Just don't spread yourself out too thin, and know when to stop - it's super easy to burn out when taking on too much coursework, even if this extra part is self

Just don't spread yourself out too thin, and know when to stop - it's super easy to burn out when taking on too much coursework, even if this extra part is self study. The author writes that he wants to pursue a Ph.D - in that case, I'd put all my effort into pursuing what would maximize my chances at getting into such program. Unfortunately, self study is quite difficult to prove, and does not hold much weight when applying for such positions.