Tips and Info, if it has already been mentioned, then ignore me.
Insta-60
Careful buying/using the auto level 60 (or the insta-60 Cartel Market token). For purposes of the Legacy buffs, insta-60sdo notcount towards that. Additionally, insta-60 will not unlock all the companions for it. Insta-60 do not get any story achievements or perks or anything. The only legacy unlocks you get is congrats on being XYZ at 60. Only use the insta-60 for an Advanced class you don't already have. For example; you have a Jedi Guardian Tank and now you decide you want a Jedi Guardian Sentinel (DPS). Since they share everything pretty much, you don't miss by Insta-60ing the Sentinel.
Skills
-On average, you'll have 5-6 main skills you cycle through, usually on your main bar (almost always just 5, the 6th being an AOE or situational). Their cool downs are typically less than 15 seconds and almost always require some sort of resource (rage/focus for example). I have these on 1-5
-3-4, Emergency or "Shit hit the fan" type skills you keep on your main bar. These are instant, and don't require resource. They're just on long timers (usually about 1-2 minutes, but talents lower this). I have these on 7 through 9.
-3-4 "Cool Downs" which you keep on another bar. These are class specials which are usually less than 30 seconds, but not as fast as your main skills. Things like Taunts, Stuns, Force Jump, and so on. Situational shit you don't insta cast all the time. I have these on F1-F5.
-1-2 Interrupts. I have these on key 7 or 8 depending on the class.
In play you'll be cycling through 5 skills really, keeping your mouse on the others or using the occasional function keys. If you're playing a smuggler/sniper/agent what ever that uses Cover, bind that shit to a mouse button or some common key like Q or E, since you'll be using that a lot. Although if you detest the clunkyness of how cover works, there should be a build that has skills that don't rely on cover. I don't know them off hand but the Advanced Skill summary should let you know.
If you're cycling through more than 6 main skills (and you're not a PvP build), then you might have a skill that's chucking your resources and isn't as good as another. Check Dulfy or any build guide to make sure. Practice on heroics until you got your cycle down pretty fast. By 65, you should be killing heroic silvers in one cycle. If the silvers are not less than 15% health, move your skills around until you maximize your dps (yes that includes tanks).
Gearing and Exp
Always start at level 1 if it is a core class you don't have. Don't do the auto-60 since you can get screwed. Insta-60s start with no Data Crystals.
-Stick to main story quests. Them combined with heroics should level you over what you have to be. You should be 60 by the time you get to Makeb. Makeb will get you to 65. Story quests got permanently increased by 200% exp.
-Grab all Heroics in one shot. Group with as many people as you can for the money bonus. I've gone from 10K to 900K credits by running all of the heroics in Corelia+Hoth+Belsavis+their bonuses in a group of three. In a group of four I should have hit 1million credits easily.
-Heroics all reward the same regardless of level. If you're level 60 and run a level 10 heroic, you'll get level 60 experience and money and gear.
Don't waste crystals modding anything, use Heroic gear rewards until you hit 65. Heroics will give you random, level appropriate blue gear. Just make sure you pick the box that has the right stuff for your class/build.
Don't waste crystals or money on slottables until you're 65. Heroics will give you blue weapons you can level with. Otherwise, get any orange weapon and slot it with green mods (but just the weapon, don't worry about armor).
If you can run Tactical Flashpoints, they will help you gear up faster (especially at 65). Tactical FP will always drop a random 208 at the end of them.
If you're 65 and can't find the hilt/barrel for your weapon. Blow the 150 common and buy the offhand saber/pistol and unslot the 208 hilt/barrel. Slot it into your orange moddable weapon. The Mastery/Endurance will be off, but the difference isn't that great and it will hold you out until you get the right ones from Hardmodes/Ops. FYI, you can't slot this one into a main weapon. I thought you could slot it into an orange cartel weapon that has both main and offhand. I ran out of crystals to test it though.
If your character looks like shit, use the outfit designer to look baddass. You can put pretty much anything in there even if your class can't use it (such as Heavy armor on a cloth wearer). However, if the armor is class restricted (the ones with Smuggler/Trooper only type thing), then you won't be able to put it in the outfit designer. Your companions can wear any type of gear as well (light medium heavy, it doesn't matter).
Yes that means you can be Boba Fett dual wielding lightsabers.
