When do you find out what textbooks are needed for classes?

Question

I am going to be a freshman in college and i start in 4 weeks,

i need to know how to find out what textbooks i need for my classes so i can search around for the cheapest prices.

can anyone help me?!!?

Answer 1

Your college bookstore is the best resource to use to collect the information.  They are one of only a few select places that you will be able to see by class what books you need without having to wait until the first day of class.  The key to saving money is to use your bookstores as a library.  

Go to the bookstore.

See what books you need

Write down the ISBN (you will see two on most books but only one is needed)

Go to a price comparison site such as www.campusbooks.com

do a search for the books

buy the condition you feel most comfortable with

If you are concerned that your books may not arrive in time you can always purchase  your books from the bookstore.  In many cases they will let you use the book for two weeks before a return is required.

But....Make sure you understand the return policy.  For instance, in many cases if you buy a new book you can not remove it from the wrapper or they may require an add/drop fourm to process the return.

The other option to finding the book information is to contact your professor prior to class.  If should be pretty easy to find their email address on the department website.  Many professors will post the required reading on a class website too.

When contacting the professor be sure to ask them if an older version will work or if all the components of the book are truly required.  Sometime you can find the same book without CD or online access code for a lot less.

Saving money on textbooks takes a bit of time but it can be really rewarding.

Answer 2

Usually you find out on the first day of class -- the professor will tell you exactly which books, which edition, you'll need.  It will also be written in the course syllabus the prof will hand out on the first day.  The college bookstore should know this ahead of time, but sometimes they continue to carry books that the professor no longer chooses to use and you end up buying things you don't need -- or one professor uses a different book for the same course than another professor wants to use.  Be sure you look for the exact edition the prof says, because sometimes the bookstores carry older editions.  Sometimes this is adequate, sometimes not.