1. Even if you've been on campus before, it is worth your time to reacquaint yourself with your surroundings. The school where we go now offers a nice guided tour on campus on iTunes. You can download the tour and check out the features of the campus without having to sign up for a tour with a bunch of 18 year olds. You can also simply stroll in to the admissions office and pick up a couple of maps.
When applying to graduate schools, I applied to a few campuses that I had seen before, but didn't apply anywhere where I had received an official guided tour. The iPod tour of my new campus (which I didn't take until my second year here) helped me learn more about campus lore, history, and taught me about a few interesting campus features I had no clue existed.
2. Start looking for apartments EARLY. Post an apartment wanted ad on craigslist a few months in advance and repost the ad every seven days. When the time gets closer, start looking for housing through the apartment available section.
3. Think about your living situation. You might be living with a significant other or you might be looking for a roommate(s). If you are looking for roomies, make sure that they understand that you may need long periods of peace and quite in your living space. It is easier, in many ways, to live with other grad students who understand that you may have weird, inconsistent study hours.
4. Live close to campus - but not too close to campus. My first year here, I lived a bit too close to campus. Close enough to hear my students partying, see their weekend antics and just generally feel like I was at work all the time. I'm happy I moved a little ways away, where I can feel as though I am leaving work at the end of the day - even if I have to bring some of it home.
5. Enlist parents to help out - walk them around campus, but maybe hold off on taking them through the department for now.
6. Meet up for coffee or beer (depending on the time of day) with people you know in the area. Facebook can be your best friend here, remember that annoying girl in high school that moved to the same town where your in grad school now? If you can muster having one beer with her, she might tell you where some good spots are for dinner and show you around just a little. And hey, she might actually be kinda cool now.
7. Read up on the program during your downtime. Read and re-read the department website.
8. Take some time to mentally relax before you start your program. My first few months in my new graduate program I felt like I was drinking through the fire-hose. Take some time to ease your way in. Stroll to the campus store and buy books early, set them up on your new bookshelf and look them over a bit. Situate yourself on campus. Practice your commute one day before you actually start your program.
