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First Year Textbooks Amara General Discussion 38 09-17-2009 10:35 PM

Textbooks for first year!!!

 
Old 08-20-2009 at 03:15 PM   #1
tan_90
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Textbooks for first year!!!
Hi,

I'm a first year student and I don't know if I have to buy the books before university starts. Do i have to buy all my books before cming to uni or do i buy them during welcome week at titles store? And am i supposed to buy the optional books as well?

Thanks for yr help
Old 08-20-2009 at 03:19 PM   #2
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If you wait until after your first lecture, you'll usually get a list from the prof of what books to buy. They'll also tell you if some of the books are available at the library. You can buy books from Titles, Undercovers (used books), or from upper years. What courses are you taking?
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Old 08-20-2009 at 05:05 PM   #3
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Ok thanks I'm going into commerce. I'm taking the commerce course and a lot of electives like communication st, peace st, geography, french and cultural st. I'm taking this in term 1. What do students normally do? Do they wait until they get the list of books from the prof or do they buy them as soon as uni starts? I'm getting really confused with the buying of books and all.

Also do I have to buy binders, papers or copybooks before coming to uni?
Old 08-20-2009 at 05:07 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tan_90 View Post
Ok thanks I'm going into commerce. I'm taking the commerce course and a lot of electives like communication st, peace st, geography, french and cultural st. I'm taking this in term 1. What do students normally do? Do they wait until they get the list of books from the prof or do they buy them as soon as uni starts? I'm getting really confused with the buying of books and all.

Also do I have to buy binders, papers or copybooks before coming to uni?

Students do all sorts of things, some people buy the books in advance, some buy them after the first day of classes and some buy them a few days/weeks into the term.

You should buy everything you will need in terms of stationary before school starts. You can get them on sale.
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Old 08-20-2009 at 11:30 PM   #5
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I have Cultural Studies and French textbooks! *wink wink, nudge nudge* Which specific courses?
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Old 08-21-2009 at 03:31 PM   #6
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I'm doing CSCT 1B03 and French 1Z06. Does this happens that the list of books change. I mean that the prof decides not to use a textbook? What happens if we already bought it?

Btw what kind of stationaries do i actually have to buy? Do we use copybooks?
Old 08-21-2009 at 03:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tan_90 View Post
I'm doing CSCT 1B03 and French 1Z06. Does this happens that the list of books change. I mean that the prof decides not to use a textbook? What happens if we already bought it?

Btw what kind of stationaries do i actually have to buy? Do we use copybooks?
What I'd suggest is that if you've bought the books brand new, do not take the shrink wrap off until you need to use the text. This way if you don't need the textbook you can return it. In terms of stationary, lined paper/notebooks should suffice. Oh and a pen but keep in mind you get a bunch for free on campus.
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Old 08-21-2009 at 03:52 PM   #8
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I, personally, bought my textbooks early and had them shipped to me. They just arrived today. For me, I like having everything and being prepared before I get to school - that way I know what I have and I know what I don't.
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Old 08-21-2009 at 03:53 PM   #9
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Keeping the wrapper on until your sure ya need it is good advice...

Consider the following...

You can buy texts from Titles online up until Aug 29th. The only additional charge (if you live in Ontario) is $6/kg for shipping.

Lineups for books during the first two weeks can be as long as 5 hours.

Titles will take back unused books.

If you decide ya don't wna the textbook or ya snag a cheap one from an upper year you can return it for a full refund less the $6/kg shipping ya paid.

Consider it a 6 buck insurance policy to avoid the massive lineups for texts.

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Old 08-21-2009 at 07:06 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tan_90 View Post
Btw what kind of stationaries do i actually have to buy? Do we use copybooks?
Line Paper, Pencils, Erasers, McMaster approved calculator (Casio fx-991MS), Stapler and Staples (They are provided in some buildings, but it's a lot more convenient if you just have your own), Ruler, Whiteout. You'll get pens on campus during welcome week.

If you are brining a printer: white paper.

Also binders if you are that type of person and a hole puncher.
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Old 08-21-2009 at 11:27 PM   #11
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I think Im gonna wait to hear about what the profs say, but if I want to buy them used from upper years how do you find them? Is there like a marketplace or something where they put them up for sale?
Old 08-22-2009 at 12:22 AM   #12
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I have CSCT 1B03 books from last year (Prof was Chakraborty). All we had was a courseware and a John Storey textbook (Cultural Studies and the Study of Popular Culture). The courseware will probably change, but if you need the John Storey book, let me know!
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Old 08-22-2009 at 09:43 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Black.Mamba View Post
I think Im gonna wait to hear about what the profs say, but if I want to buy them used from upper years how do you find them? Is there like a marketplace or something where they put them up for sale?
http://www.macinsiders.com/sr_classifieds.php --> Macinsiders Marketplace
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Old 08-22-2009 at 03:06 PM   #14
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ok i went online to amazon.ca to check out some textbooks for sale and for example i looked for ASTRONOMY TODAY by Eric Chaisson and a bunch come up, a few are really cheap too. But none of the ISBNs match the one i got from the book list for the course. If the title is the same, and the author is the same... how much will it screw me up to buy something with a different ISBN?
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Old 08-22-2009 at 03:15 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Melanieee View Post
ok i went online to amazon.ca to check out some textbooks for sale and for example i looked for ASTRONOMY TODAY by Eric Chaisson and a bunch come up, a few are really cheap too. But none of the ISBNs match the one i got from the book list for the course. If the title is the same, and the author is the same... how much will it screw me up to buy something with a different ISBN?
Are the editions the same also?
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