Step number one is to manage yourself. Get organized -- set up a calendar and to-do list. Remember that time is your most valuable resource; keep track of your time at all costs.
Second, get your school-skills handy. Graduate students spend hours upon hours reading. Learn how to read efficiently. The SQ3R method is just one strategy for improving your reading comprehension. However, reading isn't enough to succeed in graduate school. Research is at the heart of graduate study. Get a handle on using the internet to find full text research articles. Prepare for your thesis or dissertation on day one by keeping track of your ideas and experiments in a research journal. Once you've begun your dissertation, don't lose momentum -- keep on track and complete your dissertation .
The third piece of graduate school success is to understand that a big part of graduate study entails coming into contact with professors. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how often students ignore the faculty part of the grad school equation. The apprenticeship model of graduate study relies on student-faculty interaction. Don't be nervous, but learn how to interact with faculty, including how to find a mentor and cultivate a productive relationship. Recognize that even the best students sometimes find themselves in a bind and have to [ink url=http://gradschool.about.com/cs/survivaltips/a/helpprof.htm]ask a professor for help[/link]. It happens, but don't put off seeking help because the longer you wait to approach your professor, likely the less that he or she can do to help you. Don't let problems snowball.
Finally, don't lose yourself in your work. Take time off at regular intervals. Give yourself at least one day off each week. Laugh. Learn how to manage stress and you'll be much happier during your graduate school years.
