Helpful Tips For Having A Good Shark Pack Experience

We all agree that college textbooks are expensive. 

Not all professors require students to buy books, but many assign homework through online platforms such as Pearson that can only be accessed using textbook codes.

That requires students to set aside a bigger budget when registering for classes.

During my first semester, I took a computer science course that required me to purchase online material for $110. It hurts my wallet just remembering that. 

Situations like this discourage students, especially those who pay for classes out of pocket.

To alleviate this issue, Miami Dade College established Shark Pack, a program that enables students to get course material at a reduced price thanks to a partnership with Follett, the College’s partner bookstore..

Classes that have Shark Pack offer instructional materials, such as textbooks and programs like MyMathLab, for approximately $60 ($20 per credit).

The College implemented the first phase of Shark Pack during the fall of 2022, offering the program for core courses. 

It expanded the following semester to include courses, such as Medical Campus classes. 

The latest expansion came this summer with the introduction of codeless delivery for select courses on Canvas.

But, Shark Pack is still not available for all classes, and if you are not careful when registering, you might have to pay the regular price for a book. 

I learned the hard way. 

Last fall, I registered hastily for an eight-week course. 

When I checked the classwork for the course, which needed to be completed through the book’s online portal, I realized I didn’t have access to the book. That hadn’t happened to me before.

A message stating that the book needed to be purchased appeared on my screen. I soon realized not all courses offer automatic Shark Pack coverage. Because I didn’t have time to drop the class, I had to pay $85 for the book.

To stop you from the learning the hard way, here are some tips: 

Be Aware

Pay attention to the classes you register for. 

Conversely, there are courses that offer Shark Pack, but some professors may not require you to purchase the book. 

If that’s the case, opt out of Shark Pack Program through your MDConnect portal to avoid being charged $60 for a book you don’t need.

Be Resourceful

The MDConnect portal has filters to facilitate the process of selecting classes. Click on the “additional search criteria” option and select “Shark Pack” in the dropdown menu to limit your search to courses that are covered by the program.

Look For The Fin

Search for courses that show a blue shark fin icon; that’s the best indicator that the class you picked offers Shark Pack.

I advise you to take advantage of this tool because it can save you money and headaches.