[michael_usaysgoodbye]

Here's some things to consider...XTi = 10mp, XT = 8mp. The bigger the number the more potential for enlargement and the more detail you'll get.You need a UV 'filter' and a lens - the lens is going to be a key choice as a really good zoom is going to hit your pocket hard and as a beginner you'll find a zoom handy.Prime (fixed focal length) lenses are generally very good quality for the price (low numbers like f1.8 = a wide aperture, the quality indicator)... f5.6 = poorer quality (this figure is known as the 'maximum aperture'). Don't forget you need a UV filter for each of them, maybe other filters too (a hidden extra).I'd suggest 2 memory cards and I'd go for big fast ones (especially for photography). I'd also consider a spare battery for your camera... this covers you for important occasions.A really nice zoom lens is the 17-55mm (f2.8) - but it's an expensive lens. The main benefit you'll get out of a wide aperture is being able to shoot hand held in low light, which is often when it's most interesting. If you go for prime lenses instead, I'd consider a wide (17mm or so), a standard lens (about 30mm) and a moderate telephoto (about 50mm). If you fancy close up photography you will need a 'macro lens'.I'd consider the basic camera kit first and then consider your post production... it's called a workflow and it all needs to hang together or you could butcher your images after they are taken... Photoshop CS3 is probably not going to be recommended by most people as it's very expensive(!), BUT you will also get Bridge and Camera Raw for free. This is useful for 3 reasons - you can do 'non-destructive' editing on your images, it's very easy to edit images using Camera Raw, and you can copy the settings from image to image... which is going to save you a LOT of time in post production and I reckon that should help your image quality - you should get a student discount. To this I would add a 'monitor calibrator', so you can trust the colour you see on your monitor while editing.Other kit recommendations would depend on what you're shooting. If it includes portraits I'd consider a reflector.You also need a bag, cleaning kit, and I would consider a Polarizing filter, some ND (neutral density) filters, a bean bag and a grey card. Again the more lenses you have the more filters you'll need, unless you go for a square filter holding 'system'.It's quite a list of things to consider but by the time you've got this little lot you'll be well set up. Personally speaking I would put a flash low on your priorities list (you have a little one built in to the camera) - a tripod would be next in line (after the above!).Hope that helps, food for thought eh? Going second hand may be worth considering if you want to get the most for your money... it's very much a personal choice.Good luck.EDITftfisher is right - mostly - I phrased it badly but a wide aperture IS usually a key quality indicator, manufacturers DO tend to put their best efforts into lenses with the widest apertures however... hence the price mark-up. As ftf says the glass is most important - I stand corrected on that, nevertheless I think you'll find the two are usually related.