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Original poster

Uni books. Mature student. I'm so screwed!

67 replies

NeonBella · 09/09/2020 21:52

There's literally nothing I can do about this and starting this thread will achieve nothing but...
I've just had my next year modules confirmed today and have logged on to the uni site to check out my reading list.
Baring in mind that I've only looked at the first semesters core reading (now too traumatised to look at sem 2!).
It's looking like close to £300 for 3 modules core reading material.
Fucking hell!!

I'm a lp. This is not going to happen. I guess I'm pretty much screwed.
Fuck.my.life.

OP posts:
TheVeryHungryTortoise · 09/09/2020 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:14

TheVeryHungryTortoise this is a science degree too.
I definitely need to get to grips with using ebooks to study.

OP posts:
TheVeryHungryTortoise · 09/09/2020 22:14

Sorry, not sure how I managed to double post. I have requested for one to be deleted.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Higher education
fromcitytocountry · 09/09/2020 22:14

Buy them as and when you definitely need them. So many of our core texts have sat on my shelf and been picked up literally to gain a few quotes. Don't fall into the panic trap.

A couple of places to buy good second hand books -
Private FB groups related to your subject
Abe books
World of books
Amazon (other sellers)
eBay
Charity shops that are bookstores

There's also some sites that let you search which libraries near you have a book in, so even if it's not your uni one there might be another local to you

fromcitytocountry · 09/09/2020 22:16

Forgot to add, on Amazon and Sage most of their books do a look inside and I've been able to get the quotes i need without purchasing but can still accurately reference

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:16

I totally missed the suggestion of putting the books on here by a couple of you. That's a good shout! You never know...

I'll update tomorrow with the titles
Thanks so much.

OP posts:
AnathemaPulsifer · 09/09/2020 22:16

If you have a tablet it’s much easier to read books on there than on the computer. You can annotate them too.

fromcitytocountry · 09/09/2020 22:16

Forgot to add, on Amazon and Sage most of their books do a look inside and I've been able to get the quotes i need without purchasing but can still accurately reference

Flowersmakemyday · 09/09/2020 22:17

I've just graduated as a mature student and found our library really helpful. They had several copies of books and if they were all out you could put in a request for one and the students who loaned out the books were contacted and had two weeks to return them. You'll find that some take them out then don't use them so there was always a copy available even if you had to wait for it. I also hated reading e-copies, but if it means you can access the books it will be worth persevering with them.

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:18

anathemaPulsifer
I have a surface go, the cheaper/smaller version of the pro.
It's a laptop and tablet in one. I'll start looking at apps to annotate ebooks.
Thanks

OP posts:
RiftGibbon · 09/09/2020 22:20

University library, public library, or look online. I didn't read all my core books when I was a mature student, but did ask lecturers for alternative sources/to identify specific chapters (then go on Google books), or scout eBay for second hand books.

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:22

Gosh, I'm so glad I posted. It really was just to vent a bit before I pulled up my big girl pants and got on with it as usual.

I've had so much really helpful advice. I have a plan of action now and I've realised that I need to figure out a way to use ebooks.
Weirdly, I have a kindle that I read on all the time. I have a bit of a mental block with academic books that I don't seem to have with fiction.

OP posts:
SockYarn · 09/09/2020 22:24

ABE books are quite good for second hand/discount. And if you go through quidco you get cashback too.

Janleverton · 09/09/2020 22:26

Try abebooks.co.uk
I’ve used them for lots of second hand books.

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:26

SockYarn yes I like Abe books. I got a few of last years books on there.
I've looked at this years and they dont sem to be much cheaper than waterstones! Unless I can use older editions, that's the game changer!

OP posts:
Janleverton · 09/09/2020 22:27

Xpost!

Original poster
NeonBella · 09/09/2020 22:29

Hahah! I was about to post that @janleverton

OP posts:
orangenasturtium · 09/09/2020 22:31

Sorry, I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and learn to cope with e-books. But I feel your pain, I feel the same way about using real books Grin

My DC were given iPads by their universities and all their core texts as e-books for free. They seem to prefer e-books but I would struggle. I find it more tiring to read long texts online.

Hardship grant, secondhand books, interlibrary loans and posting here to see if anyone has a spare copy are good ideas though. At least you might get some hard copies.

Lua · 09/09/2020 22:32

I have found a number of academic textbooks on Z library or google books.

Also, many unis have library subscriptions that gives you access to ebooks.

Hope you find it that way!

gavisconismyfriend · 09/09/2020 22:33

We’re teaching mainly online this semester and have pretty much been told not to indicate reading that students can’t get online as it isn’t fair to those who can’t come onto campus. Most uni libraries have an institutional agreement where you can scan so many chapters/% of texts by certain publishers and make them available on whatever the VLE system is for students to download/print. It just requires the module tutor to request them from whoever in the library is responsible for scanning them.

purpleleotard · 09/09/2020 22:35

you should look at abebooks.com for second hand academic books
good luck with your studies

mynameiscalypso · 09/09/2020 22:36

I'm doing a post graduate diploma and all of our reading is online now. It's an international programme so people don't have access to libraries etc and it's the only fair way to ensure that everyone has access. It's a pain when you want to scribble on a page but it's better than the scramble to get books that I remember from my uni days.

StraffeHendrik · 09/09/2020 22:36

Google the entire book title and look for pdf links, for many textbooks some dodgy person in Russia will have put a pdf of the entire book online.

JadesRollerDisco · 09/09/2020 22:37

I can't remember what now, but there is money for this. There is money for lone parents, for books on low income, discretionary funds, etc. I would have a hint around and see

Notnownotneverever · 09/09/2020 22:37

If you do end up buying any from Waterstones make sure you sign up for their loyalty scheme which you can use via an app. One stamp per £10 spend so you would get 8 stamps if you bought an £80 textbook and then you get £10 off once you have 10 stamps.
Adds up surprisingly easily so if you end up buying one or two of your books there it’s worth it.