<p>There’s a couple of questions that need to be asked when you’re considering grad school, most important of which is:</p>
<p>1) What field do you want to go into? </p>
<p>You need a damn good reason for why they “ought” to pay you to study X field in Y institution (Princeton, if that’s what you like). You’re a freshman I’m assuming (story is a bit different if you’re a transfer), don’t worry so much about your grades. This is not to say stop going to your classes or fail courses - you’ll need to do well to get into a good graduate school, but focus more on figuring out what classes you find fascinating, and focus on trying to find research opportunities. </p>
<p>Oftentimes, the research you do will help you figure out what you want a lot more clearly than your classwork (or it may not, that’s the point of trying out a lot of research if you can, and the point of starting early). I started looking for research the winter break of my freshman year, and had something lined up for the summer well before my friends started looking, often near the middle of the spring semester, just when things start to get crazy in your classes again! Start early 
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<p>2) Where is the advisor you want to work with?</p>
<p>Way, way, way, way (ad infinitum) more important that the prestige of the school. While the “best” (very, very subjective term) PIs for given disciplines tend to be at well-renowned institutions, there’s really no guarantee and you really have to do your research to figure this out when you’ve figured out your field.</p>
<p><em>Not a question, but:</em></p>
<p>3) Know what you’re getting yourself into</p>
<p>I don’t mean to say this as a discouraging statement - I certainly had no idea when I was a freshman, and I have slightly more of an idea now, but still not completely fleshed out. What is your end goal? If you know you <em>must</em> do research and/or teach at the university level, a PhD is your path (but you won’t know this from just coursework - get on with research!). If not, think about what opportunities you’ll have at the end of your B.A./B.S. and what will best serve you before you sign on to a graduate program that may not help you career-wise. Talk to your advisers in your LAC or check career center advisers if you have them. Just know it’s a completely different lifestyle than your friends will have at an equivalent stage in their career, and it will take some getting used to.</p>
<p>Again, I don’t want to discourage you at all! If I did so, then I apologize completely and please ignore the paragraph above. Just think on it as you go through classes/research of your own, and as you discover yourself through your college experience. I know that I’m still unsure about this, and it’s a constant growing process.</p>
<p>4) Grades are one factor among many.</p>
<p>Doesn’t mean grades are not important, but they’re not <em>all</em> admissions departments look at, especially compared to Med School or Law School (exceptions at both of these, of course, but I think you know what I mean). Beyond a certain point, it’ll come down to the advisor/PI and whether they want you. If they do, they’ll get you in one way or another (just don’t make it impossible for them by getting like a 2.5 or something with terrible letters of rec and GRE scores).</p>
<p>From what I hear from friends on admissions boards, admissions really focus on Letters of Rec. (since that’s information about you from trusted, respected sources), Publication/presentation history, GPA (since that’s the only metric the American education system seems to use to gauge “ability”), Statements, and misc. stuff like GRE score that can really only keep you out, not get you in. Keep in mind this is geared toward science/engineering, it may be and is probably different for more portfolio-oriented disciplines for lack of a better term.</p>
<p>Don’t stress your freshman year first semester grades too much. A lot of programs focus on your last 60 credits of coursework, and even if they ask for cumulative GPA, they’ll care a lot more about your upper-division coursework than your first-semester of college. Don’t stress, and ENJOY the rest of your winter break!</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any additional questions.</p>
<p>TL;DR: Figure out what you want to study through increasingly directed coursework and research. Find an advisor that you like and want to work with and likes you too (if at all possible). Know what you’re getting into. Don’t stress your grades too much, especially after your first semester.</p>