Try to take all of your classes within your first three years and plan ahead if you are interested in the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program or a formal minor (e.g. Studies in Science and Technology).

Discuss with your advisor in your second year his/her view on thesis credits. Do you have to start taking them the semester after passing orals or can you push them off one semester to pick up another class?

Develop a plan for studying for the written exam (GWE) and stick to it. Pass the GWE as soon as possible. If you are interested in theory, passing with the minimum score is not enough. A typical schedule is bout 3-4 hours per week in the semester leading up to the exam and 8 hours per day during the 2 weeks prior to the exam.

Know your oral exam committee. Choose faculty who will be advocates for you. Learn what questions your committee members like to ask and what their philosophies are regarding what the oral exam is supposed to test. This information can be found out by asking other graduate students, particularly those in your group and sub-field.