The best advice I ever got about meetings was not to ever enter one unless you knew what you wanted to get out of it.
I'd like to believe that the best advice I've ever given about doing an advanced degree is not to start one unless you know why you're doing it. Some of the best folks I've worked with came in with a very specific agenda, whether it was a problem they wanted to solve, an advisor they wanted to work with, or a company they wanted to work with. Having that sort of end point in mind does wonders for focussing your time.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I did NOT follow this advice. I stumbled into grad school without much forethought. If I were to do it again, I'd make sure I had a reason.
I'd like to believe that the best advice I've ever given about doing an advanced degree is not to start one unless you know why you're doing it. Some of the best folks I've worked with came in with a very specific agenda, whether it was a problem they wanted to solve, an advisor they wanted to work with, or a company they wanted to work with. Having that sort of end point in mind does wonders for focussing your time.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I did NOT follow this advice. I stumbled into grad school without much forethought. If I were to do it again, I'd make sure I had a reason.