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Explanation of Getting an Educational Discount on Software - Tricks for Good Grades: Strategies to Succeed in School. Also refer to applications, word processor, spreadsheet, teacher, instructor, professor, proof, ID, registration, bootleg, illegal, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Getting an Educational Discount on Software

by Ron Kurtus (22 June 2007)

Your teacher or professor may require you to purchase various software applications for completing assignments and projects. There is also regular software that you need for everyday use on your computer. Unfortunately, some software applications can be expensive. The solution is to purchase your software titles at an educational discount. You do need proof that you are a student at an accredited school or university to purchase the software at a discount.

Questions you may have include:

Why type of software is required?
What sort of requirements are there to get this software?
Where can I purchase software at this discount?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Typical software

Software required of students can run cover a wide range. The most obvious is a word processor, such as Microsoft Word. If you are taking a graphic arts course, you may be expected to buy Adobe PhotoShop. College students taking advanced statistics may need the SPSS graduate statistics pack.

Most of the required software is fairly expensive, so a 75% discount offered by educational software retailers would help out.

Requirements

Requirements for getting educational discounts on software that you must be a qualified student form an accredited school or institution. You need to provide proof of your academic status when placing an order. This is usually done by sending a copy of your academic ID to the software distributor.

Typical acceptable proofs are:

Dated student ID card
Current class schedule
Letter from school on school letterhead
Registration form

Some require one of the above, while others require two proofs.

Sources

Following is a list of some of the companies that specialize in selling software to schools, faculty and students. The best bet is to check them out to see which best fits your needs. Also, make sure the discount is more than you can get through your usual sources.

Not recommended

Note that you may have received email that advertises software at extremely low prices, with no requirements or restrictions. This is usually unauthorized copies of common software applications. Often they are distributed from foreign countries. It is not a good idea to buy this software, even though the prices are below the educational discount price. They software may be incomplete, may be infected with a virus, and you may get in trouble for using it.

We recommend that you do not purchase that software.

Summary

You may be required to purchase various software applications for completing assignments and projects. Some software applications can be expensive. The solution is to purchase your software titles at an educational discount. You do need proof that you are a student at an accredited school or university to purchase the software at a discount.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Buy good stuff