Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

Page 29 text:

Electrical engineering major Greg Grant not only spends nione on books, but on engineering supplies such as the power supply meter he is using to complete a project. A typical semester will cost him up to S500. ' Photo h Robert Williams! ■ typical semester at Texas Tech costs Jamie Martin, n accounting major in the College of Business Admin- ■tration. about S300 for books. IPhoio by Corby ' obertsi Chemical engineering major Kimberlie West looks at another textbook needed to complete her book list at the beginning of the semester IPhoto by Corby Ro- berts ' Oeitgned by Lora Imi: Major Expenses — 25

Page 28 text:

THE COST OF A HIGHER EDUCATION DOES NOT STOP WITH TUITION MAJOR COSTS Imagine a bill for $2,536. That is what some students pay for books and supplies over the course of four years. The largest one-time bill I have seen from a student was $317, said Daisy Rubalcada, a floor saleswoman for the Red Raider Bookstore. Through a consensus gathered from sev- eral bookstore managers and students, most agreed that architecture and art majors have the biggest cost to bear. Architect majors have to buy special markers that cost $44 a piece, Rubalcada said. Some of their books are $150 a piece. One hundred and fifty dollars may be the most expensive book, but an average cost is around $40. Imagine buying just one $40 book for each class every semester Even if a student were taking the mini- mum 12-hour load, it would cost around $1,280 for eight semesters. And who gets out in four years only taking 12 hours a semester? So now add a summer school cost. Malcolm Miller, an advertising major from Midland, said he has spent as much as $120 for one class. For one of my art classes I had to buy 1 2 tubes of paint at $4 a tube, two paint brushes at $6 apiece, canvas at $6 apiece, paint pallets, architecture tape at $8 a role and glue. Miller said. This came to a total of $200 by the time I replaced used-up items during the semester. This was just for supplies, too. Debbie Ault, an art minor from Houston, said that for one class she had to buy three color filters for her camera. That cost me around $40, Ault said. You also have to buy chemicals to develop your film. The problem is that once you run out of the paint or canvas, you have to go back for more, said Miller. I have to replace my chemicals for my photography class, usually twice a semes- ter, Ault said. It usually costs around $30. I feel like I don ' t have any money. Rubalcada said architecture majors will spend around $500 a semester and that art majors will spend around $300. Biology majors spend around $300 due to the large books, lab kits and goggles they have to buy, she said. She said home economics majors spend around $200 a semester. Agriculture majors have big, expensive books, Rubalcada said. English majors don ' t have to spend a lot on one book, but they usually have to buy so many books for one class. Music majors have expensive books, too, but they don ' t have to buy many of them, said Rubalcada. Miller said he has learned more about his major through his experience as an adver- tising sales representative for The Universi- ty Daily than he has learned in his classes. In class you just get definitions, he said. Ault said she has learned a lot t hrough hands-on-experience. I might even pay more than I am now at another school, she said. Plus, I am the one who has chosen to take this route. With the extra fees included in college tuition, a student will spend around $450 a semester. Then add an average of $150 for books for a 12-hour class load. Over a course of eight semesters, the average Tech student might spend around $4,800 for higher education. That figure does not include dues that must be paid to be a member of an organi- zation on campus. Dues can range any- where from $5 to $300 a semester. When you walk on stage and receive your diploma, though, it ' s all worth it, Ault said. — Lisa L. LaBrant Matching course numbers and instructors. Kiniberl; Russell, an English major, begins her trip througlf Varsity Bookstore, which will end at the cash rcgiste with a $250 bill. (Photo by Corby Roberts) 24 — Major Expenses ■dM

Page 30 text:

The axerage person in good health can earn $17 a week and up to $73 a month plus mo ie passes bv donating plas- ma. Some Tech students choose donating blood o er a second job. I