It’s the end of the fall semester and you want nothing more than to turn in your textbooks for some cash, pack your belongings, and head home for Christmas break. But wait, turn in your textbooks for cash? Yes, although the $100 you get for two textbooks may be appealing, you should stop and consider a few key things before selling back that textbook. Before you stand outside in the snow, waiting in line to get only a few dollars back compared to what you originally paid, consider these 5 things:
Will you use it for another class?
Be sure to look ahead to your future classes and determine if you will use it. Chances are if you purchased a version of “The Yellow Wallpaper” there are a number of classes it may be used in. It could be used in a Fiction course, an introductory English course, or even a Feminist studies class. If you know that textbook will be used in the future, consider storing it until then. It will be one less book you have to purchase later.
Will you use it in your profession?
I know that after studying every line of an American History textbook, chances are you can come up with a few creative ways to get rid of it. However, it may be a wise idea to keep books that are relevant to your major. If you are a History education major, keeping history books may come in handy when you start creating lesson plans. Consider keeping textbooks that would be used in your profession.
Are you going to graduate school?
If you know that you are applying to graduate school, you should definitely consider keeping books specific to your major. Chances are you have great notes in your textbook that can help during studying. Who knows? They may even use that same textbook.
Can a friend or roommate use it?
If you know that your younger brother is going to take the same class next year, let him use it before selling it back. Because college textbooks are so overpriced, share textbooks with other students. They may have a book you need and be willing to arrange a trade.
How much are you getting for it?
I was saddened to learn that my beloved version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” would only get $1.25 at my college’s book buyback. I was never planning on selling it, just interested in seeing how much my books would get back that semester. If you paid $20 for a book that is only going to get you a few dollars back, consider keeping it. You may not have loved the book, but may benefit from reading it at a later date when you are not stressed and rushing through assignments.
If you see no particular use for the book in the future, by all means, sell it back to the bookstore or online. You can always use the money to pay for next semester’s books (or a spring break trip). But, look to the future before selling all your books back. There may be a few worth keeping.
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