There are many questions asked in the webboard about these
classes. So I guess I should just sum them up in one place.
Some of these questions are not really specific to the department.
For ISE, Industrial and Systems Engineering,
there are these questions:
Question:
Are Books listed at the course syllabus
page accurate enough for me to begin shopping in Thailand
?
P' Oh+/Oakley:
I'm not an ISE student. (I was a Communication major.) So
my suggestion is VERY general...but it should apply to everyone
at one level or another.
I wouldn't base the books you'll use on the old syllabus.
Sometimes professors change from semester to semester. Use
the List you get from the bookstore is probably best http://www-bookstore.usc.edu.
Click on "Course Materials"...then "Booklist for your enrolled
classes". Check the term, then enter your student ID and
PIN (your birthday month, day, year usually MMDDYY, unless
you've changed it.)
Professors usually don't change the books on you once they
assigned them. They may add more books or readers though.
If you can find them in Thailand make sure that it's the
same edition as the one required by the class. As for used
books...the earlier you get to USC bookstore, the better
chance for you at finding used books. You can probably ask
around on the webboard
first if someone still have certain books in their possession
so you might buy from them. You can also find other used
text books online through many different websites...don't
forget to factor in shipping cost, and the estimate time
of arrival (ETA) of your books. Used books are great because
they're cheap. But some people are distracted by the notes
and highlights made by the books' former owners. (I personally
love the old notes. A bit like cheating for me...hehe).
I got the List. I went and bought the used books and readers,
and held out on the rest of them. I went to class to get
the syllabus and got a feel for the first class. (You might
decided not take the course after all...so you don't have
to bother with returning every single books!) Some professors
rely heavily on books, and some rely more on their own lectures.
Many of my classes were lecture-heavy so I didn't buy any
books, but make some trips to the library reserve stack
to make copies of the parts I might need...or even borrowing
a friend's books after class. Hehe. Hope that helps. Have
fun shopping!
Question:
Is it really cheaper to buy books from thailand ?
P' A:
Yes!!!
... if you can find it. It's even cheaper than used books
at USC book store. Try this http://www.booknet.co.th/index.cfm.
Or maybe Se-Ed or CU bookstore, the one in campus.
