Welcome Class of 2021! Current BC junior willing to answer questions

@tiva_mcabby5 I’m def going to suggest she rent the books! And I think we will skip the laptop lock! One less thing to buy!

Just thought of another question……(one of many?!)
Do the desks have a hutch attached? and if yes, is there a backing and is it wood or cork board?

And along those lines, do kids still use white boards on their door or is that a thing of the past (I’m old…in my day we had a white board on the door….I guess everyone just texts now?!)

@immomtoone

Only some desks do. It varies dorm-to-dorm and may even vary room-to-room.

Freshman and sophomore year my desk did not have a hutch, but it did last year. The backing wasn’t wood. More like a cheap plasticy cardboard? Not really sure what it’s called.

Along that line, some rooms have extra shelves on the wall and some don’t. Guess you won’t know until you get there, unfortunately.

Whiteboards:
In many residence halls, there’s already a whiteboard attached to the wall next to each door!

@immomtoone & @tiva_mcabby5 Thanks for the excellent advice & details re Forced Triples.

Yes, his waterproof work boots will travel w/me when I fly up for parents weekend. No, the boys haven’t talked/emailed yet, but my guy needs to do this soon since he has an early arrival (8/21) for a program orientation related to his studies. I completely agree: it would be rude for him to grab the best bed if he is 1st to arrive. The 1 non-negotiable: he must bring his acoustic guitar cause it really relaxes him to play it, & he may jump into campus ministry music gigs too. We are really slimming down his packing list now.

Is it even possible to have a mini fridge in a Forced Triple? Thx in advance.

@Notknot77098 Yes, definitely possible to have a mini fridge. Probably just one for the three to share, because any more will not fit.

On a side note, him bringing his guitar is a great idea, especially if it helps with stress!

Back to textbooks…. @tiva_mcabby5 do you recommend using the BCBookstore for rental? I think you said rent is best option, right? Or is Amazon better?? Rainy day here so we are looking at the book options! Overwhelming!

@immomtoone
In my experience, that depends on the type of book.

—For a textbook (ex: intro to psych) I have found that Amazon rental is often cheaper than the bookstore. For example, one of my textbooks this year is about $50 to rent from the bookstore and $30 to rent from Amazon. [For comparison, it would be $84 to buy it used from the bookstore and $111 to buy it new]

At the end of the semester, the return procedure for Amazon is as easy as the bookstore, and maybe even easier, since there isn’t a long line of people! Amazon rentals have free return shipping at the end of the semester, so all you have to do is put the book(s) back in a box (I just keep the box it came in), put in a packing slip (that you print off of amazon), and tape on your shipping label (also found on amazon). Then, it can be dropped off at the UPS across from St. Ignatius with no charge.

—For a smaller book (ex: The Odyssey by Homer…or most of the books found in philosophy and lit classes), the bookstore is the only place you can rent from. Amazon won’t rent small books like that, since they’re usually about $5 or less. You can BUY used (or new, but I recommend used) books from amazon, which is often the same price as renting used books from the bookstore. For me, when the prices are similar, it always makes more sense to choose the option where I can just give the books back with no hassle.

The easiest way is to make a list or spreadsheet to compare the bookstore and Amazon prices! I often end up ordering some books from Amazon and some from the bookstore. For me, the way I decide is: which one is cheapest? That’s my main criteria.

I hope all of that was helpful in some way!

@tiva_mcabby5 so we checked out some books this afternoon. My daughter is a Bio major and I practically had a heart attack when I saw the cost of the Chemistry and Math books! Oddly none were available to rent or even buy used,whether on BC or Amazon. We couldn’t find Bio….the number on the registration form doesn’t seem to match what is listed on the website. We originally thought it would be good to get the books now but maybe that won’t happen!

@immomtoone

I understand what you’re going through! I started as a bio major and had to buy all those books too. The unfortunate thing is that for chemistry, you have to have a new book because you need the online access code, which is only good for a year and therefore only available with new books. I did save money for that by purchasing the loose leaf version. It just came as hole-punched pages and I put it in a binder. That was from Amazon I think.

Math might be same way, but I’m not sure. That was three years ago!

Which intro bio class is she taking? Molecules and Cells requires a textbook but Ecology and Evolution can vary depending on the professor. In fact, the bio book might be “custom” which means it can only be purchased at the bookstore. Often this is a version made just for BC that only has relevant chapters.
You can PM me this answer if that make sure you more comfortable.

I would suggest your daughter email her professor if the bookstore still doesn’t list the book by next week. (Or she could even call the bookstore directly).

I will add that the online access codes add a whole dimension to book purchasing that we didn’t have back in the day. Anytime my D needs an access code we just make sure to buy new and/or from the bookstore so there are no issues with her homework and her grade.

Generally, an extremely safe campus. You’ll find kids leaving books/laptops and purses in a library carrell while they go to the bathroom or to the cafe. Stuff seems to be there when they get back. (Not recommended, btw, but quite common.)

Anytime, once you have passed thru orientation and have you Agora login.

Protip: Frosh classes can move during orientation when the next group is registering. (BC holds spots in typical Frosh classes so every orientation has a shot at decent times. But since you have the Agora login, you can pickup a different section if you time it right!)

Don’t forget that the Chem book will be used for both semesters.

Protip #2: the access codes create the custom ISBN for a ‘bundle’. Check out the bookstore for the actual textbook ISBN and you can usually find that cheaper online. Then, just purchase the access code from the publisher. Sometimes, the savings is worth the extra steps.

@tiva_mcabby5 That prob explains why she couldn’t find bio…she’s taking Ecology and Evolution. So I guess maybe the professor didn’t put it up yet??

Re Chem that’s a good tip about buying the loose leaf version. Neither of us really understood what that meant but if it saves $100, I’m all for it!!

And I will tell her to email or call re the book. So bottom line, you think it’s a good idea to do this now instead of waiting, right?

Hmm…good point about both semesters….so then really more of about the $150 I was expecting! But you’ve lost me on the ISBN/Access code.

I think I"m not smart enough to go to college (and fact is I went to BC for grad school 100 years ago lol!!) Guess you need to be smarter now!

OK, can you help us?

These are the chem choices:

Chemistry (w/Mstrg with eText Access/SSM)(Loose Pgs) Edition: 4th $317
Chemistry (w/MasteringChem Access)(Loose Pgs) Edition: 4th $226.25
Chemistry (MasteringChemistry Standalone Access Card) Edition: 4th $140.75

All Buy new…no used/rental option.

How do we know which is which? What’s the diff btwn eTextAccess and not?? Both seem to be ‘loose pages’

Thanks!

@immomtoone
Don’t worry, textbook buying is super annoying and can certainly be frustrating!

I think what @bluebayou was suggesting was to buy the Access code alone from the bookstore (which you listed third) and then buy/rent the used book (w/o code) from Amazon, if this combo is cheaper.

If it says “with e-text” that means that it also includes an electronic version of the textbook. Doesn’t make sense to me to pay extra to have the physical and etext options. (That’s the difference between option 1 and 2 of what you posted). I would see if there is a version that is only the mastering chem/etext code (without the physical text), if your daughter is ok with this learning style (ie reading off a screen). Check Amazon for this too— they also sell access codes there.

Really, as long as you have an access code, the cheapest option for the physical book is whatever I would choose.

RE: bio textbook. Both professors for Ecology and Evolution have listed books online, and they are both the custom bio textbook. YES, it is backordered, but should be restocked before classes start! Order it now and you will get one when it is in stock.

But yes, I think it’s beneficial to order books early, unless your daughter isn’t sure about her schedule. Then, maybe wait.

That was a lot of info. My apologies if this was confusing.

@tiva_mcabby5 what year are you? and what’s your major? and how are you a wealth of info lol!!

Not fully understanding the Chem thing….there doesn’t seem to be a used version anywhere. Re Bio, it wasn’t listed yesterday so just came on tonight when we looked. I wonder why already backordered!

SHe has her schedule and I’m guessing it won’t change so guess we’ll bite the bullet. So do you order and then pick up at the bookstore??

@immomtoone
Rising senior and a psych major! (I made this post so long ago that the info there’s isn’t accurate anymore haha)

I’m sorry Chem is so frustrating. Might just be best to bite the bullet and buy the loose leaf version with Masteric Chem Access (the $226 one). Unless @bluebayou has further advice on this subject!

Yes, just order the books online and choose either Newton or McElroy for pickup (wherever you will be closest to; McElroy is the bigger one on main campus). There will be a book pickup area, where your daughter will go and give them the last three numbers of her order number. I have never done this on move-in day. Instead, I’ve gone with friends/roommates during one of the other days before classes start.

Any books ordered on Amazon can be picked up at the mailroom during normal hours. (Usually 10am-6pm, but their website will have more updated hours). Your daughter will get a “your package has arrived” email and just has to bring her ID and the package ID number (in the email) to get the packages.

Sorry, my workarounds are of no help. The 4th edit is brand new (2017), so no used available. Sorry.

btw: my D was a psych major, Tiva! But she went the Neuro route and also took Organic Chem.

@bluebayou Thanks for doing the extra research. Bummer that they want the newest edition this year. And I’m doing the opposite of your daughter, it seems! I’m prepping for a career in public health so doing the neuro route didn’t make sense for me.

@immomtoone I would just buy the cheapest new version you can find (with access code).