so I'm starting grad school....

[sleepybadger]

Technically this is like grad school light - all you really have to prove to get in is that you have your bachelor's degree. I'm going to a school that has a masters certificate option. This means I can take 4 classes in my chosen area and get a certificate, and then if I decide I want to go ahead and get my master's degree, I have to do the full application with letters of recommendation and the test results and all that jazz. I'm going into Business Analytics. I'm currently a project manager, and I'm more interested in the data and business analyst side of things so I'm working to get more education in that direction. I'm nervous and dreading group work. But right now I have to decide what I'm going to do about books.

I got my Bachelor's degree in 1996 so things have changed a lot since then. Back in the day, you'd go to your local bookstore, sigh in crushing defeat as you ended up spending $650 on books for the semester, and at the end of the year, if they were actually buying back the books you used, you might get $30 if you were really lucky. Now I have options. I need a book called Modern Database Management. My options are: 1. buy the physical book (used) (~$160 - 180) 2. buy the electronic/kindle version of the book (~$150) 3. rent the physical book (~$90) or 4. rent the electronic/kindle version of the book (~$100). While I've taken some courses as an adult, most either had fairly cheap books or used handouts that we got in class. This is the first time I've had the option to go electronic. I don't highlight in my books (typically I'll take notes, but I don't find highlighting useful) so that side of it doesn't really matter to me.

I didn't think I would ever enjoy reading books on an electronic device, but I actually read on my kindle a lot now and really like it. I download library books all the time and it's so wonderful.

Speaking of libraries, the physical book is available through my local library system, but loans are only good for three weeks, and you can renew it once for an additional 3 weeks. It's not at my physical library, so theoretically, if no one else put a hold on it, I could keep it out for 6 weeks, return it, and try to borrow it again before the next class meeting (this would work best if we had a holiday in the middle, but I don't know of any Wednesday holidays coming between now and June ;)). However, worst case scenario is that someone else puts a hold on it and I have to return it in 3 weeks (and then scramble to buy/rent/etc).

Any thoughts? Tips? Suggestions? Ideas? Something I haven't thought of? My sister is in school and she typically buys the physical book and then resells it on Amazon for a bit less than whatever the going price is. One semester she actually made money on a book. I'm not sure I'm ambitious enough to do that though.

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Maybe after you are both out for the semester?

[sleepybadger.livejournal.com]

i'm on a quarter system and she's on a semester system but at some point we'll both be off (or, really, she will be, which is the more important thing). I should see her on Friday so maybe I'll ask her then

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

sounds like a plan and I forgot to say, go, you! Congrats on going back! I went back after twenty years and was a much better student the second time around.

[sleepybadger.livejournal.com]

It surely makes a huge difference when you're going when you really want to go and learn versus when you're still trying to figure out what you want to do. At least that's how it was for me. My parents insisted I go to college right out of high school, and I had no clue what I wanted to do, what I wanted to major in, etc. I changed majors several times (and schools once) and ended up with a degree in English. I took some other classes for fun years later and did so much better because I was really *interested* in learning and not just trying to slog through to get a degree.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

That was me as well, although my college had a general studies degree for those of us how couldn't make up their minds. The second time around, I was much more focused.. Plus there's something to be said for being the same age or older than your professors.