Hello lovely folks!
So, as the title says, I'm really confused as to if I should buy textbooks before or after classes start. Many people are saying to wait until after classes start, but I wanted to buy used textbooks that many students are selling, and I'm hoping they won't run out. Also, what if we end up needing those textbooks during the first week (and I might have to wait for shipping?)
Please let me know your opinion (or experience).
Thanks!

Trust me, unless you are in a specialized program, there will be no lack of used textbooks. Do not buy textbooks during the first week because there is a high chance that the textbook will be useless and just be a paperweight.

I've never had a useless textbook - I like to buy early and get ahead on reading so I'm not scrambling at midterms trying to catch up because life got in the way of textbooks.

One of the main reasons you shouldn't buy early is that textbooks listed as "required" may not actually be required. It also depends on how you learn - I'm not a textbook person, so I can EASILY get away with only buying 1-2 books per year. I usually wait a month or so to see.

Originally Posted by Nimra

Hello lovely folks!
So, as the title says, I'm really confused as to if I should buy textbooks before or after classes start. Many people are saying to wait until after classes start, but I wanted to buy used textbooks that many students are selling, and I'm hoping they won't run out. Also, what if we end up needing those textbooks during the first week (and I might have to wait for shipping?)
Please let me know your opinion (or experience).
Thanks!

I think this could not possibly be stressed enough, but DO NOT buy textbooks before classes start! If you are going into first year, the sellers will ALWAYS be there, there will always be textbooks to buy if you are a first year. Some textbooks are useless anyways and you might end up not needing them. Plus your professor might say an older version is perfectly usable but you just spent 30 extra dollars buying the new version.

Just wait to hear what your profs say about the textbooks. During the first week.

I think it depends what program you are in. If the reading is mandatory for the course (ie English or Poli Sci) then you may want to get it early and get started, but if it is a textbook then I would probably wait since sometimes older editions are ok, or you may not even need them