Advice from students
- Don't panic!
- Do past quals. Figure out which problems you know and which you don't.
http://www.math.purdue.edu/academic/grad/qualexams/
- Bell's notes are online. He also posts past in-class exam solutions.
- Set a designated study time and area.
- Study in groups if possible.
- Categorize the problems by type. Figure out which areas you need to focus on.
- Figure out which problems to expect from a specific professor and DO THEIR QUALS.
- Try to take the course with the professor giving the qual.
- Get a mentor and talk to them about exam information and life.
- Don't study all the time. Take breaks.
- Set a schedule for what to go through when.
- Don't cram.
- Look over homework from the exam writer(s).
- The course syllabus is in the grad handbook and has recommended texts and material you should know.
- Day before/day of: get sleep the night before. Eat breakfast. Bring simple sugars to eat during the qual.
