I'll be taking the following courses this year:

Bio 1a03
Bio 1m03
Chem 1a03
Chem 1aa3
Math 1ls3
Physics 1b03
Psych 1x03
Psych 1xx3
*French 1a06

I'm trying to determine what materials I'll need to buy for each course and approximately how much they run for (used). I received a $500 bursary and am thinking it should cover a majority of my book/material costs, but am looking for the input of others to make sure.

If you have any other tips or tricks when it comes to buying course material, feel free to share them =)

Buy used; check on the MacInsiders marketplace. Most people are open to negotiations but do remember not to go too low or you'll risk losing the deal all together. We're all students and we're trying to make a decent profit. Avoid Titles whenever possible. You can often get used books from students for cheaper and sell your books to students for higher prices than selling back to Titles. Be very careful before buying courseware (custom made booklets for the course). It's non refundable. Avoid stationary from Titles; go to Staples. Don't buy books until after classes start unless you reallly want to get ahead on readings. Book lists can change without notice (my Stats book did last year) and you don't want to get screwed. Always send an email to a prof if you want confirmation or just wait till the first day of class.

$500 seems reasonable but it MAY be a little tight depending on if they've changed books this year and you have to buy them new. Never buy optional materials. I always found the Psych courseware useless. The material was never tested...IMO. I'd recommending splitting the price with a friend and then scanning the book. That way you both have a digital copy and you didn't waste 50 bucks on something you probably won't use. The Physics book was useful IMO but I found a nice online copy. It depends; some people don't like online reading; I personally try to avoid it as much as possible but it can be helpful if for instance you're commuting and want to do homework problems or readings on campus/on the bus but don't want to carry 1500 pages with you.

You also have to buy things like a lab coat, lab goggles, and lab notebooks. Those you pretty much have to buy from Titles brand new. If you're a lab disaster like me, you may end up buying more than one lab coat (since you're not supposed to wash them ever).

Chem 1A03/1AA3 use the same textbook, but it's expensive. Other than that, all of your courses will have different books.

If you're not a huge textbook learner, you can always just not buy the book, and go to the library if you ever find you really need it, or only buy it for subjects you're weaker in. It's hard to tell before starting first year though, so maybe keep it in mind for second term?

Also, ask your WW reps about books!!! Especially the 2nd year ones

Don't be afraid to get old versions unless the prof strongly recommends against it--there's usually not too much difference between versions, and it will save you a ton of money.

Bio1a03 = softback text (penchenck?) can be bought for like 50$ or less off students; the writing guide is very helpful and will be very useful if you continue with life sciences in upper years
Bio1m03 = same with this text; even cheaper because evolution isn't as appliable to upper level biochem courses
The mastering bio keycode you get when you purchase the bundle is VERY helpful... if you don't get one with your courseware or the key has been used; contact your TAs to see if theres a common-course account you can use... the flash animations and mini-quizzes on the site are very good.

Chem1a03/Chem1aa3 (peccrusi)= is used a lot; older versions have the same content as newer; can pick up in pretty good condition for under 100$
Included software sucks in my opinion.

Math/phyics = not sure about these

Psych = probably custom courseware, cheaper than texts

iClicker = <30$?; if you buy used: make sure the serial number is still completely visible.. otherwise its useless, but you can talk to a person at titles to exchange it for a new one usually.

I'm pretty sure all that will come to about 600-700$ unless you're very thrifty or make use of amazon/kajiji/macinsiders marketplace/facebook marketplace.

Originally Posted by tatski-p

I'll be taking the following courses this year:

Bio 1a03
Bio 1m03
Chem 1a03
Chem 1aa3
Math 1ls3
Physics 1b03
Psych 1x03
Psych 1xx3
*French 1a06

I'm trying to determine what materials I'll need to buy for each course and approximately how much they run for (used). I received a $500 bursary and am thinking it should cover a majority of my book/material costs, but am looking for the input of others to make sure.

If you have any other tips or tricks when it comes to buying course material, feel free to share them =)

My "tip" is to wait for the course booklists to come up first on the Titles bookstore website (usually in August I think). MacInsiders typically publishes an "article" with the link when it does come out. Just because a book was used last year does NOT mean that it will be the same this year. They are frequently the same but not always. You don't to be stuck buying the wrong book and then trying to sell a book that no one needs.

From the Titles prices, you will see how much the books sell for new and used at the bookstore, so you can tell whether other students are ripping you off or not.

Another place to try for cheap books is the Used Book Classifieds on the Titles website (http://icbb.sellmytextbooks. org/members/17/index.cfm?index=CLASS IFIEDS). You need to be careful with this one though because some books have been posted there by other students since forever and they have not been removed. You can tell because each ad says when it was posted. Watch these dates and don't contact sellers who've probably already long graduated and moved far far away-_-. It might still be worth a look though; I know people who have bought books from there before and I have bought/sold a few books myself via this site.

EDIT - Sorry that link doesn't work. Try this: http://bookswap.mcmaster.ca --> "Sign up for...[...]...Used Book Classifieds" (the second link) --> Search Classifieds.