<p>when is it best to buy the textbooks for your classes</p>
<p>I try to buy them on-line from various websites such as Ebay, Half.com, etc., before school starts if I can get at least a 50% discount. </p>
<p>Check the UVa bookstore's textbook list and check Toolkit (or whatever is used now) as well. The instructor may discuss the texts to be used in the syllabus or other documents. </p>
<p>I email the professor when in doubt. Look out for the large class scam where you have to buy a bundled clicker.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Look out for the large class scam where you have to buy a bundled clicker.
[/quote]
I am curious about the details of this.</p>
<p>Usually for science-y classes, I had an astronomy one of those my first year. Basically the clicker is for class participation, and you have to pay $50 if you want one that's not in the pre-bundle with the books (aka... ends up not worth it to get books+ separately), since they switch what kind of clicker they use every year you can't even buy them used from someone.</p>
<p>Also Toolkit is being phased out for Collab... Dunno how it works yet, haven't checked it out.</p>
<p>Just make sure you can return/resell your book if you decide to drop/switch classes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Toolkit is being phased out for Collab...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Can I please trouble you to tell me what Toolkit and clicker are?</p>
<p>Yes, I was wondering about that too. And I don't know what a pre-bundle is. Googling textbooks+clicker, I see something in Google Images about an electronic device for "voting" (which seems like a really frivolous thing to use even in large lectures) -- is that it?</p>
<p>Toolkit: the current system for classes. There you get class emails, professors can post assignments, things to download, quizzes to take online, etc.</p>
<p>Collab: the new system for classes...</p>
<p>Clicker: A little remote type thing that you can key in answers with. My prof used it for participation - if your clicker was sending data, well, obviously you were attending class that day.</p>
<p>If one of your classes requires a bundle, it will be UVA-bookstore-made and available that way only pretty much.</p>
<p>What is the difference between Toolkit and Collab?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Toolkit is being retired. No idea why, or what Collab has to offer over toolkit.</p>
<p>Looking at the book list on the bookstore website, I was able to find every single book that I'll need first semester on Amazon for a grand total of around $160. Given one chemistry textbook I need costs $188 new, I'd say that is a pretty good deal.</p>
<p>That sounds awfully low. My first semester new was around $700 two years ago, which included clicker. Be careful of counterfeit international editions from India, China & Singapore. They may be legit, but they make me nervous, so I always buy hardcover.</p>
<p>Thanks for the warning, all the books were supposedly coming from the states, but really never know. The books are for APMA 111, CHEM 151, ENGR 162 and STS 101 in case anyone has a better idea of what they should cost.</p>
<p>Canuck,</p>
<p>That's about right based on your list.</p>
<p>It seems as though you need to get login info for Collab. Anybody know how you get it?</p>
<p>Also anyone have a link that will tell me which books I need. Saving a few bucks would be good right about now.</p>
<p>Thanks MechWahoo, you put my mind at ease. </p>
<p>vistany, here is the list <a href="http://uvabookstores.com/term-fall.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://uvabookstores.com/term-fall.pdf</a></p>
<p>collab will have many more features than toolkit could ever imagine, but it was awfully bugged the last 2 semesters that I've dealt with it.</p>
<p>you'll find that some textbooks are much cheaper if they are an international version, most will be pretty much the same, but it's best to check them out first just incase. Only buy from the bookstore if you can't find it anywhere else, the bookstore WILL be the highest price that is a result of being the most convenient.</p>
<p>Canuck: I have some of the books you need for STS101. The writers guide is something I'd like to hold on to, but I know we needed some Statistical thing and something else. PM me if you want to just buy them off of me, it would save both of us major trouble. And don't worry, I bought that STUPID freaking clicker off Cav302, so we're legit people on here ;)</p>
<p>As for textbooks: go for ebay or amazon. Don't buy from the bookstore unless you have to. Also, people are always selling their clickers for dirt cheap (Cav sold me his, I used it for a month, then resold it in the spring) so you might want to hold off until you get to school</p>
<p>Thanks Canuck!</p>
<p>Any suggestions on how I figure out who my profs are. A couple of them are listed like for stat and bio but not spanish or int rel.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that the no prof name means a professor hasn't been finalized for that course. I'm on WL for a couple of politics classes like that and the WL info said that they wouldn't be making decisions until Aug 3rd when they joined the faculty. For books, I would look at the books needed by other professors and see if there are common books needed. Most teachers give you the first week to get books in order.</p>
<p><a href="http://uvabookstores.com/term-fall.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://uvabookstores.com/term-fall.pdf</a></p>
<p>What does it mean if there's an asterisk next to the textbook name? I'm specifically referring to the textbook for CHEM 141; the main textbook is listed first, and under it is "*CHEMISTRY + MASTERINGCHEMISTRY," which I haven't been able to find on Half.com, eBay, and Amazon. Is it an online textbook? Would I have to purchase a subscription?</p>