<p>So i was wondering if i should buy my books now (1 month before), or later when the first day comes (sept 26th). Do you think textbooks might somehow run out at the local college book stores? Or do you think they might have a ready accfess to tons of them?</p>
<p>You need to make sure that you actually need those books...so wait until you've actually been to class. Lists of required texts change, profs announce that all exam material will come from lecture, and so on. The only possible exception to this rule is if you have some scholarship that pays for books only and you're not worried about having extra books you don't need.</p>
<p>I bought mine a month before. All the used books will be gone by the first week and you will be stuck paying full mark up price for textbooks.</p>
<p>If a textbook list was posted, it's pretty safe to buy something like a math textbook, etc. If there are workbooks and random books listed, you may want to wait for those.</p>
<p>Then again, if you're not a "textbook person," meaning you likely won't crack it open if the course only tests you on lecture material, then you may want to wait.</p>
<p>Ordering textbooks online you're pretty sure you'll need will save a lot of money (usually about half for me). I'd rather order the book online to save the money, and have a slight chance I'd have to turn around a resell it and be out the few bucks shipping, then end up paying twice the cost to get it from the bookstore the last minute.</p>
<p>And yes, bookstores run out of books sometimes. Usually they can get more in within a week, and let the professor know. More likely though they will run out of the used copies of books since some students keep their texts.</p>
<p>I say wait until the first day. I've had textbook reservations and such in the past. They always seem to forget something or give the wrng edition.</p>
<p>Often you can buy a used book on Amazon.com for an incredible deal. I bought a book that cost $30 at the college bookstore for $1.67 online.</p>
<p>I usually wait until after my first class. Sometimes certain textbooks labeled as required on the internet really aren't all that required, and can be used in the library if needed anyway.</p>
<p>i buy my books 2 months prior, to get the best prices.</p>
<p>Buy when you are sure that you need the book. It's best to try to ask people who took your professor in past semesters what books they actually needed and buy early. But getting a book during the first week or two of classes generally isn't bad. For what it's worth, I generally get the best prices on textbooks the week right before school or during the first week of school when most students are hard pressed for cash and willing to part with their used books for a lot less than normal. I generally score books for 40%-60% of the cheapest online price. For new books, I tend to look for international editions which can be even cheaper than used books.</p>
<p>Definitely without a doubt buy early (try Amazon for the best deals) since the bookstore is way too expensive. Even if you end up not needing a book, you will still save more money buying early than the day before. You won't be able to buy used right before classes start because (1) they are either gone or (2) there won't be time to have it shipped to you.</p>
<p>At my school, if the professor says you need it, you probably need it (I also need to read the book to reemphasize what was said in lecture).</p>
<p>I actually emailed my professors in the middle of the summer to ask what books we needed, because I've noticed a definite price trend on Amazon/Half. If you order in the middle of the summer, before it's close to the semester starting and everyone else trying order their books, you can get some really good deals (since supply and demand pushes the prices up in August). One of my books was $52 in the middle of the summer online; right now, it's comparable (but still cheaper than) the bookstore price, at $122. So, there's a definite advantage in ordering early. I saved at least 50% of what the bookstore was trying to charge for used books.</p>