When I was looking through some course reviews on here, some ppl say that for some courses you don't really need to buy a textbook, either because there are powerpoint slides available or some other reason.

So I'd like to ask under my conditions and with the courses I have for your opinions on whether I need/should buy the course textbook or not. And also, where do I find out what exact book I need to buy? I go onto avenue but each course doesn't really say. Anyways here are my courses:

Math 1LS3
Chem 1A03
Bio 1M03
Econ 1B03
Psych 1X03

So do you think I really need to buy textbooks for all of them? I'd just like your opinions guys, not trying to be cheap or anything. And I'm just curious too.

most students are poor. it's not about being cheap

Math 1LS3 - dono they revamped the course this year so no one can tell u for sure cus its totally diff than last year ... if prof says get it than just get it - they are still useing last years text though so u can buy used... btw im selling
Chem 1A03 - YES YES YES
Bio 1M03 - YES a couple references were made to it and some stuff on the tests were based on graphs in the text and the captions under the graphs so read those
Econ 1B03 - NO NO NO didnt even open it
Psych 1X03 - if its the online one than no, if ur talking about that custom course ware u get at titles yes

Originally Posted by omgwtfitsp

When I was looking through some course reviews on here, some ppl say that for some courses you don't really need to buy a textbook, either because there are powerpoint slides available or some other reason.

So I'd like to ask under my conditions and with the courses I have for your opinions on whether I need/should buy the course textbook or not. And also, where do I find out what exact book I need to buy? I go onto avenue but each course doesn't really say. Anyways here are my courses:

Math 1LS3
Chem 1A03
Bio 1M03
Econ 1B03
Psych 1X03

So do you think I really need to buy textbooks for all of them? I'd just like your opinions guys, not trying to be cheap or anything. And I'm just curious too.

From my experience in first year, I never needed the 1LS3 textbook (didn't even open it), never opened the chem textbook, only opened how humans evolved for bio, and didn't buy the psych textbook (although I did buy the courseware, and it was useful). I didn't take econ.

Originally Posted by nerual

From my experience in first year, I never needed the 1LS3 textbook (didn't even open it), never opened the chem textbook, only opened how humans evolved for bio, and didn't buy the psych textbook (although I did buy the courseware, and it was useful). I didn't take econ.

Yea I heard from ppl that 1LS3 is really easy if you did well in calc or w.e in grade 12. But really you didn't even open the chem textbook!? Thats....whoa? I thought chem was a big thing here....either your a genius and didn't need it or everything you needed to do well in the course was already online! But wow, crazy stuff man haha

Originally Posted by omgwtfitsp

Yea I heard from ppl that 1LS3 is really easy if you did well in calc or w.e in grade 12. But really you didn't even open the chem textbook!? Thats....whoa? I thought chem was a big thing here....either your a genius and didn't need it or everything you needed to do well in the course was already online! But wow, crazy stuff man haha

People think first year chem is a lot harder than it actually is...and if you have that attitude going in, it tends to make it so--like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I understood everything I needed to from going to lectures, working my way through the tutorial problems (I also never went to tutorials, I spent time figuring out every question myself, and if I had issues I'd wait until the solutions came out and then figure it out using that), and working through the quizzes/prelabs. I learn better by doing things and figuring stuff out on my own, or listening/watching someone go through a concept, rather than reading from a textbook.

Originally Posted by nerual

People think first year chem is a lot harder than it actually is...and if you have that attitude going in, it tends to make it so--like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I understood everything I needed to from going to lectures, working my way through the tutorial problems (I also never went to tutorials, I spent time figuring out every question myself, and if I had issues I'd wait until the solutions came out and then figure it out using that), and working through the quizzes/prelabs. I learn better by doing things and figuring stuff out on my own, or listening/watching someone go through a concept, rather than reading from a textbook.

I see...well thats actually pretty kool. But everyone has different learning styles right? I'll try and see with what I can get just from the lectures. Maybe I can be like you too, that would be helpful. Thanks for your help!

If you want to save money, don't buy the textbook new. Just search for it from Macinsiders/Facebook Marketplace.

Math 1LS3 - yes, I bought the textbook and custom courseware (which contained past midterms and assignments) and found them very useful as practice for tests

Chem 1A03 - no, I bought it and opened it max 3 times

Psych 1X03 - no, didn't buy it and didn't need it (lecture notes are sufficient)

To those that took CHEM 1A03 are you meant to do all the recommended problems? There's sooooo much and I don't know what to do. And will you be tested on material from the textbook for chemistry?

Originally Posted by Galleria

To those that took CHEM 1A03 are you meant to do all the recommended problems? There's sooooo much and I don't know what to do. And will you be tested on material from the textbook for chemistry?

I never did a single problem from the textbook. I also know someone who did them all. It depends whether or not you understand stuff or need the practice. You're not tested directly on textbook material; it's meant as a resource to help you understand what's going on in class.

I didn't want a start a new thread.. so I'm gonna merge my questions here.
For courses like 1m03, how important are the editions? nobody's really selling that all-special McMaster version of Biological Science.

Originally Posted by Vively

I didn't want a start a new thread.. so I'm gonna merge my questions here.
For courses like 1m03, how important are the editions? nobody's really selling that all-special McMaster version of Biological Science.

For 1M03 it doesn't really matter but in bio 1A03 some of her questions were specifically from the canadian content articles.

DO NOT BUY PSYCH 1X03 TEXTBOOK. I regret not listening to other people, waste of money. I never used it, everything you need to know is in the online web lectures, so just take really good note. Plus the e-book expires so you can't even resell or ever use it again. I'm sure you can even find some techy person to give you a bootleg copy of it, a lot of people did that last year.

Costom Courseware, I bought it but never used it, but I know a lot of people who used it and found it helpful...so personal choice?

Originally Posted by doppelganger

For 1M03 it doesn't really matter but in bio 1A03 some of her questions were specifically from the canadian content articles.

That being said, I had the 2nd edition of the text last year (2 editions behind) and the content was exactly the same, aside from the "Canadian" portions, which literally total something like 7 pages. Just borrow from a friend to read the canadian pages, and save $$ by getting an older edition.