Asking for Material Early

1. I will be taking Fundamentals of Nursing, Clinical Computations, Med/Surg Nursing I and Nursing the older Adult starting in August.
   
   Would it be __???____, (rude/dumb/presumptious(spelling??)/pushy) to ask for a list of books & a sylbs. now? Since I am only taking 1 class now & 1 in the summer, even though it will be Anatomy & Phys. 1, I thought that I would stand a good chance to do well in my classes if I had a head-start. Also, it would help $$$$ wise to get my books while I have some extra money. What are your views?
   
   Jenn

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2. 

   About justjenn

   Joined: Mar '03; Posts: 217; Likes: 3
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3. 
   Mar 12, '03

   It sounds smart to me if they have them ready, many professors who have been there a long time teaching the same courses have a very similar syllabus from year to year. At our school however they don't get the books in for the semester at the bookstore till a couple days before classes start. If you're at a bigger school though that might not be a problem, or you could get the books online. Hope this helps!
4. 
   Mar 12, '03

   jenn- i think u should do it! Why not? If all the books are available go for it (I wish I would have thought of that last semester..lol)
   
   good luck, girl!
   YOU ARE A SUPASTAH!!!!!!!!
5. 
   Mar 13, '03

   Go for it. But make sure that the books that are in the bookstore are the same they're going to use in the fall. Sometimes they'll switch books on you, not just editions.
6. 
   Mar 13, '03

   I would say go for it too. Although, the flip side, they may not have the stuff ready yet.
   
   When I started nursing, I wanted everything early and they didn't have it until 2 weeks before school started. The syllabus, we could purchase at the book store, right after our orientation, but that was only 3-4 wks before classes started.
   
   It never hurts to ask, the worst they say is "no, it's not ready".
7. 
   Mar 13, '03

   I tried that on my first semester. They gave me a list of books with my acceptace letter, but told me that syllabus would be passed out first day of class. The whole first week was nothing but ERI, and going over syllabus.
   
   as for books, 1st sems cost me around $ 600. Mostly due to Medical dictionary, drug book, diagnosis book, care plan book. Stuff that you use from semester to semester. This year, books only ran me around $ 380.
   
   Good luck to you.
8. 
   Mar 13, '03

   Yes, I think it's great to ask ahead....some in my class are hoping to get prepared over summer for 2nd semester-----however, there is talk of changing editions or books, so we might not be able get a headstart.
9. 
   Mar 13, '03

   My dumb school wouldn't even give us our book list until 2 weeks before classes I hope you can because i think it would be helpful to you
10. 
    Mar 13, '03

    Be careful if you purchase things far in advance. The instructor may change the textbook required for the class and/or there may be a new additions published.
    
    If you really WANT to spend the money now because you have it, why don't you just set it aside for now? Put it in a separate acount or something if necessary so that you don't spend it.
    
    llg
11. 
    Mar 13, '03

    Just make sure they aren't going to change books by the time you start classes. Sometimes they get new editions, etc. I'd check with the nursing dept and see if the books are going to be changing any time soon.
12. 
    Mar 13, '03

    At our school, the instuctors will have to have the list of books needed into the bookstore before summer. I usually just call the bookstore and they give me the books that the instructor's have ordered. They are getting ready to change our med/surg book so I'll be trying to find out which one they will be using so I can get it over the summer. I always try to at least read through the book before class starts....great way to get a head start!
    
    As far as syllubi are concerned, we don't get ours until the semester begins...and then sometimes not until two - three weeks into the semester. I don't even bother asking anymore, I just look at the old one and take my "hints" from there.
    
    Hope this helps.
13. 
    Mar 13, '03

    Go for it!
    
    If I were you, I'd go to the instructor and ask him/her if he has a syllabus and/or books picked out for the course. You definately don't want to get burned by having them switch books or editions on you.
14. 
    Mar 13, '03

    I had to repeat 2 subjects after failing the first time due to a major depressive episode. Luckily the lecturers took pity on me, and for one subject I was given the book list, printouts of the lecture notes and the set question for our big assignment, worth 60% of the grade, six weeks before the semester started. I was doing the standard 4 subjects for that semester, plus the two that I failed the previous year - if I didn't do them all together, I would have had to wait another 12 months to repeat them.

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