Purchasing textbooks may seem overwhelming to freshmen who are getting them for the first time. The University Book Store attempts to make buying textbooks simple and affordable for students.

Heather Dean, book division manager at University Book Store, provided these tips for buying textbooks:

1. Know your learning style and budget.

Students learn differently, and several options are available to them for textbooks. They can opt for digital e-books or printed books, and sometimes loose-leaf options are available.

“You’ve got some students who buy all of their textbooks because that’s how they study, that’s how they learn, [and] that’s how they’re successful in the classroom,” Dean said. “And then you have some students who either try to get by without books or, they buy them, and they never read them.”

Budgeting is also important to remember when purchasing books. Students have the option of buying new or used books, and they also can rent their textbooks.

Dean said the University Book Store has also invested in a program that compares pricing at third-party sources, such as Amazon and Half.

“I think the common theme with students is really finding that balance between your personal budget and your learning style,” Dean said.

2. Check your book list over and over and over again.

“Using your book list is hands down the best thing you can do,” Dean said.

When logging in to AccessPlus, go to class schedule and click on “View Complete Textbook List.” There, students can find a full list of materials needed for classes. There will also be optional materials that may aid them in classes.

Each item has a note saying if it is required material. If multiple options are available for the textbook, a note will explain the choices.

Each textbook or item also has a comparison box. This includes pricing from third parties, so students can find the cheapest available option.

“What we do here at the Book Store, and really part of the textbook industry, is provide options for students,” Dean said.

Students should not be afraid to buy new textbooks because sometimes they are the cheaper option.

3. Don’t buy an access code from Amazon, Half or any other third-party source.

Access codes have a one-time use, so buying a used code is not an option. Even textbooks that have the ISBN of the textbook and code bundle may not come with the access code.

4.  If you use the University Book Store, take advantage of its convenience options.

The University Book Store offers several options to make purchasing textbooks simple.

“You can see all your stuff from the University Book Store right here on campus, you can charge to your U-bill if you have financial aid, there’s no sales tax here at the bookstore, … [and] we offer textbook reservation,” Dean said.

The University Book Store staff will walk students through the process of purchasing or reserving textbooks.

With textbook reservation, purchased textbooks can be picked up Aug. 19-22. Textbooks can also be shipped home.

5. Buy from third parties if they are cheaper and carry the required material.

Purchasing through third-party sources, even those compared on your textbook list, can’t be purchased using your U-bill.

Amazon, Half and Chegg are third parties that sell textbooks. Students should double-check their textbook list, so they purchase the correct material.

“We would find that students were buying from third-party sources like Amazon, and they’d get the wrong book because they came in here and wrote the ISBN number down wrong,” Dean said.

When in doubt, check the University Book Store textbook list.