<p>If you study all through high school and you don't end up getting into the colleges you want, you'll at least have the knowledge and satisfaction of having done your best. Plus you can blame everyone else for it (like Jane Schmane who applied to a million colleges and put you on waitlist).
But if you don't study and don't get into the colleges you want, there's only yourself to blame.
But don't sweat freshman yr, it doesn't count really.</p>