So i'm a first year business student looking for some info about textbooks. Im enrolled in the following courses:

 COMMERCE 1E03
 COMMERCE 1PA0
 MATH 1F03
 MATH 1M03
 ECON 1BB3
 ECON 1B03
 RELIGIOUS STUDIES 1BO6
 PSYCH 1X03

I would really like to know if any students from previous years found any of these courses' textbooks to be unnecessary of purchase (i.e. could simply be found and used in library instead), manditory for purchase, or know if they are being replaced by newer textbooks

Originally Posted by rumbleen

So i'm a first year business student looking for some info about textbooks. Im enrolled in the following courses:

 COMMERCE 1E03
 COMMERCE 1PA0
 MATH 1F03
 MATH 1M03
 ECON 1BB3
 ECON 1B03
 RELIGIOUS STUDIES 1BO6
 PSYCH 1X03

I would really like to know if any students from previous years found any of these courses' textbooks to be unnecessary of purchase (i.e. could simply be found and used in library instead), manditory for purchase, or know if they are being replaced by newer textbooks

You do not need the textbook for sure for ECON 1B03/1BB3 to do very well in the courses.

it's still summer. Don't worry too much about textbooks just now - most people won't start selling theirs till about a week or so before classes start anyway. Plus, you never know which courses you may want to drop/add, so don't rush anything just yet.

Wait till first day of class to check your book title/version. You can also find it on titles.mcmaster.ca I can give you a fact that you don't need the econ books.

I would stay away from books for Econ 1B03, Econ 1BB3, Psych 1X03. I didn't find them useful at all when I took the courses. I also tend to avoid the math textbooks since you can get everything from Google. The only real reason why you would need it is to have the homework questions (which you can just photocopy or other means).

Regarding psych 1X03: the courseware isn't needed. It has some practice questions and flow charts but aside from those few pages it's pretty useless. The textbook is somewhat helpful though. While you don't really need to read it to do decently, if you want to 12 the course it's helpful because sometimes the online quiz questions are textbook-only. That said it isn't needed as long as you know all the stuff from the online lectures.

That make sense, they had to do that now to get people to buy the books. When I did Psych 1X03 in 2010, the quizzes were easy, only worth 10% total and didn't require the textbooks.

Yeah, I just did it (Fall 2012). The quizzes were worth 30% (!) total and there was usually a textbook question on it. It's a helpful mark booster since you can just look it up on the spot if you have the book.

Does anyone know if these textbooks can be found on reserve at the library or despartment office? I rather not waste my money on ocasionally used text.

For bio, there was a room for students with loads of old textbooks I could've used instead of buying.

Usually courseware that is required for courses is a lightning loan in library for a few hours only

There is no textbook for 1PA0.
1E03, she's changing the textbook, and that's definitely worth buying - that was the only book I read cover to cover, and you likely would not have done that well if you didn't.
Maths, I personally thought the textbook was useful, but that's personal preference.
Econs, you definitely don't need micro, but I found macro to be helpful, though you can just use the online textbook that comes with Aplia, which is the online optional component of the course, though the majority of students opt in to the program.
You likely are also in computer science 1BA3, assuming you are in commerce, which you definitely need the textbook for as there's a lot of details to learn.

If you're interested, I have math and computer science to sell still. Let me know closer to school if you're interested

you could also try downloading the ebook online.

Thanks everyone for your input. You've all been a great help

Is there anyone who can tell me about the COMMERCE 1E03 and 1PA0 and the RELIGIOUS STUDIES 1B06 textbooks?

As users said in this thread, definitely don't need to worry about textbooks yet. Just focus on getting all the courses you want in SOLAR, and if you're in residence.. plan for that.

Textbooks shouldn't cross your mind until classes start in September. Literally, you get to attend your classes first, the intro class will go over the textbooks you need or don't need, you can assess the course, drop it if you want (if it's an elective) and take something else during add/drop period, etc. lots of variables that can change when classes start.

Once you're 100% sure you know the classes you're sticking with, then go and buy used textbooks from the many sources available to you.

More tips here about textbooks: http://www.macinsiders.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18 9