Ellioy,
Do yourself a favour and don't even try to prepare flying wise! You will only set yourself up for a fail with pre-conceived ideas and probably bad habits. Just turn up there keen to learn, listen to what they teach you and work your hardest to apply it airborne. Talk to your BFTS friend about chairflying and prepbooks as these are tools that will help you alot once you are there and supplied with the learning material.
If i were you, i would concentrate your prep on your OSB as that is something you can do.
You most likely wont get above 5000', because it just takes way too long to get up there.
While you are not flying, you are studying!!!!!!!!
Hope that helps a bit