<p>OK, so we freshmen move in either on Sept 3rd or 4th, and classes start on the 6th. When, where, and how do we go about getting our books? Can we get them ahead of time if we know our classes and our teachers or no? I’d really appreciate some help on this. Thanks guys!</p>
<p>I assume that once we get our class list we'll get a book list and we can buy the books whenever.</p>
<p>but we already have the class schedule... (same confusion about books here)</p>
<p>You go to Barnes and Noble in Kenmore Square. Textbooks are on the fourth floor. They are categorized by school and class number. Just go there with your schedule and pick out what you need.</p>
<p>You can also order them online starting July 18 (you order them now and then either pick them up or have them sent to you), but I don't recommend it, as they usually start putting your orders together before they have everything. When you go to get them, they usually tell you that only some of your books are in your order and send you back downstairs to get what they didn't have at the time. Although your chances for used books increases, you might as well just get them all yourself.</p>
<p>So we're simply not allowed to search for lower prices for our textbooks? Or do we have to go there, search for the book title and then take the ISBN (?) and search in other places?</p>
<p>Instructors couldn't care less where you get your books. B+N makes it easy-but-expensive by putting all the books together in the one place. Usually, that's the only way to get a book list before you receive a course syllabus.
Based on my experiences at another school, it is not at all unusual for most students to not yet have the books on the first day a class meets.</p>
<p>There are used textbook sales carts on Comm. Ave in the beginning and ending days of each semester. They buy books back, too.</p>
<p>Whether or not you need your books by the first day depends on your class/professor. Generally, though, you don't need them the first day.</p>
<p>Some classes (SMG in particular, I think some natural sciences as well) use the copy center for books (they acquire a license from the publisher and then photocopy the sections of books they want to use to make a course packet). </p>
<p>The other issue is that the school may negotiate with the publisher for some special deal. If that's the case, the books at B&N may come in a packet with other items you either can't get elsewhere or can't get as cheap elsewhere. Doesn't happen often, but it's happened to me.</p>
<p>The carts on the streets don't sell books--only buyback (at least I've never seen them sell books in the three years I've been here).</p>
<p>If you're adament about searching for cheaper books, you can always email the professor ahead of time and request the title and author. You can also wait until the first week of class and order it then (if you end up needing it right away, share with a friend and overnight it from Amazon or something). I personally, never bother--it's much easier for me to just go to Barnes and Noble once a semester (and since I usually come early, I go before there's any massive lines out the door).</p>