'll be useless in a few years. But keep your lit, poetry and philosophy books. You'll go back and read them some day when you aren't under exam pressures--and you'll find you love them much better the second time around.

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    RicardoEposted 14 years ago

    depends on your career, but I'm keeping my books
    a book is a friend always,

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18. 67

    Brupieposted 14 years ago

    College is what you make of it.  If you are just there to pick up the shingle at the end of four years, you weren't there for the learning, so sell the books.  If you worked hard at your courses and plan on using your education, keep them.  I've worked in accounting and finance and been very glad to have kept some of my books for reference.

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    drperetzposted 14 years ago

    SELL THEM ALL
    
    Thats why we have Google, Yahoo, and other search sites for.

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20. 82

    Kain 360posted 14 years ago

    I think it depends on the book, I am going to keep my vocab book, but prob sell most of the others. If you think you will use/need it, then do not sell it.
    
    Sadly its hard to acquire much money for used college books, even though they cost so much in the beginning.

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    japtakerposted 14 years ago

    I have kept far more textbooks than I've sold. I just can't bear to part with them. Besides, I mark my books so heavily as I read that no one would want to buy them anyways. But in any case, I do find that they are useful to have around.

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    the fixposted 14 years ago

    My rule is this:
    
    If I haven't cracked the book in 1 year, I sell it even if it is a book related to my field.
    
    Same goes for clothes BTW!
    
    I feel that the universe provides, and if you have a lot of stuff, the universe will think you are AOK and not send new things you may actually need.
    
    So make room for the new!

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    fxdaddyposted 14 years ago

    sell, sell, sell.  I never looked at the ones I did keep.  Ended up throwing them away or donating.

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    Tate's Irateposted 14 years ago

    I say sell them all!  With the availability of information on the internet, I have never regretted getting rid of mine.  I definitely suggest for people to try selling them on the internet first (amazon, ebay) rather than selling them back to the school bookstores; I've always received more $$ that way.

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25. 59

    tuscunposted 14 years ago

    It depends on a lot of things like some of you have said. I used to keep all my books because I thought I'll need them some day. And I really did need some of those books. But the truth is that most books became useless and now they are just taking precious space.
    
    But again, it depends on the book, the subject, and much more.
    
    And of course, nowadays you can find almost any information on Google, Wikipedia, HubPages . Personally, I enjoy reading paper rather than my LCD screen.

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    TheTopThreadsposted 14 years ago

    buy them used and resell them on ebay, thats what i used to do and it worked for me.might work for you!

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    eshwar_1989posted 14 years ago

    I only keep books that are supportive and poses more of general study. The other ones are bundled down and up for sale on eBay or at local market I personally suggest you to dispose college books as much as possible to avoid junk (You got all the knowledge available online to refer to whatsoever), moreover selling those books can earn you some pocket money always use wiki for your reference purposes

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    dablufoxposted 14 years ago

    Personally I'm a bit of clean freak so I like things tidy and I hate having stuff stored away if I know I'm never going to use it.
    
    If its a book I'm pretty well sure I'm never gonna read again I will see what I can get for it from this cool little site a found a while ago.
    
    I have actually written a hub on the online service if anyone would like to learn more about it.

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    sfpodiatristposted 13 years ago

    Definitely sell them back.  You'll never open a single one again.  And don't forget that the information is outdated quickly.  With the internet you can find much more valuable and up to date information

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