<p>My son registered for all his classes for the fall 2012 semester. We want to buy the books online now. How can I find out which books to buy? Is there a list somewhere? Thanks.</p>
<p>The textbooks his courses recommend or require will be listed on the class syllabus which won’t be available until the close to the first day of class or on the first day of class. Therefore, you should definitely wait until classes start to find out what books you need and IF you even need them. Students usually don’t need the book until at least the 2nd week of instruction anyway, so there’s plenty of time. </p>
<p><strong><em>A tip about textbooks</em></strong></p>
<p>I wouldn’t buy textbooks for your son’s general ed class. It’s a complete waste of money. For example, if he’s a biology major and needs to take a geology or religious studies class, don’t buy the geology or religious studies textbook!! I’m not saying he won’t need them because he might for some assignments or studying - but they can be borrowed from the library or borrowed from friends. He can make photocopies of the few pages he needs or study in the library. If he’s studying for a class and realizes, “hey, this is really inconvenient” then he could decide to buy it later. </p>
<p>Trust me, he won’t be at a disadvantage either. In my freshman year, I bought all the textbooks my courses/professors “recommended.” One was an archeology book. I looked at it ONCE. During my sophomore year, I bought about half of the books I needed. In my junior year, I only bought a couple of them, and during my senior year, I didn’t buy ANY textbooks. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my grades were better in my junior and senior year. :D</p>
<p>The booklist is under My Courses when you login to myUSC or under Book list through OASIS. </p>
<p>However, I would wait until the first day of classes before you start buying books unless you already know that you will be without a doubt using them (ie. using a book for 2 semesters).</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for your replies. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Some books don’t get listed on the booklist on oasis until the week before. I would often buy them used on amazon instead of buying them in the bookstore.</p>
<p>Go through Oasis to see which books are needed. Buying used online works out really well. I will add that buying them early ensures availability and is one less thing for a freshman to worry about.</p>
<p>aCAMom,</p>
<p>Yes, book information is available now. Go to the [Fall</a> 2012 | Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://web-app.usc.edu/soc/20123]Fall”>302 Found) and click through to the classes he has signed up for. Go to the “info” column over to the right, and if there is a tiny icon that looks like a stack of books, click on that. The books required for that course will pop up with the new and used price at the USC Bookstore included. Use the ISBN to find cheaper options at Amazon Marketplace (be sure to use the ISBN rather than the title to be sure you get the correct edition). If you wait 'till classes start, all the cheap ones at Amazon Marketplace will be gone. If there is no book icon, then either there are no required books or they have not yet been determined.</p>
<p>Be sure to click on the specific section he has signed up for - different instructors will have different required books for the same course.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone! Your replies are very helpful and it was so kind of you to take the time to reply.</p>
<p>Of the 4 classes D is taking in the Fall, only 1 has books listed. I guess I’ll check again in August. Thanks for the link!</p>