Should I risk taking genetics and biotechnology without a book?

Question

Gas is up, and with all these other bills, it sure sucks to be me this semester. I am unemployeed, and I can't find a job. I refuse to lower my morals and do illegal things to get what I NEED to pursue my college degree, so yeah. What suggestions do you have for me?

Answer 1

I survived a three year genetics undergraduate degree without buying a single textbook.

As they say, if there's a will, there's a way.  Your university should have an adequate source of books.  Use your library card or spend time in the library to study.

Most of the time, textbooks are actually outdated.  It is much wiser to use internet - use e-journals (I assume you know this).  Professors usually provide a reading lists of journals.

Answer 2

Can you buy a second hand book from someone who did it last year?

People do manage it. There is no doubt it is much better to have your own text, but as long as your library has a decent range of texts (that are not being loaned out to other people that don't have their own text) you could do it.

Some of my textbooks from uni were never even opened. Others I poured over for hours and hours.

I would probably try to get a copy though.

Answer 3

The costs of textbooks are outrageous, although second-hand may be cheaper, especially if you can get them from former students, bypassing the middleman.  You may also be able to find older editions extremely cheaply, possibly by going online.

Genetics and biotechnology are not easy subjects, and there is lots of detailed information. Think about the cost of the books, and then think about the value of your time and your career.  No contest. If you need it, get it, even if it means living on potatoes and beans.

The question arises, however, of whether you really need a copy of the book.  That depends on the course, and it would be good to discuss it with someone who took it earlier, preferably from the same instructor.

If you are lucky in your instructors or adviser, you may be able to discuss the problem with them.  I have occasionally lent textbooks to students for a semester when they needed them.

Find out if the relevant books are in the university library. The department in which I taught also had a study area, with a very large selection of textbooks.  Some were the immediately previous edition, but that doesn't matter too much. Publishers keep on bringing out new additions, for purely commercial reasons.