@coolcool07 Nothing at all wrong with social gatherings, clubs, or even the occasional celebration. What “gets” kids is the sudden freedom to do too much thinking they can study at the end right before a test instead of regularly, after all, high school was often “easy” with no or very little studying required so they assume college will be the same. It’s usually not.
This can happen with any EC considering ECs are FUN and studying? Not so much. Add in alcohol or similar things (regularly) and the brain can lose whatever reasoning it had - along with after effects making studying even more difficult. I wouldn’t warn about it if I hadn’t seen it happen too many times to college freshmen. Couple that with med school and it can be a serious game changer since GPA really matters.
Enjoy your ECs and friendships. Life would be stressful and dull without them, plus, med schools want to see you involved anyway - not closed in your room studying every free hour. Just make a schedule for studying and stick with it. Use study groups and/or offered tutoring/help sessions even if you don’t think you need them (great friendships if nothing else). Then enjoy the journey.