COLLEGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE WORK.  Daily Cardinal columnist Heather Heggemeir (cached) tells the truth in the orientation issue.

For the vast majority of UW students, academic success is why we're here. The actual number varies for each person, but the recommendation I've heard most often is 4 hours of study outside of class for every hours in class. They are not kidding. You actually have to study here, ask anyone. Filling your time with extracurricular activities will prevent you from succeeding in your classes, and that's why you're here.

That's student writing for student, and that's a stiffer work norm than the faculty (with a ratio of two or three to one) recommends.  Thus it matters that an entering class has more than a few high achievers in it.