<p>I second Unalove’s observations.</p>
<p>There are some kids that will excel. Someone will be at the top of any group. That’s just a byproduct of rankings. The key is to not fall into the trap of trying to keep up with these kids. </p>
<p>And there’s a curious aspect of these kids at the very top. They don’t spend any time or mental effort looking at their peers. They’re single mindedly focused on meeting their own internal standards. If you don’t come to UofC with that drive (most don’t!), don’t try to emulate those that do, and don’t worry. Life has many paths to success. Perhaps the most difficult is to use academic excellence as your unique marker. It can be done, but there are easier ways to get ahead, IMHO, for most folks. Just remember that the happiest grads are not necessarily the ones that went on to the most prestigious post grad opportunities, be it job or college, and not necessarily the ones that make the highest income. </p>
<p>Instead, view college as a chance to take some risks. Love Bio going in? Try a social science for a quarter or two. Humanities lover? Look at the sciences too. And so forth. The worst that happens is that you get an OK grade in a course outside your major, or do a drop. The best is that you find other academic loves.</p>