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Are you supposed to have your books before college starts?
If you get your financial aid money a week after school starts, how do you get your books and stuff?
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I would WAIT until after the FIRST class session for each course. Tell the instructor you're having issues affording books and want to be 100% certain that assignments and stuff you will be tested on will definitely come from them. Then you will buy said books,
Your profs may know of students who are looking to unload these books having just taken the course a semester before or you could find them used. Try placing an ad on a bulletin board this week or electronically if they have a forum or place for that and see if you can get a deal. If you can't you'll have to buy new.
If I were you the first thing rather than doing the above should be a call and or a trip down to the financial aid office. Explain you were told in writing that you won't get financial aid until after the first week of school but have NO way to pay for all your books that the instructors say you must have first week.
Ask them what they can do to help. They see this issue a lot. You may find a classmate willing to share a book if you go 50/50 and photocopy the chapters until you get money. Don't panic because there will definitely be a solution.
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First off, I would recommend talking to your financial aid adviser. Every college has a different system and this is a question they probably get often so they will know the answer.
Also, will your financial aid be put directly into your bank account? Or your student account? Often time you get the option to get it directly deposited into your bank account. Because if that is the case then you can simply buy the books now and it won't matter as much because the money will go into your account.
Another option is to buy the books from your university bookstore and wait until you get your financial aid to return them. Our university bookstore has a return period in case students drop a class.
You can also email your professor telling him/her this and see if there is another solution. Sometimes university libraries have the book and you can borrow it.
Like I said, every university is different. See what is the easiest for you and works for you.
Hope that helps!
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Here's an insider tip: don't ever get your books before class starts!
In the first week or two of class, you'll find out if the book is needed. Are you going to actually be using it for questions and assignments, or is it just "recommended reading"? Most information can be found online these days, so you don't always need to buy the specified book.
Schools often hold used book sales, so you can get your books cheaper. Also worth a look is Amazon: I got my one math textbook, normally $230 at my college bookstore, for $180, taxes in and free shipping. Shop around, because it can definitely be worth it.
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