Most doctoral candidates and professors have a page with advice/guidance to prospective grad students. Well, in keeping with that tradition, here are my own favorites.

• You and your research, Richard Hamming.
• The Ph.D experience, Mihir Bellare, UCSD.
• Cargo cult science, Richard Feynman.
• Some Modest Advice for Graduate Students, Stephen C. Stearns.

A more complete, comprehensive collection is Prof. Mark Leone’s how-to page.