During the summer holidays before starting your university course you receive a Reading list. Reading lists are long and daunting but through my own mistakes, here is what I have learnt;
1. Do not buy every book on your reading list.
Each book can be up to £100 (I'm feeling sweaty just thinking about it!), so you definitely shouldn't buy them all. I would advise contacting your university department or a current student on the course to have them recommend one or two books that are most useful, to consider buying. The rest can be borrowed from a library, found online or borrowed from another student (from the year above). If you can't find out which ones to buy before term starts then wait rather than waste money.
2. Do not pay RRP price for your book.
Books are expensive and student finance aren't very generous. I would buy the text book second hand; either off an ex-student, online (i.e. Amazon or eBay - but check the seller has a good selling history) or from a second hand book store. Be sure to make sure the condition is still ok and you will save a whole heap of money which can be wisely invested into your all important social life.
3. Check you're buying the right Edition!
Yup. I wasted £40. I bought a Chemistry text book (1440 pages thick - so thick) off my reading list, it had been referred to as "a Bible" by ex-students, however I bought the 2009 edition - not the most recent 2013 edition! This means that it is not up to date and every time the lecturer refers to a page number in the book, it will most likely be on a completely different page in my out of date book. This mistake basically sums me up; my intentions are good but it doesn't always pan out how I imagine! haha; lesson learnt.
4. Don't think you have to read them all immediately.
Yes, it is good to be a little prepared before you start the course, but you don't have to read 30, 1000 page books before the term even starts (unless that's your summer work - unlucky if it is!). When you start university your tutor may help divide up the reading list to give you goals and deadlines, if not, dip into one every few days to keep on top of your game, I imagine they will be most useful to refer to during those much loved essays.
Happy Reading!
1. Do not buy every book on your reading list.
Each book can be up to £100 (I'm feeling sweaty just thinking about it!), so you definitely shouldn't buy them all. I would advise contacting your university department or a current student on the course to have them recommend one or two books that are most useful, to consider buying. The rest can be borrowed from a library, found online or borrowed from another student (from the year above). If you can't find out which ones to buy before term starts then wait rather than waste money.
2. Do not pay RRP price for your book.
Books are expensive and student finance aren't very generous. I would buy the text book second hand; either off an ex-student, online (i.e. Amazon or eBay - but check the seller has a good selling history) or from a second hand book store. Be sure to make sure the condition is still ok and you will save a whole heap of money which can be wisely invested into your all important social life.
3. Check you're buying the right Edition!
Yup. I wasted £40. I bought a Chemistry text book (1440 pages thick - so thick) off my reading list, it had been referred to as "a Bible" by ex-students, however I bought the 2009 edition - not the most recent 2013 edition! This means that it is not up to date and every time the lecturer refers to a page number in the book, it will most likely be on a completely different page in my out of date book. This mistake basically sums me up; my intentions are good but it doesn't always pan out how I imagine! haha; lesson learnt.
4. Don't think you have to read them all immediately.
Yes, it is good to be a little prepared before you start the course, but you don't have to read 30, 1000 page books before the term even starts (unless that's your summer work - unlucky if it is!). When you start university your tutor may help divide up the reading list to give you goals and deadlines, if not, dip into one every few days to keep on top of your game, I imagine they will be most useful to refer to during those much loved essays.
Happy Reading!