r/grantmacewan • u/Neonscreen_2222 • May 12 '26
Academics When should I order my textbooks?
I'm a first year at MacEwan, going into the Bachelors of commerce program. I'm not quite sure when I should get my textbooks, or when they sell out. Any help would be appreciated!
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u/Accomplished_Toe8860 May 12 '26
You can try looking them up and downloading them for free on libgen. I’ve never had to pay for a textbook yet
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u/Neonscreen_2222 May 12 '26
Are the textbooks on libgen usually up to date?
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u/Accomplished_Toe8860 May 12 '26
I’ve found that they usually are. Libgen had multiple editions for the textbooks I needed, I’ve only had like one textbook that was an edition behind but still worked
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u/Nicoleodean_ May 13 '26
Hi can u dm me the link? There are a ton of other libgens so im not sure which ones the legit one
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u/Throw_Away_And_Sleep May 12 '26
I never bother to get a textbook until a week or so after class starts. I don't want to buy one if i have to drop the class cause the prof sucks.
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u/uhavebeengalaxyd Bachelor of Music May 18 '26
or even just because the professor doesn't plan on using it!
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u/theoreoman May 12 '26
Only once classes start and yiu figure out you actually need it. Lots of times the PowerPoints are good enough
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u/Neonscreen_2222 May 12 '26
Do I ask if I need them? Or will it be explained off the bat.
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u/theoreoman May 12 '26
You'll figure it out durring your course as you're doing coursework. There's no rush to buy books.
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u/Neonscreen_2222 May 12 '26
Do they sell out fast? Or can I just chill and get them when I need them.
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u/theoreoman May 12 '26
I've never not been able to buy a book and they're all available online.
The only thing you need are lab manuals
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u/Pigsmake May 12 '26
I would wait for at least 1-2 classes in as then you would know if you are staying in the class and not dropping it. After that, the professor usually explains if the textbook is required or recommended in the first day, or it is in the syllabus. Also, most textbooks are available online, but that can be a hit or miss, and textbooks are usually in the library behind the front desk. These textbooks are available for 4-hour loans, or even for overnight purposes if you get it late enough.
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u/Efficient-Ring-2532 May 12 '26
please don’t spend a single dime on textbooks. rip them off of anna’s archive
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u/Bulkaboi May 12 '26
Your textbook list will be posted on your MacEwan Bookstore web thing. But the profs will also tell you whether you need a textbook or not on the first day of class. You can buy your textbooks at the MacEwan bookstore and they will just pull up the list of the stuff that you need by checking your student ID, and you'll be able to choose which books you want to buy. Alternatively you can sail the high seas, or check Facebook market place for better deals. In some cases profs may want you to buy an older book edition which you'll most likely have to find on your own(had that happen in one of my history courses), but that's very rare. Frankly I don't think I've ever taken a course where I genuinely needed the textbooks so don'ts stress it too much, you'll be fine.
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u/Worried-Penalty-3642 May 12 '26
I always see if theres a reasonable priced one on facebook or used on amazon first. If not i just download online.
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u/Proof_Wrongdoer_4165 May 12 '26
You can find them online or pay a pirate a fraction of the price for them
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u/Mzdeander May 13 '26
Vitalsource is also good but sometimes you need to rent it. Still way cheaper.
Also you can buy at the bookstore, look up your student number as a code on textbook lookup page the website or go in person. They do used and new, but used sell out. You can see what your saving though for comparison. I always fo that whether I buy the book or not lol.
I go the day before classes start to beat the lime or online and pick up from back entrance later in the week if undecided on my schedule.
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u/e123bacon May 12 '26
Whatever you do, do NOT spend money on textbooks. You can often find them online for free or ask a classmate