<p>I will be attending UCSD this fall and I am excited yet nervous. I want to maintain a very decent GPA like 3.8 or3.9 ish while enjoying college social life. Is that even possible? How do people distribute their time when it comes to study and play? Do most freshmen get along with their dormmates well the first year?</p>
<p>Alright this is just my opinion!</p>
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<li><p>A 3.8-3.9 is not considered “decent”, it’s like, AMAZING. And also incredibly hard to achieve especially in certain majors. Most people I know who have a healthy social life maintain somewhere within a 3.5-3.7. Keep in mind it is not the same as high school at all. You may be completely different I’m just trying to be realistic haha. </p></li>
<li><p>You’ll find a way to distribute your time, although it takes a little while to figure out when you get here. Don’t worry about that just yet. </p></li>
<li><p>It varies. I’ve seen people who absolutely love their roommates/suitemates and they become best friends, and others who hate them so much they move to a different room. Just be very accurate on that housing survey you fill out (although I personally believe they don’t even use those when determining your roommates) and hope for the best!</p></li>
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<p>Other advice: Get excited!! Don’t be too stressed out when you get here and school starts. And don’t gain the Freshman 15 because it has happened to almost everyone I know! So bad!</p>
<p>lol 3.8-3.9 = “decent”</p>
<p>if youre at 3.65, youre already at the top 16% of your class, with most of the people above you being in the humanities/social sciences; not saying that the majors are easier, but it’s a lot more common to find a person with a 3.9 in a polisci or psych dept than bio or engineering.</p>
<p>unless youre brilliant and can blow everyone out of the water with minimal effort (and as much as i love ucsd, if this is where youre matriculating, chances are youre not), then youre going to be spending many nights studying when youd rather be doing something else</p>
<p>and as for “people” distributing their time, there’s a reason why the median gpa is 3.0–the majority of people seem complacent getting b’s and c’s. i was one of them my first year but have since been able to bring up my cumulative to a 3.7 with a physiology psych double major. had i been more focused more on school rather than figuring out what party i was going to that night, who knows where id be at.</p>
<p>As a student who has maintained a 3.8-3.9 through my sophomore year, I highly discourage setting that as a goal for yourself. It’s not easy, and it takes time away from other things (such as getting involved in organizations or clubs) which are equally important. Don’t get me wrong, grades ARE important. But I think settling for a 3.6-3.7 is a more reasonable goal. Just make sure to use your extra free time productively (i.e., get involved with stuff!)</p>
<p>Depends what your major is, what your study habits are like, what your priorities are (seems like you’d like the best of both worlds, yet I find it extremely hard to balance). I’m a Biochem major, and I procrastinate a lot. I have about a 3.65 right now (as a freshman), yet I must say that because of my procrastination, I don’t get much sleep & usually find myself spending most of the day out with people/not studying (not really healthy if you ask my parents >:|) Try not to procrastinate? Easier said than done, but the quarter system goes by extremely fast, and its really hard to catch up unless you pull frequent all-nighters. Stay on top of your work and make sure you keep your priorities straight depending on what your future goals are.</p>
<p>^I second what Radiance said. Procrastination is the devil!!!</p>
<p>clubs and orgs equally important? no. i would not encourage completely seclusion from the outside world, but being part of an org is something i would say is on par with academics. this isnt hs where people care how well rounded a student is. if youre going premed, your numbers matter. if youre going academia, research quality matters. no one cares if you were president of club x or a member of fraternity abc.</p>
<p>dont deprive yourself of a college experience, but remember why you or someone you care about is paying $20000 for you to be here.</p>
<p>Your paying X amount of money to come to college. Do whatever you feel like doing.</p>
<p>If you have free time, join an organization or sports, if you don’t have free time, then study in groups to socialize as well as study at the same time.</p>
<p>If you just want to study, make a habit of studying in groups and getting to know other people who are in your major.</p>
<p>If you want to party, set at least 1-2 days off from studying, make sure you want to be ready for anything, my cousin always said, “If you have a party date set, study the days before the party, get everything done, and don’t leave any homework or whatever left undone, then party your ass off.”</p>
<p>She has maintained a 3.9 at UCB.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t stress over the college experience. It will come to you no matter what. The thing right now is to get accustomed to the college life, then get started on what you want to do.</p>
<p>As an incoming freshman, I am eager to attend. Really, I’ve been anxious ever since I got my acceptance. Sleepless nights, boredom, and nothing to do until summer program as well as orientation!</p>
<p>Though, I do have Blizzcon coming up, I’m basically a sitting rock. </p>
<p>If I were you! Don’t sweat it, your not alone, I just been browsing CC to get myself accustomed to the college life through the views of others :D.</p>
<p>COLLEGE will surely be the best experience, albeit getting that 3.9 or 3.7, it all depends on how much opportunity cost you are willing to give up!</p>