INCOMING FRESHMAN FAQ’S
WHEN DO TEXTBOOKS GO ON SALE?
Usually, books go on sale 3 weeks before classes begin in the Fall and 1 or 2 weeks before the start of the Spring term. Check the bookstore website for the exact days. The bookstore is closed between Christmas and New Years. There is little time between the start of the new year and the start of class; because of this short timeframe, Spring books cannot be made available as far in advance as the Fall books.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS?
For incoming freshman, the best time is either the Saturday or Sunday of Move-In Weekend. Most upperclassmen purchase their books once classes start so the previous weekend is usually not as busy. The bookstore is always open on both the Saturday and Sunday before the start of class. WE DO NOT RUN OUT OF USED BOOKS BEFORE CLASSES START - if you purchase your textbooks during Move-In Weekend, there will be plenty of used books still on the shelves.
CAN I GET USED TEXTBOOKS?
Used books are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. WE DO NOT RUN OUT OF USED BOOKS BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN. If you come in during Move-In Weekend, you will have a large selection of used books to choose from. Used books are priced 25% less than the comparable new book. Sometimes, we only have new books available for a class because the book is a brand new edition or the new version is requested specifically by the course’s instructor.
HOW DO I FIND MY BOOKS IN THE BOOKSTORE?
The textbook section is in alphabetical order by department prefix (example: accounting books are listed under ACCT). Course cards containing the 3 or 4 letter prefix, course #, section #, instructor information and textbook information are located on the shelves. The course cards will let you know what books are required and which ones are optional, as well as the book price. YOU WILL NEED TO BRING YOUR SCHEDULE TO THE STORE in order to locate your books. It is imperative that you know the SECTION number of your class because different sections have different instructors (and use different books) – a good example of this is the ENGL 101 class, which consistently has 40+ sections. Simply knowing that you have an ENGL 101 class is not sufficient.
HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY BOOKS?
Acceptable forms of payment include: cash, check (made payable to CAMPUS BOOKSTORE), credit card (VISA, MC, DISCOVER & AMEX) or financial aid (if you have a sufficient amount of total student financial aid – check with the financial aid office if you have questions). Financial aid questions should be directed to the financial aid office, not the bookstore. The bookstore cannot give out any information concerning student accounts over the telephone.
HOW MUCH DO BOOKS COST?
The average full-time student spends approximately $450 per semester on textbooks. This is an average and depends greatly on your course of study – legal classes and textbooks for scientific disciplines usually require more expensive books. You can look up specific book prices on the bookstore website a couple of weeks before classes begin. Prices listed on the website are subject to change. Textbook prices can change as new shipments are received. Prices listed on the website are only guaranteed if you order online on that day. Overall book costs can be reduced by selling back unwanted books at the end of term buyback. The bookstore will be offering some textbooks in a “digital” format in the Fall of 2007. We will increase this offering in the future as publishers make more textbooks available in the digital format.
click here for more information on the high cost of college textbooks
click here for more information about textbook buyback
WHY ISN'T MY BOOK ON THE SHELF?
There are many reasons why a book may not be on the shelf including: a spike in enrollment, last minute schedule changes (such as an added section), last minute change of instructor, the book being temporarily out of stock from the publisher or an instructor not turning in book information on time. Textbook information is constantly changing and can change even once classes begin. One of the reasons we recommend that freshmen wait until Move-In Weekend to purchase books is that textbook information is usually pretty stable by that time.
CAN I ORDER BOOKS ONLINE?
The bookstore sells textbooks on the web for students who would like them shipped off-campus. We do not ship books to on-campus addresses or out of the United States. We do NOT have a system to “reserve” books so the website is only for purchases to be shipped. Textbook information is subject to change so ordering books too early may result in you getting the incorrect book for class. Check the bookstore website for the date that books will go on sale online. YOU CAN NOT USE FINANCIAL AID ONLINE - IF YOU WISH TO USE YOUR FINANCIAL AID TO PURCHASE BOOKS, YOU MUST COME INTO THE STORE.
CAN I CHECK BOOK PRICES ONLINE?
Yes, once books go on sale online, you will be able to see the book prices. However, book prices are subject to change because the prices adjust as we receive additional shipments. ISBN numbers also display on the website but they are for informational purposes only. The ISBN numbers that we display online are industry standard 13 digit ISBN numbers. FYI – some online websites do not recognize 13 digit ISBN numbers. Please do not call the bookstore to inquire about ISBN numbers, we will not give out ISBN numbers over the telephone. There are two ways to get these numbers: 1) check the bookstore website or 2) come into the store and look on the back of the book. The Campus Bookstore is not responsible for any losses incurred due to incorrect data listed on the website or for informational changes. Using the bookstore’s website information to purchase books elsewhere is at your own risk.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE SERVICES 8,000 STUDENTS - WE CANNOT GIVE INFORMATION REGARDING TEXTBOOK AVAILABILITY, TITLES, PRICES OR ISBN NUMBERS OVER THE TELEPHONE. THIS INFORMATION IS KEPT CURRENT AND PROVIDED ONLINE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.