many students on visas have to maintain a very high cumulative gpa. if they slip below 3.5 (some have told me they have to maintain a perfect 4.0), they could be kicked out.
Ditto with scholarships.
I'm actually moving from a private school to a public school because of this.
I went back to school too soon after having a craniotomy to remove a brain tumor and didn't have the energy to get perfect grades. I'm not sure if I was impaired as a result of the surgery, or if I just realized, in light of it, that life is too short to spend too many nights worrying about what rounding algorithm/grading scale some professor uses.
There is probably a high correlation between people that have had some traumatic experience and those that know how to enjoy their lives.
Best of luck to you!
As a public service announcement, don't worry too much about grades. This is America, not Germany, where success is determined by the solidity of your goal and the amount you are willing to work. I know you don't believe it now, but it's true. Go have a drink.