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So for about two weeks I cancelled the rest of my life. No hanging out with friends, no alcohol, waking up/going to sleep early - and started working through course material. Going through derivations, looking at old psets - trying to approach the whole experience in a disciplined and professional manner. I reminded myself that I do care about knowing the subject material.
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During this two weeks in late Dec I was working alone. This was key -- not asking for help from anyone until I had done my due dilligence. Then the four weekends of morning quals review started. I was still very far from where I wanted to be, however I had reviewed the concepts and was getting better with the previous years quals.
Then one weekend I took a break - friends, lots of alcohol, and I let myself enjoy it without worrying that I should be doing something else. My mind drifted, and I didn't try to force it to come back. After about three days I started studying again. I think periods of intense study can be counter-productive beyond a certain point - but that may just be how my mind works. (If you're into it and excited by your work then this may not apply in the same way.)
I also ate take-out takeout and delivery morning noon and night. No expense was spared ... sushi 5 times a week -- whatever, I knew I was only doing this once (regardless of the outcome). Again, knowing my own psychology and how to keep my imagination vivid and optimistic is critically important to performing under stress. Other day-to-day lifestyle decisions were optimized for this process as well.
After the first weekend group meeting I started to study with others a lot more. Presenting my reasoning and answers definitely reinforced what I already knew and taught me a lot more -- it made a lot of things very solid that I may have had a more tenuous grasp on before.
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Also in the final weeks I reinforced my positive view of the exam as an opportunity to showcase my hard work. I had to be careful about complaining to myself in my own mind and continue to apply myself fully without judging the process. I reached the state where I thought if I didn't make it - after that much work{}then maybe it's not for me. I did not have a second chance because I knew I am leaving in the summer no matter what - and that coming back three years later and having to take quals would likely not be something I'd be willing to do.
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Also, for the oral exam, no matter what they ask you, and no matter what you think about how you are doing -- remain confident. Imagine you are giving a talk at a conference. You wouldn't be there if you hadn't earned your place. Prepare, give it your honest best, and don't worry about it.
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