University Prep: To Buy or Not to Buy?
The leaves are falling, changing colours, and the sun is setting early; all of these things can only mean one thing… September has arrived! With September in full swing, you should only be thinking about one thing! And that of course is the new school year. Just kidding, we know you are all busy students and have personal lives of your own outside of school and thinking about the first day and even the first week of classes can start to get a little stressful, especially as a first-year undergraduate student starting university. To all the first-year undergrads out there, congratulations you have survived your first week of classes! I hope it was everything you had imagined it to be and more, and rest assured, I am here today to share some very important tips to help you this year as you navigate through a new academic environment. In this blog, part of the “University Prep” series, I will be talking about things to buy, and not to buy, as a first-year student. This blog is focused more towards students in the STEM-related fields but feel free to continue reading along no matter what program you are starting!
Textbooks
First up is probably the MOST asked question during the first week of classes and one I often get as an upper-year mentor for younger first-year students: “Should I buy the textbooks?” This question typically has one answer, which in my opinion is NO. However, there can be times when it is useful depending on the course. Generally, I would say it is not worth buying textbooks from your university bookstore because of how expensive they are. 90% of the time you can find the PDF link to the textbook which you can use, or you can check out online markets like Facebook Marketplace or Kijij where students often sell their used books for much less. Typically, as a first year undergrad, you won’t be needing to use your textbook much so having a used copy would do it justice. The only time when I think it is useful/necessary to purchase a textbook is when it is an e-textbook and your professor, yes THAT professor, marks participation through the online textbook platform and it contains embedded quizzes which are part of your grade. In this case, you unfortunately have no other option than to purchase the e-textbook otherwise you would be losing out on free marks, which is NEVER a good idea in first year; you should take every opportunity to get free marks when you can! Luckily, however, e-textbooks are cheaper than hard-copy versions so it might not cost you an arm and a leg to afford those textbooks.
Lab Supplies
As a STEM student, you are guaranteed to participate in some form of laboratory component whether it be in introductory biology, chemistry, or even physics. It is typically mandatory, and if it is not, I would highly encourage you to purchase a lab coat and goggles from your university bookstore to ensure you are set up for success in your labs. Another thing is to purchase the lab manual and a lab notebook. These are often available for you at your university bookstore and are often mandatory as part of a course. DO NOT rely on your lab partner’s manual or lab notebook because I can assure you it will not be the best idea when it comes to writing out your formal lab report the night before it is due without any data from the lab. Having a lab notebook is often optional however, it is good practice as you venture out into upper-year classes and start to explore potential career options post-graduation. You may discover that you love research and perhaps decide to do a thesis in your fourth year (if your university provides you with that option), and having these supplies makes it a lot easier. In addition, the skills you gained from participating in labs throughout your undergrad with proper lab etiquette will make you stand out as an applicant.
Agenda
Last but not least, what I cherish most every year is an agenda or planner. Whether it is a large calendar on your wall, an actual paper agenda like the ones from elementary school, or a Notion tab on your laptop, having a calendar or agenda with space to write out all of your to-do’s for the day and week, including classes, assignments, studying time, extracurriculars etc., is truly the best gift you can give yourself. Since it is syllabus week, I would encourage you to take some time out of your schedule and plan out the tests, labs, assignments, etc., you have for the upcoming fall term to help you better understand how your weeks will generally look. Of course, things will come up day to day, but having a good foundation, in the beginning, will only help you once all of the work begins to pile up and the stress begins to set in.
Well, I guess it is safe to say that there are many things to consider and plan out during syllabus week, it is not as easy as opening your syllabi and reading through them. However, I hope this blog provided you with some insight into how to navigate university better with some wise tips and tricks from upper-year students that you will soon be in just a couple years; yes, JUST a couple of years, because this time will fly by so fast, trust me. Enjoy your first week and stay tuned for more exciting blogs with insightful tips and tricks for you to reach your academic weapon potential this year!
About the Author
Wynter Sutchy is a fourth-year undergraduate student at McMaster University studying Biology (Physiology) and is from King City, ON. She is very passionate about the healthcare field and enjoys sharing her volunteering experiences through writing. She plans to pursue a career in medicine in the future and plans to explore the field of healthcare through research and volunteering throughout her undergraduate career. In her free time, you can expect her to be watching her favourite show, Greys Anatomy, teaching children how to swim, or baking some delicious desserts!
