New college students become astounded by the amount of freedom suddenly thrust upon them. To use this freedom wisely and productively, students must ensure they have the books and supplies to start college off on the right foot. Luckily, the UA gives you just the right tool to do so: the bursar’s account.

Students will soon discover the UA Bookstore is a wonderful place, perfect for purchasing everything they might need for college. It also provides an incredibly useful tool for making these purchases that make students’ lives about a million times easier.

The UA calls this important tool the bursar’s account, and it essentially serves as a way for students to make purchases at the bookstore, while charging these purchases to their online UAccess account. Each student can spend up to $1,000 per semester via this account at the bookstore. Students (or parents) are still responsible for the bill when it comes due.

So, the question arises of what exactly an incoming freshman should purchase with their bursar’s.

Textbooks

Textbooks have become the single most important thing students should buy with their bursar’s account. As college students, we all know textbooks can exhaust our wallets, so we should rejoice in the fact the UA has provided us with this opportunity — a quick and easy way to pay for the books we need.

All the books you will need for your classes can be found at the bookstore. From traditional books to lab manuals to online access codes, bursar’s and the bookstore have you covered.

Supplies

Make sure to also stock up on school supplies before the semester grind hits. True, you’ve made it past grade school to college, but school supplies will still prove important for many classes at the UA.

Make sure to find a UA notebook with a cool wildcat design and a pen or pencil that you can comfortably write with. You will have to take plenty of notes, and if you hate your pen, you will probably hate yourself too once that first exam comes around and you realize you didn’t take enough notes.

Only get what you deem absolutely necessary. We wouldn’t want anyone to abuse their bursar’s privilege.

Calculators

An appropriate calculator becomes an absolute must if you plan on taking a math class in the upcoming semester. The bookstore has great options perfect for just about any math class at the UA. Whether you think of yourself as a Texas Instruments user or consider yourself more of a Casio person, you’ll definitely find what you need.

Lab supplies

This one really only applies to science majors or anyone taking a laboratory science course, but if you do belong in this group, make sure to grab a lab coat, goggles and gloves before they run out of your size. You wouldn’t want to cause a chemical spillage just because your lab coat sleeve hangs down so low it almost touches the floor.

Gifts and paraphernalia

Definitely don’t go overboard with this one, but as long as your required textbooks and necessary supplies don’t break the bank, feel free to get a little something for mom and dad just to show how much you appreciate them helping you to get where you are.

The bookstore has plenty of UA insignia products, such as clothing, water bottles, mugs and jewelry.

Make sure this gift only shows your appreciation though, rather than overcharging your bursar’s account.

Always remember bursar’s is a privilege, not a gift. It is definitely not free money, rather a highly convenient way to buy what you need. Make sure not to abuse it, otherwise you may receive a relatively unhappy phone call from mom or dad.

Follow these tips and you’ll definitely have what you need when the first day of classes rolls around.

Follow Alec Kuehnle on Twitter.