First off, I wanna say welcome to the board! Now, the bow part. For just starting out, dont go heavy on speed or poundage or anything to powerful. Go with a higher brace hieght bow(the distance from the back of the grip to the string) because theyre more forgiving. Make sure you get the proper draw length, not to long or short. Start with a comfortable poundage and work your way up gradually, this is the perfect time to start because you have a few months to get use to everything and eventually turn your poundage up. As for bows, you are probably going to end up spending $400 minimum on a new bow, and thats with bare essentials(probably like a PSE nova with a sight, rest, release, and stringwork, plus 6 arrows). If your wanting a package bow, parker and hoyt make some great setups with the quality of a new bow. If your not wanting a new bow cause you dont want to sink that kind of money into it, ebay has some used stuff, as well as local ads in pro shops and the newspaper. Make sure you check the bow out though before you buy it. Check for cracks in the limbs or riser, if the cams lean either direction, any noises when drawn or shot, mostly things that just dont look right. String condition isnt that big of a deal, cause you'll probably have to replace it anyways. Make sure it fits you! Dont buy a bow cause it seems like a "good deal", you'll end having tons of problems that cant be fixed so your stuck with them which can make you shoot poorly and deter you from archery. Hope this helps, maybe some other people can add some stuff ive left out. Good luck on your search for a bow and let us know what you decide.