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Get Your Supplies

What to Do

Save time and money by getting everything you need for the term before it begins.

How to Do It

• Get a syllabus for each of your classes before school starts.
• Use your syllabi as a reference when purchasing your textbooks and supplies.
• Buy your textbooks before classes begin.

Strategies for Success

Download Syllabi Before the Term Begins

The class syllabus is your roadmap of the course content and course expectations. You will continually refer to it throughout the term for information such as class assignments, professor's office hours, and learning objectives. 

As soon as you finalize your class schedule, look for the names of your professors on the PSU website. Go to the PSU homepage and click on the Faculty + Staff link, or go directly there by clicking  http://www.pdx.edu/colleagues.html. One at a time, enter each of your professors’ names into the search box on the right side of the page. You can then find your professors’ e-mail addresses by clicking on his or her name when you find it. Send each professor an e-mail message requesting a copy of the syllabus for your class.

Many students wait to receive the syllabus on the first day of class because they’re uncomfortable contacting their professors directly or they feel they are inconveniencing them by requesting personalized attention. First, professors are happy to accommodate students' requests for syllabi prior to the beginning of the term, so don't feel awkward about requesting this information. Second, obtaining your syllabus well in advance of the beginning of the term allows you to shop around for used books and to begin reviewing your materials before the start of classes. Lastly, contacting your professor prior to the beginning of the term demonstrates academic eagerness and professionalism.

Once you've obtained the syllabus you'll find a full list of required books for the class. Now you’re ready for the next step.

Use Your Syllabus as a Reference to Purchase Your Textbooks and Supplies
 
Once you have all your syllabi, you can begin researching where to purchase your books. One option is to buy your books from the PSU bookstore. The bookstore is fully stocked with books and school supplies. You can be sure that the edition being sold by the bookstore is the one your professor intends to use because your professors have ordered them to ensure their availability at the start of the term. The bookstore staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they’ll be able to quickly answer your questions regarding what texts you need to obtain. Even though they do carry used copies of many books, these sell out quickly once the term begins, which is another reason to start this process early. The second option is to purchase your textbooks via one of the many online vendors that sell discounted text books.

Buying your books online requires more time and planning than buying them at the bookstore. For this reason, it’s very important that you provide yourself ample time to purchase the book and have it shipped to your home address. When you buy books online, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you’re buying the correct version—copyright date, issue, or edition— that's required by your professor. Textbooks can change dramatically from one edition to another. A first edition issue you find online may look like a great deal at only $5 compared to $45 for the third edition that’s required for the course, but there may be major differences between the two editions that could make completing assignments difficult. If money is a serious issue, you can call or e-mail your professor to inquire if an earlier version will suffice before purchasing the book. However, if the answer is no, don't cut corners. The money you save could cost you a grade or two.

Buy Your Books Before Classes Start

Make sure to buy all your books before classes start. If you wait to procure them after the term begins you’ll end up waiting in long lines at the bookstore. Additionally, books are often more expensive if you wait until classes begin because used copies sell quickly. Students are often shocked at how much work is assigned the very first week (or day) of classes. Having your books and supplies prepared means that after class you can find your home base and begin your assignment rather than fighting the rush to purchase books.

What Else Will You Need?

Below is a list of items that students often forget to purchase when shopping for supplies. Since we've already made that mistake, we thought we’d save you the hassle by providing a list of other essentials.

• pencils and pens (Most professors won't accept assignments written in colors other than black or blue ink.)
• paper (The three-subject college-ruled binders work well because you can organize the sections by class.)
• printing supplies (Realizing that you've run out of ink forty-five minutes before your final essay is due is beyond stressful. Make sure you have plenty of paper and ink on hand.)
• three-ring binders and folders (To stay organized it's important to keep your syllabi and your notes separated by class.)
• highlighters (They’re useful for highlighting important dates on the syllabus and for marking key information in articles and texts.)
• recording device (You may need to tape a lecture or an interview.)
• supplemental reading packets for each class (These are usually available at the bookstore or Clean Copy on SW Broadway. Don’t skip purchasing these. If they’re marked as supplemental on the syllabus, that doesn’t mean they're optional, it means they provide supplemental material to support the lectures and the readings in your textbooks. )
• daily planner (This is one of your most critical purchases. To be successful you must have an organized system to keep track of all your due dates throughout the term.)
• appropriate calculator (You will find different classes require different machines; check the syllabus.)
• bus pass/parking pass (Figure out which way of getting to school makes sense for you. And don’t forget, bikes can park for free!)
• locker (If you don’t want to lug a heavy book bag around all day, consider this option.)

As you refine your studying and note-taking skills you'll also refine the list of supplies you need each term. The main point is that being prepared reduces your stress level during the first few weeks of class and helps you excel academically. So do yourself a favor and plan ahead.

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