hello. when should first yrs start buying books? and how do we know what books to buy?

You can ask upper years or search older course outlines. Chances are wait for the first day of each class and buy them within the first week. Remember, buying online like MI/FB/kajiji saves you about half than original!

For textbooks, check out the "Textbook & Course Materials Search":
http://www.bookstore.mcmaste r.ca/c...urs ematerial
Looks like it's not yet updated for the new school year.

It's totally up to you when you want to buy the books, some people wait until the prof tells them what textbook to use..they don't want to rush because they are scared they will buy old editions and waste their money..but from my experience old books (in my opinion and my case) are the same as new books (few minor changes here and there, but not a big deal). My friend was using a chem book from another university in my chem class and still managed to kill that class
My physics prof in first year told us that any edition you have is good (we were using the 8th edition and he said if you are using the 5th edition you will be fine !)

If you are in science, I can't comment on anything, I am just saying from my experience when I was in first year eng..

Typically u have to wait for the university book store called "Titles" to release the book list for the Fall - Winter semester for undergrads, which usually comes out close to Sept.
http://www.bookstore.mcmaste r.ca/ >> this is the site

all u have to do is make the selections and allow it tell u wat books u need based on ur courses.

Otherwise if your and eager beaver, as Ken said u can google old course outlines and get the book cheap off other online stores and sites like Kijiji. Abe books click here seems to be pretty good too, i usually get alot my from here. In fact all my second year books were from Abe

any way

welcome to mac

**sorry jimmy, ur post wasnt there wen i was answering

MI should really allow for live update**

I wouldn't buy them until like 1-3 weeks after school starts, depending on the class and how much the book is needed. And buy your books off of other people. New books at titles are a ripoff, especially in first year. I only touched the textbooks for my bio classes but that is because I didn't go to class. Most kids in science regret buying most of their books, but that could be different for you.

"live update" would be pretty cool

You can usually find used books on MI, and you can even ask the person who is selling it if they took the same course as you with the same prof. And they can tell you how much you might need the book.

But I wouldn't buy them in advance, one time for a Comp Sci course I still hadnt bought the book and within the first class the prof said "oh yea and the book? you can buy it if you want, but you dont have to, I wrote it, but all the info is on the slides, I wont reference the book at all"
And thus I saved money.

But I also wouldnt wait 3 weeks to buy them, because personally by that point, I'll have no motivation to back track and read what I hadn't read at the beginning.

According to titles, the fall textbook listing will be posted on August 9th (http://www.bookstore.mcmaste r.ca/c...urs ematerial ). But as others have mentioned, it is wise for you to wait till at least the first day of classes to determine whether or not the textbook is required.

But sometimes it depends on the subject. I mean, I am usually very inclined to buy my Math textbooks early so I can get them cheaper, but thats because I never expect a math book to not be used, its my major and profs love their practice problems.

Its usually my electives I wait until the first day, and usually bargain my way out of buying them - like if I think the prof makes good slides I wont buy it, or if I have a friend to split it with. Because I know I will never want to look at that elective's textbook again, so I never really want to buy it in the first place.

Originally Posted by Melanieee

You can usually find used books on MI, and you can even ask the person who is selling it if they took the same course as you with the same prof. And they can tell you how much you might need the book.

But I wouldn't buy them in advance, one time for a Comp Sci course I still hadnt bought the book and within the first class the prof said "oh yea and the book? you can buy it if you want, but you dont have to, I wrote it, but all the info is on the slides, I wont reference the book at all"
And thus I saved money.

But I also wouldnt wait 3 weeks to buy them, because personally by that point, I'll have no motivation to back track and read what I hadn't read at the beginning.

Originally Posted by Melanieee

But sometimes it depends on the subject. I mean, I am usually very inclined to buy my Math textbooks early so I can get them cheaper, but thats because I never expect a math book to not be used, its my major and profs love their practice problems.

Its usually my electives I wait until the first day, and usually bargain my way out of buying them - like if I think the prof makes good slides I wont buy it, or if I have a friend to split it with. Because I know I will never want to look at that elective's textbook again, so I never really want to buy it in the first place.

Lmfao like a 2 hour break in telling your life story of text books haha thanks for the good read!