<p>We did the early order book thing when S was a freshman. Younger S will be a freshman this year (diff. sch) and we will likely do the same for him.</p>
<p>I think it was pretty helpful for the first semester. I seem to recall that there was a book missing when he picked his books up because it had not come in yet. So he did have to go back to the bookstore later to get it. You don’t get your course requirements until you go to the class and get a syllabus. </p>
<p>As a freshman, you’ll be having lots of other stuff to deal with without having to worry if your online book order from ecampus is going to come through on time or not.
I think getting the books on campus for the first semester is the way to go and then try the other methods next time around when you have more experience with the whole process.</p>