What is Graphic Design

Recently everyone is talking about university and its getting me really excited about going now, I recieved an email the other day about starting and the welcome week. As its me we're talking about here I did some websearching about what equipment I might need, I actually found the Nottingham Trent list but I'm not sure when its from but I figure that the changes can't be that drastic. I was more concious about searching out the cheap reading material as I know that book plus equipment is going to be quite expensive, I manages to pick up the first one 'What is Graphic Design?' for next to nothing on Ebay.