Making sure you have the right course materials when starting a new semester is crucial for maintaining long-term success. Even though you probably have leftover material and supplies from last semester, it’s good to restock on the essentials as you head into a new semester. These are the essential materials that you’ll need: pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, highlighters, paper, etc. In addition to basic school supplies, you will also need instructional materials. The instructional materials for a course include the readings, lectures, multimedia components, required textbooks, and anything needed for online learning.
Regardless of how many times you’ve done it, buying textbooks can still be an overwhelming experience. When you’re ready to start the buying process, the first thing you need to do is look at your course schedule and identify when each of your courses is set to begin.
Some textbooks and other materials you will be able to find both in-store and online. However, you could save some serious money by purchasing textbooks online. Textbook price comparison sites like CheapestTextbooks and DirectTextbook can help you compare prices for textbooks across a ton of websites so you can find the best deal. For more information on buying textbooks online, check out our list of best sites to buy college textbooks. If you decide to order your books online, remember to factor in shipping times. Due to shipping delays in the United States, some orders may take longer to get to you than normal. To make sure that you have your books when you need them, it is recommended that you place your online order at least 5-7 business days before you need your book. This applies to both textbook rentals and purchases of used or new books.
After looking over the required materials for your class, you might come to find that you also have to purchase an access code for additional online course materials. An access code is like a password that students use to access content online. The online content will depend on the course and to what extent the professor utilizes the online resources. It is important to note that an access code is not the same thing as a textbook.
