where/when do we get textbooks? (1 Viewer)

[somecooldude]

starting uni 2006.

when/where do we get textbooks?

 

[Demandred]

Coop Bookstore, every university has one, it just about covers all the textbooks needed by the university. You can find out your prescribed texts for your units on the website or check out the unit outline (kind of like a syllabus). Website:

http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au/bookshop

 

[Lainee]

A hint: Don't buy your textbooks until you've had a class for it and the lecturer has specifically told you whether you need it or not. Sometimes, you'll have a course that has minimal use of a textbook and it's enough to borrow it from the library on those occasions where you do need it.

Textbooks are a huge cost so look for other options like buying second-hand (ask here if anyone wants to part with a particular book), or www.textbookexchange.com.au which is a great service. There are also flyers around the uni that advertise pre-loved books for sale from previous students. www.textsinthecity.com.au is where I bought the bulk of my textbooks this year since it was slightly cheaper than the Coop.

 

[bustinjustin]

How much for course readers and textbooks?

When we start off with first year, how much money would we need for course readers and the odd second hand textbook or two, say for Political Economy, Government and languages? Just concerned about the financial aspect since I'm backpacking for a month just before uni starts and I wouldn't have had earned any money for that (I'm going to have to turn to parents on this one - I swear, I funded/am funding most of my holiday)

 

[somecooldude]

A hint: Don't buy your textbooks until you've had a class for it and the lecturer has specifically told you whether you need it or not. Sometimes, you'll have a course that has minimal use of a textbook and it's enough to borrow it from the library on those occasions where you do need it.

Textbooks are a huge cost so look for other options like buying second-hand (ask here if anyone wants to part with a particular book), or www.textbookexchange.com.au which is a great service. There are also flyers around the uni that advertise pre-loved books for sale from previous students. www.textsinthecity.com.au is where I bought the bulk of my textbooks this year since it was slightly cheaper than the Coop.

thanks for this advice

on a side note: where are you going backpacking justin?

 

[xeuyrawp]

starting uni 2006.

when/where do we get textbooks?

I wouldn't actually get anything from the co-op. I'd go to www.less10.com ; obviously you won't get the book immediately, but usually they're a lot cheaper. The shipping's pretty fast, anyway, with the estimated time of arrival always accurate, in my experience.

 

[sikeveo]

I wouldn't actually get anything from the co-op. I'd go to www.less10.com ; obviously you won't get the book immediately, but usually they're a lot cheaper. The shipping's pretty fast, anyway, with the estimated time of arrival always accurate, in my experience.

:0 http://www.less10.com/Books/Science/Chemistry/General/product_info.php?products_id=2681125

That's heaps expensive!

 

[hipsta_jess]

As well as the Co-Op, check out the United Campus Bookshop.

Also, don't worry about buying them til after you find out if you need them or not.

 

[bustinjustin]

thanks for this advice

on a side note: where are you going backpacking justin?

I'm going away for the whole of Februrary, first to a wedding in the Philippines, then to Singapore to meet a desperately lonely cousin and a long time friend from Kindergarten, I'll cross over to Malaysia and back, and I might just squeeze in Hong Kong to meet another desperately lonely friend. It's a continent short of Europe but any solo month-along holiday (my first trip alone overseas) is exciting (!)

It should give me a lot of stories to tell when meeting people in lectures and tutes come March....

 

[iamsickofyear12]

Even if you are told by the lecturer that you need a textbook you might not need it if the lecture notes are posted online like they have been for all of my subjects so far. What I am going to do this year is wait a couple weeks and see myself if I actually need to buy textbooks.

 

[Demandred]

Start saving for those textbooks. Don't be surprised to pay excess of $500 for your first semester, I know law ones cost $200 per unit, if you're going for second hand, roughly half of that. Some univserities post their readings a month or so before, sometimes only in the unit outline.

I've seen some people being really cheap and photocopy a whole book from the library which is technically illegal .

 

[hipsta_jess]

haha, one of my friends did that. But, it was like $130 to buy the textbook, or only like $40 or something to photocopy it.

 

[xeuyrawp]

:0 http://www.less10.com/Books/Science/Chemistry/General/product_info.php?products_id=2681125

That's heaps expensive!

I know, it's a bit random sometimes. I saw a book for $100 there, and it was $50 in the co-op.

Of course you'd compare prices, but for me, 90% of the time, it's cheaper. Maybe it's better for humanities?

I actually posted a link somewhere online here with my list of favourite sites (I've never needed to buy from the co-op since)...

 

[poloktim]

For many subjects textbooks aren't necessary. I would wait until after the first lecture for each of your subjects before you consider buying textbooks, especially if you can't afford them all. Remember to see what the lecturer says about them first.

Look in your SRC's second hand bookshop, and your Alumni's bookshop (or Co-op) and see if you can also get the books much cheaper.

 

[kcchippy]

Wow, this is a really cool thread! Thanks all you generous uni people who offered some much needed advice!! And thanks you smart person who started the thread!!

 

[somecooldude]

I'm going away for the whole of Februrary, first to a wedding in the Philippines, then to Singapore to meet a desperately lonely cousin and a long time friend from Kindergarten, I'll cross over to Malaysia and back, and I might just squeeze in Hong Kong to meet another desperately lonely friend. It's a continent short of Europe but any solo month-along holiday (my first trip alone overseas) is exciting (!)

It should give me a lot of stories to tell when meeting people in lectures and tutes come March....

cool, im going to philippines and hong kong too lol but no wedding.

 

[somecooldude]

Wow, this is a really cool thread! Thanks all you generous uni people who offered some much needed advice!! And thanks you smart person who started the thread!!

thanks ^^ 10 char

 

[dark`secrets]

i'd get 2nd hand textbooks

 

[Lainee]

When we start off with first year, how much money would we need for course readers and the odd second hand textbook or two, say for Political Economy, Government and languages? Just concerned about the financial aspect since I'm backpacking for a month just before uni starts and I wouldn't have had earned any money for that (I'm going to have to turn to parents on this one - I swear, I funded/am funding most of my holiday)

I'd say keep at least $300 on hand which should cover 2nd hand textbooks and readers for one semester, but you should try to put aside $500 in case you have that odd $200 book that can't be bought 2nd hand (eg. you need the newest edition or some other reason).

 

[ballerinabarbie]

i'd get 2nd hand textbooks

yeah this is often a good idea - in my experience i've bought 2nd hand books for less than 1/2 price and they are only about a year old... i probably won't loose much selling them on again this year