Should I wait to buy my textbook?

So

So

I’m contemplating whether or not I should buy a book prior to my spring classes starting or if I should wait until my class starts so I know for sure I will need it. I made the mistake last semester of buying a book that was supposedly “required”... and I used it in class max 3 times.

Vote below to see results!

191 views • 1 upvote • 7 comments

COMMENT (7)

Kr

Posted at
I always email my professors beforehand to see what they say about it. I’ve had many tell me that the textbook isn’t needed at all but they need to list the one they are basing their lessons off of and that’s the only reason it’s on the syllabus

Al

Posted at
My school provides a website where it says which books are required and which ones are recommended. Week before classes, the teachers send out the syllabus and it says if we should buy the books. So just wait because one of my psychology books cost $300 and I’m not about to buy it and find out I don’t need it

Ka

Posted at
I almost always wait until after the first day of classes so I can hear from the prof what the deal is. Esp with online books, or lit classes where you need proper books for reading, but might not need one until March or something. The only ones I get ahead of time are like, for history classes or language classes where they have a paper book and in those classes you KNOW you’re gonna be using it, and will probs have work in it from day 1.

St

Posted at
I've never bought any books, and I'm going to my 5th semester (medical school). I mostly find books online (pdf) or, much less common, lend from the library (I avoid that option because all the textbooks are so heavy and I commute 4 hours everyday, not worth it). I really don't think it's worth the money buying books.

bi

Posted at
I would wait it out. Look for free PDFs downloads of your books. Read the reviews of the professors to see if you need the book too. I had professors require books but never open it.

Ac

Posted at
It'll depend on your class type. I took mostly English classes and we needed our books typically by the next class and two to three days isn't always a guarantee for shipping. My Education classes, I could wait a week or two because we usually used them as support material, not our main source.

Al

Posted at
Amazon lets you rent books!!