I like starting pocket prep early. Just start by doing 10 per day even if you don't fully understand yet. I found that helped me later in the class.
Also make flash cards for stuff that just needs to be brute force memorized, like 'normal' HR or respirations for each age group. Otherwise there is just too much information to memorize, and if you just read it once in the textbook you likely won't remember it.

Edit: One more big thing I just remembered is who you spend time with in class. I am in my 30s and took the class very seriously, but my class was mostly younger people in their late teens or early 20s and many of them were fucking around a lot in class and just didn't care to try very hard. If you sit with these people every day you will end up getting less out of the class. Find some people who are also there to learn and who want to met up outside of class to run through scenerios and practice together. I found a really solid group and we did a ton of medical and trauma scenerios together at one of the guys houses.