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The expense of attending college has risen extensively especially in what students are spending on books and supplies, according to Kim Miles, assistant dean of scholarship and financial aid.”The costs of books have gone up quite a lot for students,” said Miles. “Students are paying much more for their books and supplies every semester.”

According to Miles, the cost of books is calculated based on the consumer price index over a nine-month period. The reasons for increase in prices of books have to do with the price to ship books and the price of gas. Therefore, if the price of gas and shipping fees increase, the price of books will likely increase.

Amy Yang, 19, is an international studies student who spent $300 on textbooks this semester. “The textbooks are overpriced and the publisher makes unnecessary changes to the textbooks to call it a new edition, just to get money from us,” said Yang.
Last semester, Caroline Tang, a communications major, bought a textbook for her communications class for $110. “My professor said she teaches right out of the book and it would be very useful for us. But she never opened the book even once,” said Tang.

Bookstore Director Douglas A. Ferris said the prices of textbooks rise faster than the rate of inflation.

“The prices of books go up each semester even with the same edition,” said Ferris.

Ferris said publishers say they are not selling as much as the first year. The price increased because publishers are now competing with students selling used books to other students.

Another key reason is that a new version of books comes out every two years, according to Ferris. Even if the bookstore orders the older versions of a book, the publishers will most likely replace them with the new versions and stop printing the old version.

“Students cannot come to school and expect the school to supply them with textbooks,” said Miles. “Students need to understand the price of books is determined by what the market will bear.”

Miles says the estimation of nine-month stay-at-home students budget went from $9,114 in 2006-07 to $9,988 in 2007-08. In the incoming year of 2008-09, Miles estimates the cost of attendance may go up to $10,126.

Miles advises students to make sure they apply for financial aid and the fee waiver early, and to look for resources to pay for college.

“I am independent from my parents and I have to pay my expenses on my own, so I am lucky to have financial aid,” said Raul Pai, nursing major. Pai said that if it were not for financial aid, he would not be able to continue his education.

The bookstore also does buy-backs for students. “We always have 55 percent buy back deals,” said Ferris. “All of our profits go back to the students.”

Bookstore profits go towards the College Service Fund, Student Service Fund and the Associated Students.

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