Money earned from selling an unwanted textbook can sometimes equal the cost of a few Ramen noodle dinners.
But textbook-swapping websites allow students to exchange textbooks from past classes for ones they actually need.
"Buying textbooks sucks," said Jonathan Simkin, founder of www.swoopthat.com. "You either go to the bookstore and you pay more, or you look for hours online."
Simkin's website shows a textbook's sale price and that book's price on Amazon and chegg.com. Students can also see what other students in the area have spent on the same book.
"Because we integrate directly with course schedules, we know what you need," he said.
Simkin said it typically takes 10 minutes to buy all the books needed for a semester.
Another textbook-swapping website, www.bookmooch.com, could appeal to students who prefer browsing from an international pool of textbooks.
The nonprofit textbook-swap website ships globally and can be viewed in seven different languages.
"It can really save you money when you are trying to make a book collection," said Teresa Malango, who works in media relations for the website.
Nevertheless, some students still seek the meat-and-potatoes version of buying books: going to the bookstore.
Environmental science senior Stephanie Kurtz said she has never bought a textbook online.
"I know it's cheaper [buying textbooks online]," Kurtz said. "I just like the convenience of being able to go into the bookstore and get everything I need."
She said she fears that if she orders a textbook online then drops the class she will be stuck with having to pay for it - that is, if she gets the textbook at all.
Kurtz said some of her friends have ordered textbooks online and were sent the wrong ones or never even received them at all.
Biology senior Nina Manno said Amazon is her first choice when she goes shopping for textbooks.
"I buy what I can online," she said, "but I buy the rest in the bookstore."
