• Participate in seminars, discussions, brown bags, job talks, etc.
• Don't get tunnel vision.  Get to know your peers & colleagues.
• Other graduate students will be your most valuable source of info, help, ideas, and support.  Go to them first for anything.
• Grad school is stressful.  At times you'll feel like an impostor, a hoax, alone, or utterly unproductive.  First, realize you're not the only one who feels or has felt this way.  Second, reach out to labmates, friends, faculty friends.  Third, know that it will (hopefully) pass.

• Feel comfortable relating to faculty & staff as your peers.  They will generally treat you as a colleague.
• Get to know Vivian in the front office (Grad Student Coord.)
• Get to know Edwina Chavez at the office of grad studies (manuscripts, etc).
• Get to know Linda Cantos, the veterinarian, for animal care stuff.
• Get to know Roy Ritchie for that and much else (local BARF rep).
• Vehicles and a/v equipment are managed by the department.  All other equipment is managed by faculty and staff.  They will gladly train you, loan you the equipment, or do some small tasks for you.

• You are responsible for your progress, paperwork, forms and goals. Ask for advice, but do it yourself.
• Keep photocopies of all paperwork: something is bound to get lost between you, your committee, the front office, and OGS.
• You will only be surprised if you don't communicate -- with your advisor, labmates, committee, Vivian, Edwina....  Communicate.

• YOU pick your committee.  Make sure they get along.  Pick people who you think will be of assistance to your research.  Don't pick people who will be a problem.
• Don't be afraid of changing your committee along the way.  They won't mind.
• If your advisor isn't working out, change your advisor.  It should be a win-win situation.  If you're not happy, people will support your decision.

• Clearly discuss the scope and goals of comps with your committee.
• Study comps by going to discussions.  Then study what your committee suggests, for a month before taking comps.
• Comps can be particularly stressful for female grad students.  Talk to other women grad students before taking them.

• Classes are only important if you need the info or if you want the expose yourself to the subject.
• The marginal value of getting A's is low compared to the marginal value of taking that extra time and going to discussions and seminars.
• Fulfill requrements early: core courses, hours, language and tool skills.
• Don't take more than 3 real courses per semester.  Sign up for only the courses you need, plus problems hours to fill your schedule (if it doesn't require additional, nonessential work).  Only take 2 real courses if you're a TA.

• Take a PE class like yoga, tai chi, aerobics, or basketball (tuition is waived); go to the gym; go walking or jogging; join a league like soccer, volleyball,swimming, or ultimate; go to concerts.  Do something in town regularly to maintain your sanity.
• Albuq. has lots to offer for food, music, sports, arts, tourism, etc.  Ask around for ideas.
• Get out of Albuquerque.  NM is gorgeous, and there are many things to do an hour away.

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